When Nat King Cole sang Unforgettable he claimed that his love for his partner was unforgettable. Waldorf Astoria hotels are ensuring their guests’ experiences are also unforgettable by enhancing their stay with a personal concierge service, which I recently discovered during a stay at the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem. Located adjacent to the Old City, it’s in walking distance to the key religious sights of the Western Wall, Church of The Holy Sepulchre, and Dome of the Rock.
Signature clock at Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem
The hotel was originally built as the Old Palace Hotel in 1928, with the Waldorf Astoria acquiring the property in 2014 and renovating it to become Jerusalem’s finest hotel. The interior glass-ceilinged Jerusalem-stoned inner courtyard reminds guests they are visiting one of the world’s most ancient cities.
Before my departure from London, the Waldorf Live Unforgettable experience had begun to unfold. I was asked to complete a personal profile to indicate, amongst other preferences, my hobbies, culinary pleasures and reading genres (the latter of which was passed on to the in-house bookmaster). As my affinity to shopping was evident in my profile, my concierge planned a personal tour of the famous Mahena Yehuda Market during my stay.
The King’s Court Restaurant
Upon arrival at the Waldorf Astoria, I head to the rooftop Garden Terrace restaurant for dinner, where the Mediterranean menu focuses on sharing plates with flavoursome-packed dishes (special mention has to be for the tempura cauliflower). From up here, I am able to soak up the panoramic view across the capital’s indelible skyscape.
Next morning, I get to experience the Waldorf’s breakfast buffet banquet. I’m told Israel is synonymous with extravagant breakfasts, which originates from the days when the kibbutz laborers liked to have a hearty meal before commencing their day’s labour in the fields.
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Artist Jeremy Langford
After breakfast I meet with my trilby-attired guide, Shuki, who takes me to Mahena Yehuda “shuk”, Jerusalem’s rambunctious indoor food market dating back to the Ottoman period, where many of the stalls have been passed down through many generations. As we walk around the myriad of alleyways, I am overwhelmed by the pungent fragrance of hundreds of spices and by the sight of towers of colourful fruits and glistening middle eastern confectionary.
Upon departure the next day, the concierge presents me with a gift of glass jars of spices adorned with a Waldorf Astoria ribbon and a framed photograph of Shuki and me in the market, the perfect momento of my stay in Jerusalem. Truly unforgettable.
by Amanda Bernstein