Legacy Hotel Jerusalem is located in the former YMCA building
that was renovated while keeping its local authenticity; that is why it is called
the Legacy Hotel. The hotel is situated on the 1967 border between East and
West Jerusalem. Its back is on the main road Derech Heil Ha-handasa and the
entrance is from Schem road. It is very close to the old city.
We arrived at the hotel on a cold Friday evening. The doorman
sent someone to collect our bags and take us to the hotel’s parking lot. The
hotel’s building is covered with typical Jerusalem stone. The entrance is
elevated and is used as a balcony. When it is warm, people sit there to enjoy
the outdoors.
The lobby is small and modern with a touch of the Middle
East and Arab culture.
The Rooms
The hotel is small and only has around 50 rooms. The rooms
are not big but also not crowded. They are all refurbished and have wooden
floors and small but very clean bathrooms. The rooms are equipped with all the
necessities: mini-bar, coffee making facilities, a safe box and toiletries.
There are also upgraded rooms with a renewed modern bathroom
and a spacious suit with a bath. Additional renovation is expected as the
Legacy chain will renew the lease with YMCA.
We were very comfortable in our room. There is everything
one needs as a base for a city break.
For dinner, we did not go far. On the 5th floor
of the hotel, the bar and restaurant of the hotel are located, and it, together
with the breakfast room, overlook Jerusalem.
The hotel bar is open and serves a variety of alcoholic
beverages and cocktails.
Cardo – Mediterranean Fusion Chef Restaurant
The hotel’s restaurant is a chef restaurant that is open to
the public. People from all around Jerusalem come here. It is a Mediterranean
Fusion restaurant. It has a beautiful view and an open kitchen. The dishes of Chef
Johnny Goric, the Palestinian Master Chef, are served here, and they are
delicious! Presentation is fantastic and the combination of local ingredients
with a modern twist is wonderful! You can read more about our experience in Cardo
Restaurant.
The Coffee Shop
After dinner we went to the coffee shop located in the front
yard of the hotel. The locals come here to spend the evenings, watch games on
the large flat-screen TVs, celebrate events and birthdays and smoke Hookah. The
Hookah (called Nargila here), is a smoking instrument. They smoke here scented
tobacco, and the smell is sweet! This is quite an oriental experience! They
serve light meals and desserts also.
The Sports Club
The Legacy hotel guests enjoy the facilities of the local
YMCA located on the lower floor of the hotel. The lap pool is open early in the
morning and in the evenings for a short period of time, but bathing is separate
for women and men. However, the large gym and weight room have extended opening
hours. Admission is free for hotel guests.
Breakfast
Legacy’s breakfast is one of the best I recently ran into.
It is a buffet style serving, and it is very rich – with a variety of
vegetables, cheeses, fish, breads, and more. There are many warm dishes, such
as eggs, hot dogs, warm Hummus and Ful, Shakshuka, fried Halawi cheese, mini
pancakes, French toast, Bourekas, and Kibbeh. They make omelets by request.
There is a selection of cereals, granolas, yoghurt and fruit, honey and
marmalades, and fresh orange-juice made on the spot and coffee made to order.
All this is also served on Saturdays and holidays, as the
hotel is not kosher.
It isn’t only the food here that makes breakfast a treat.
The elegant dining breakfast room settings, with cloth maps and napkins and the
beautiful view make breakfast a pleasure.
The dining room, as well as all the fifth floor where the
bar and restaurants are located, overlook the open view along the balcony. We
did not want to leave, we could have sat there the whole day, have coffee and
look at the open view!
In summary, the Legacy hotel is a good standard hotel,
pleasant to stay and with excellent service and dining services. It isn’t
expensive and if you plan a vacation during the Jewish holidays, you can get
here a really good deal, because it is marketed mostly abroad to the
International market. It offers a really good value-for money and a wonderful
option for a Jerusalem holiday!
Details: Legacyhotel, Schem st. Jerusalem
The Legacy chain has another hotel – Legacy
Nazareth hotel.
Disclosure: I was a guest of the hotel.
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