Pastoral Hotel is celebrating its 20^thseason of culture and music. The hotel, known for its musical and cultural activities, presents an especially fascinating program for hotel guests who enjoy quality and pampering hospitality.

Pastoral hotel - opera house

The Pastoral Hotel has recently been renewed - the suites have been refurbished, the dining room has been renovated, and the spa has been upgraded. Not long ago, a huge opera hall was opened here at the hotel. We came to enjoy the fall at the hotel and its surroundings, and to hear about the cultural program for the winter season. The plan for the 20^th season is especially exciting. In December, there will be piano celebrations of the Arthur Rubinstein competition with a Georgian flavor, and a program by Assaf Amdursky. In January, a full weekend is dedicated to the British Kingdom and the Royal family, in February, there will be a surprise weekend, the details of which are secret, followed by the Spring Festival, opera, current affairs in nostalgia, and more. Here are highlights on some of these events:

1-2/12/22 Georgia to the tune of the piano

The piano celebrations of the Arthur Rubinstein Competition with Alexander Korsantia and friends under the artistic direction of Ariel Cohen, on a weekend dedicated, beyond the competition, to Georgian music and the piano. Among the works and dances, emphasis will be given to customs, foods, ceremonies and the sweeping happy Georgian mood.

15-17/12/22 Landscapes and melodies with Assaf Amdursky

Assaf Amdursky brings with him the cinema, the stage, his father’s songs, together with Zvi Alter, Corinne Allal, Yehuda & Alon Eder, and other friends.

5-7/1/23 British Kingdom

The British Isles and the Royal House star in a musical weekend that looks behind the scenes of the kingdom, into the humor, the culture, the history and of course the favorite sounds.

Pastoral Hotel

The Pastoral Hotel spans over a wide area of groomed lawns and consists of two-story buildings. The rooms are spacious, decorated and include all amenities. All have a full bath and balconies that overlook the gardens. The rooms on the ground floor enjoy direct access from the balcony to the lawn, which is a pleasure for families because the children can run around in the lawns while their parents sit and have coffee.

Pastoral Hotel - Rooms (outside)

Pastoral hotel - suite

Pastoral hotel - suite bathroom

Pastoral hotel - suite

Pastoral hotel outdoors

During the summer season, the kibbutz pool next to the rooms is open to hotel guests. It is an Olympic pool with a shaded area for the little ones; also has a cafeteria for light meals.

Pastoral hotel - swimming pool

At Pastoral, emphasis is placed on the culinary. The meals are served in rich buffets. On Shabbat evening there is a festive meal that is a showcase of Chef Ohad Ivgi's skills, starting with a huge buffet of appetizers and salads and continuing with various ethnic dishes such as gefilte fish and chopped liver alongside stuffed vine leaves and individual tapas dishes. In the main dishes section there is an outstanding selection of poultry, fish, meats, kibbeh and side dishes such as mujadara, pilaf and couscous. Also, there are active food stands such as an asado stand accompanied by a variety of dips, sauces and small toppings. The food is varied and very delicious.

Pastoral - food

For dessert, there were hot chocolate soufflé and nuts yeast cake, accompanied by crème brûlée and ice cream. However, the highlight is the pastry buffet that is a delight to the eye - rows and rows of individual desserts that include petit fours, macaroons and a variety of mini cakes made by pastry chef Nathalie Criden. They are a great attraction at the end of the meal. It seems that the adults like children feel like Hansel and Gretel.

Pastoral - patisserie

Pastoral Spa

Pastoral's spa is excellent; I already discovered it years ago and used to come here. The spa is small and intimate and its facilities are unique. There is a hammam, a cave of water splashes, an overturning bucket, feet Jacuzzi, and a waterfall device for massaging the shoulders that was added recently. The spa has two floors; the massage rooms and the relaxation room are on the 2^nd floor. The massagists here are highly professional. This time I picked an aromatherapy massage that began with the selection of the essential oil composition and continued with dreamlike calmness. They are about to introduce a new menu of house treatments, including a series of seasonal treatments.

Pastoral spa rest area

Pastoral spa feet jacuzzi

Every time I come to Pastoral I am surprised how great it is. The location here is superb, with easy access to many travel sites. There is so much to do in the hotel and around its area - enjoy the lawns, the spa, the cultural program and the wonderful environment - this time we also enjoyed the pool, the nearby kayaking and a trip to the Banias waterfall.

Trips around - Kfar Blum Kayaks and the Hanging Trail in Banias

The Jordan River is within walking distance with the Kfar Blum Kayaks and the lovely Jordan Promenade. Kfar Blum Kayaks offers a number of attractions for the entire family including rafting, a high-trees ropes course, a climbing wall and zip wire to the water. We did the long kayaks route and were surprised by the strong water flow during this season; the sail was mostly shaded and it was so pleasant!

photo credit Click digital Kfar Blum Kayaks

photo by Click digital Kfar Blum Kayaks

The Banias Nature Reserve, one of the most popular in Israel, is only a 20 minutes drive from the hotel. The Banias waterfall route is a short beautiful hike over a wooden deck which is mostly shaded. It is not difficult, but do keep in mind that it requires going up and down stairs and walking on unpaved paths.

When not eating at the hotel, there are many good places to dine. One is Blooma Gallery Café located in the Kibbutz and Uma Restaurant at the nearby Gome Junction.

Banias falls

Blooma Gallery Café

We arrived at Blooma Café on foot straight from the pool. Blooma is a café and gallery, packed with art such as paintings, sculptures, etc. Everything there is for sale including produce from the area such as cosmetics, olive oil, honey and spreads. But the main reason to come here is the food. The menu is dairy and light, with quiches, salads and most importantly - pastries made fresh on the premises such as scones, yeast cakes and more. All the pastries are of the finest quality and residents of the area who know the place come here often to buy pastries for home.

Blooma Cafe - Kfar Blum

Blooma, Kfar Blum, open Mon-Sat, Tel +972-4-694-8769

Uma at Gome Junction

After the kayaking, we needed more than a light meal so we headed to Uma, a well-known culinary establishment. Uma is a new name for two restaurants – a bistro and a sushi bar that were unified into one restaurant with two kitchens. Uma features Galilean produce from the area and fresh fish. We used to dine here when our children were little, they loved their hamburger! You can come and have a good meal here after visiting Agamon Hula or tripping in the area. Everything we ate here was excellent - different starters, steak, veal schnitzel, and sushi.