After being notably absent from the Forbes Travel Guide for two years, Israel's luxury hospitality sector has made a triumphant return to one of the world's most influential hotel rating systems. The Forbes Travel Guide 2026 rankings mark a significant milestone — not just for the six exceptional properties that made the list, but for Israel's entire tourism industry as a signal of renewed confidence and international recognition.

This isn't just another hotel ranking. The Forbes Travel Guide represents nearly seven decades of setting the gold standard in luxury hospitality evaluation. Their anonymous inspectors don't rely on online reviews or self-nominations — they personally experience every aspect of a property, testing up to 900 specific standards. Making this list means a hotel has achieved something truly exceptional.

For travelers planning visits to Israel, the 2026 Forbes rankings provide a curated shortlist of properties where luxury, service, and experience meet the highest global benchmarks.

Why the Forbes Travel Guide Recognition Matters

The Forbes Travel Guide has maintained the most rigorous evaluation process in the hospitality industry since 1958. Anonymous inspectors pose as regular guests, scrutinizing everything from how quickly staff respond to requests to whether room temperature controls work intuitively. Service quality accounts for 70% of the total score — a clear signal that Forbes rewards genuine hospitality, not just marble lobbies.

The 2024 Forbes list notably excluded Israeli properties that had been consistent honorees from 2018–2023. Their return in 2026 signals to the international travel community that Israel's luxury hospitality sector has not just survived recent challenges, but maintained the exacting standards required for global recognition.

In Israel specifically, Forbes-ranked hotels demonstrate they can deliver world-class luxury while navigating local complexities — kosher food requirements, Shabbat observance, security protocols, and the cultural competency to serve guests from vastly different backgrounds and expectations.

The Six Properties — Forbes 2026

The Ritz-Carlton, Herzliya

Israel's Only Coastal Forbes Property · 115 Rooms & 82 Suites

The Ritz-Carlton Herzliya represents a significant first — the brand's debut in Israel, and the only coastal property to make the 2026 Forbes list. Positioned along the prestigious Herzliya Marina approximately 20 minutes north of Tel Aviv, it occupies one of Israel's most exclusive addresses where the Mediterranean coastline meets refined luxury.

All 115 rooms and 82 suites feature private balconies looking out over either the marina or the Mediterranean Sea. The 12th-floor rooftop pool offers panoramic sea views, while the full-service spa and fitness center round out a property built for both leisure guests and business travelers.

The signature restaurant, Herbert Samuel, has earned recognition extending beyond the property itself — recently appearing in international luxury dining rankings. The kosher fine-dining restaurant reinterprets Israeli cuisine through a modern lens, sourcing ingredients from local markets and showcasing the Mediterranean's seasonal bounty.

The Norman Tel Aviv

Boutique Luxury · UNESCO White City · 50 Rooms & Suites

The Norman occupies two meticulously restored buildings on Nahmani Street — one dating to the 1920s, the other to the 1930s — in the heart of Tel Aviv's UNESCO-listed White City. The Bauhaus heritage of the buildings is honored throughout: original architectural details preserved alongside contemporary luxury, creating spaces that feel authentically Tel Aviv rather than generically luxurious.

With just 50 rooms and suites, The Norman offers the kind of personalized service impossible at larger properties. The rooftop pool and bar provide city views, while the ground-floor library lounge creates an intimate setting for evening drinks. Rothschild Boulevard, the beach, Carmel Market, and Tel Aviv's best restaurants all sit within easy walking distance.

Best suited to travelers who appreciate boutique intimacy, architectural heritage, and that insider feeling in a city that rewards knowing the right addresses. The Norman operates more like a private club than a traditional hotel — a sensibility that Forbes's inspectors clearly recognize and reward.

The Setai Tel Aviv

Asian-Inspired Luxury · Jaffa Waterfront · 139 Rooms

The Setai brings a distinctly different philosophy to Tel Aviv's luxury scene. Housed across five Ottoman-era buildings near the iconic Jaffa Clock Tower — buildings that required over 20 years of preservation work by the Israel Antiquities Authority before opening in 2018 — the property combines Asian-inspired design sensibility with Mediterranean character in a way that feels cohesive rather than contrived.

Dark woods, clean lines, and contemplative spaces define the interiors. Stone and marble corridors connect the five buildings, housing 139 rooms of different sizes. The rooftop infinity pool, full spa, chef's restaurant, bar, and lounge create a complete sanctuary — one that caters to guests seeking genuine calm within the city's energy.

Positioned where modern Tel Aviv transitions into ancient Jaffa, guests have easy access to both — Jaffa's ancient port, galleries, and restaurants to the south, Tel Aviv's urban energy to the north. Best for guests who want to be immersed in the city during the day but retreat to genuine calm at night.

Mamilla Hotel

Contemporary Design · Old City Gateway · 194 Rooms & Suites

Mamilla Hotel occupies one of Jerusalem's most strategically significant locations — at the precise meeting point between the Old City and modern Jerusalem. From the hotel, Jaffa Gate is a five-minute walk. The Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Tower of David are all within comfortable reach, while Mamilla Avenue's shops, cafes, and dining scene are immediately outside the front door.

Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie with interiors by Piero Lissoni, the hotel embodies contemporary Israeli design. The 194 rooms feature pale wood, Egyptian cotton linens, floor-to-ceiling windows, and bathrooms with glass walls that can switch between transparent and opaque — a signature Lissoni detail. Jerusalem stone runs throughout the public spaces, bridging the ancient and modern without forcing the contrast.

The rooftop restaurant and bar — with panoramic views across the Old City walls, the Tower of David, and Jerusalem's layered skyline — has become one of the city's premier gathering spots. The Akasha Wellness Center adds a complete spa experience including a watsu pool, hammam, and indoor swimming pool.

Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem

Restored 1920s Palace · 226 Rooms · King David Street

When Waldorf Astoria entered Jerusalem in 2014, they selected a building of genuine historical significance: the original Palace Hotel, built in the late 1920s and used as headquarters during the British Mandate era. The restoration was meticulous — preserving the building's Greco-Roman, Gothic, and Ottoman architectural influences while introducing the Waldorf Astoria's contemporary luxury standards throughout.

The 226-room property sits on Gershon Agron Street, steps from Jaffa Gate and alongside the King David Hotel and David Citadel — Jerusalem's cluster of flagship luxury properties. The lobby is anchored by a spectacular Waldorf Astoria clock designed by Avraham Aborgil, featuring four faces inscribed with Hebrew, Arabic, Roman, and European numerals — an elegant nod to Jerusalem's layered heritage.

Three kosher restaurants, a rooftop garden terrace, a grand 700-square-meter ballroom, and the Waldorf Astoria's signature "True Waldorf Service" define the experience. The concierge team excels at navigating Jerusalem's unique complexity — securing reservations, arranging private site tours, and attending to every detail.

David Citadel Hotel

Jerusalem's Flagship · 385 Rooms & Suites · Old City Views

The David Citadel Hotel has been one of Jerusalem's premier luxury addresses since opening in 1998. Originally launched as the Hilton Jerusalem, the property became the David Citadel in 2001 under the ownership of Alrov Hotel Group. It has since established itself as one of the city's flagship hotels, competing with the nearby King David Hotel and Waldorf Astoria for that distinction.

With 385 rooms and suites, the David Citadel is the largest of Jerusalem's Forbes-ranked properties. The building was designed by architect Moshe Safdie to maximize its defining feature: commanding views of the Tower of David and the Old City walls. Rooms were recently upgraded by Piero Lissoni, introducing refined furnishings in gray and purple hues, with Frette linen and Bulgari toiletries throughout.

Dining options include the Veranda Restaurant showcasing local cuisine under Chef Aviram Chioka, the Grill Bar, and the Lobby Lounge overlooking both the illuminated pool and the Old City at night. The year-round heated outdoor pool facing the Old City walls is one of Jerusalem's most distinctive hotel amenities. The Akasha Spa provides a full suite of treatments, hammam, and sauna.

The property has hosted world leaders, heads of state, royalty, and celebrities. The executive lounge, four boardrooms named after the Old City gates, and a 500-person ballroom make it equally suited to leisure and high-level business travel.

Traveler's Guide

Choosing the Right Property

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Herzliya · Tel Aviv · Jerusalem · Expert planning for every Forbes-ranked property in Israel