Within ancient stone walls, a centuries-old Turkish hammam and spaces transformed over generations, stands a hotel where history is more than a backdrop-it is an inseparable part of the experience.
About The Efendi Hotel
In the heart of Acre’s Old City, between its stone alleyways and the Mediterranean Sea, The Efendi Hotel offers an intimate luxury retreat where centuries of history meet the art of contemporary hospitality.
The hotel occupies two historic buildings that reveal layers of the city’s past through painted ceilings, stone arches and original decorative details, all meticulously preserved.
The hotel features 12 distinctive rooms and suites, a personally served local breakfast, an ancient Turkish hammam, a spa, a historic wine cellar and a rooftop overlooking Acre, the Galilee and the Mediterranean.
An intimate experience where heritage, architecture, cuisine and culture come together.
a Story of Heritage, Culture and History
Within the stone walls of The Efendi Hotel, more than 1,500 years of Acre’s history are revealed. Byzantine remains, a Crusader cellar, stone arches and Ottoman ornamentation tell the story of the cultures that passed through the city and left their mark.
Two historic mansions—Afifi House and Shukri House—were joined to create a single hotel. Their soaring wooden ceilings, wall paintings, marble floors and rare architectural details were carefully preserved and restored.
The story continues below ground. A nearly 900-year-old cellar now houses the hotel’s wine bar, while an authentic 400-year-old Turkish hammam offers another glimpse into the past. These ancient spaces have been given new life and remain an integral part of the guest experience.
Eight and a Half Years of Preservation, Restoration and Renewal
Bringing the Palace Back to Life
The story of The Efendi Hotel began in 2001, when Uri Jeremias saw something in two abandoned buildings in the heart of Acre’s Old City that others could not. Beyond the crumbling walls and years of neglect, he discovered a rare beauty and resolved to restore the two mansions to their former splendour and give them new life.
Both buildings were designated for strict conservation and underwent an extraordinary restoration process lasting eight and a half years. A team of experts, conservation specialists and artists from Israel and Venice worked meticulously on every detail, from the masonry to the magnificent wall paintings and ceilings.
At the end of the process, the two houses were joined to become The Efendi Hotel—a place where the past has been carefully preserved and continues to live as part of today’s hospitality experience.