From the editors of Condé Nast Traveler:

Located just below the Bauhaus-rich White City and above Ottoman-era Neve Tzedek, this stylish hotel was crafted from a 1950s bank building whose former dull facade has been transformed into three floors of shiny brown columns and windows. Inside is a clubby reception area with leather couches and dark wood floors, an indoor-outdoor bistro, and a well-stocked library. The 30 smallish guest rooms contain custom-designed furniture, canopied beds, and glass-walled baths. The halls are festooned with the in-your-face photography of local artist Pilpeled, and on the roof is a sundeck with loungers and an outdoor shower. The Brown is perhaps the city's most centrally located independent hotel with a vibe that's both cool and hospitable, and the young staff offer the solutions-oriented style of service that can sometimes be charmless but gets the job done.—2011 Hot List

Which room to book: The rooms are all about style, not size, so cozy Classic Rooms offer the best value. Those on the third floor—particularly No. 309—have excellent views of classic 1920s-era buildings on the nearby Nahalat Binyamin pedestrian corridor.