It won't help anything, the old colonies have a charm that no community extension with half a dunam of land can compete with. These are the beautiful stone houses and the ancient people, who seem to be made of the same stone. This is the history and stories that hide under every bush. 'Zichron' is perhaps the best example of such a colony and Khan-Samadar is a great way to enjoy it, in style and only half a meter from the center.
This is a typical 'memory' complex with a historical story, and today it is restored and well-kept. But only when I enter each of the four suites do I realize that I have arrived at a real boutique hotel, with a precise and solid design that does well with the restored stone buildings. There are 4 suites here with an attached garden, and if you want to meet some people like you, then you can do it in the lounge bar over a good breakfast, or in the pool, which is worth it.
Location and ambience
Moti and Esti, the owners of the place, direct me and right before the pedestrian street I turn left and travel back in time to 1800 or so. A picturesque stone house is the first thing that catches my eye. "This was my grandfather's stable," says Moti, and I think that with all due respect to the horses, and there is respect, I prefer the current designation: a beautiful lounge-bar that is intended, among other things, for breakfast, and looks as if it came out of a design magazine that devoted a chapter to Provence.
If you still feel like you're in Israel, take a peek through the large window on the inside wall. In the next room, plump barrels are dozing. "You didn't say you make wine!" I turn to Moti, but he beats me to it and hands me a glass. Within a second, salty snacks and homemade cheeses join the celebration. Who has the energy to go see the suites now?...
What does the place include
An hour and three "memory" stories later, we sway toward the building deep in the area. We barely manage to avoid falling into the large swimming pool on the way and arrive at a large H-shaped house with a paved patio in front.
Four doors lead from here to the suites, which also look as if they were designed especially for the baron's officials who arrived from France a century or so ago. There are cream-colored walls, long curtains, and wooden furniture that screams Europe - which is in keeping with the fact that quite a few tourists come here. There is a high ceiling, a large bathroom, and a nice balcony for a morning espresso.
A tree-lined garden surrounding the house provides reasonable privacy from neighbors. There is a gym and dry sauna available to guests.
As I leave, I realize that the neighbor on one side is Sara, the heroine of Nili, and on the other side is the pedestrian street with its galleries and sweet cafes. Between the glorious history and the updated present, Khan Smadar is a great combination of worlds.
The suites at Khan Smadar are built without a kitchenette but offer a charming coffee corner. Considering the abundance of dining options in the area, the lack of a kitchen is not a significant drawback.
You should know
The location here is perfect - just meters from the picturesque pedestrian street of Zichron. The complex has a private boutique winery, offering excellent wines, and breakfasts are served in a lounge bar located in a romantic 19th-century building that was formerly a stable. Spa treatments can be booked in the suites.
There is a dry sauna and a gym available to guests.
We left with a feeling of
As I leave, I realize that the neighbor on one side is Sara, the heroine of Nili, and on the other side is the pedestrian street with its galleries and sweet cafes. Between the glorious history and the updated present, Khan Smadar is a great combination of worlds.