Galei Kinneret: Redefining winter luxury at the Villa Paula

The ultimate winter vacation in Israel revolves around the winning combination: a spa, fine dining, and atmosphere. I found all three at Galei Kinneret, a boutique hotel offering a complete vacation experience under one roof.

Beyond its modern indulgence, Galei Kinneret is steeped in history. Established in 1946 by Lotte Eisenberg as the region’s first luxury hotel, it quickly became a stronghold for Israel’s early leadership and a magnet for the international elite. David Ben-Gurion vacationed here regularly, along with a long line of royalty, heads of state, movie stars, and celebrities from around the world. Despite a spectacular modern facelift, the hotel preserves its intimate, high-quality DNA across its 120 rooms.

The hotel joined the Israel Canada chain and was redesigned in 2021 by award-winning architect Saar Zafrir, who skillfully preserved the nostalgic Bauhaus structure while introducing a visual language of “warm modernism.”

Eschewing gaudy grandeur, the design uses natural materials like brass and wood, with textures that reflect the Kinneret. The result is a sophisticated European-style resort that respects its history while offering five-star deluxe standards. Beyond the mythological Ben-Gurion Suite, the ultimate highlight is the new villa-suite Paula, where we arrived for our winter retreat.

After a quick check-in, we arrived at the private parking of Villa Paula in the car. When we entered through the white gate, our breath was taken away by the sight of the infinity pool. A designed door led us into a spacious suite including a bedroom, a living room, a giant bathroom, and an equipped beverage corner.

Villa Paula is the most luxurious guest unit in the resort, but before it became such, it served as the hotel’s mythological boathouse. In its current incarnation, the structure spans about 60 sq.m. and is designed as a vast space with a huge glass vitrine facing the lake. The bathroom features a bathtub set into marble cladding and a separate rain shower. From the villa, there is an exit to a manicured private garden with outdoor furniture and a heated infinity pool located on the first line to the water. The service includes a personal butler and a beverage bar, and direct access from the private parking ensures full privacy without passing through the lobby.

It is hard to describe the experience of staying here in words. Through a mirror wall at the end of the room, the view of the Kinneret is reflected, making the lake visible from almost every angle. The villa is fully automated: from the curtains that open by remote control to the digital lighting and the sound system. We changed into robes, connected our playlist via Bluetooth, and settled in with a fruit basket and drinks. The bar was at our disposal with a variety of complimentary alcoholic beverages, including a wine refrigerator loaded to the brim. After a short rest, we were ready to pamper ourselves at the spa.

The hotel’s spa complex spans 700 sq.m. of tranquility. A path illuminated by natural light, with fluttering white curtains, leads to a designed waiting area and from there to the saunas. The highlight is undoubtedly the hot Jacuzzi pool located inside a gazebo in the heart of the garden, right in front of the Sea of Galilee view. We spent every afternoon there, enjoying the pool’s jet fountain that provides an excellent massage for the shoulder blades and back.

The spa treatment I chose was Fusion, which combines several techniques. The professional therapist checked the desired intensity level with me and adjusted it during the massage, which included the use of hot stones. My conclusion is that you can skip the traditional Swedish or deep tissue massages – this treatment lets you flow and choose what you want as you go.

After the massage, I moved to the relaxation room, where curtains separate the beds for an increased sense of privacy. Between rests, you can enjoy cookies, fruit, tea infusions, and even a cappuccino. By the way, you can come for a pampering day at the spa even without staying at the hotel and combine it with a meal at the restaurant.

One of the surprises in the hotel is the restaurant. Named after the hotel’s founder, Lotte, it is a high-level kosher restaurant in every sense, open to both hotel guests and outside diners. The meals are served at the table in a generous Set Menu style. Already at the first meal, my partner was surprised: “I thought it was standard half-board, but this is a real restaurant,” he said, and he was right. Each meal includes a selection of salads, soup, and desserts, alongside a main course of choice – from beef fillet and entrecôte to gnocchi with pulled beef, sea fish, or a vegan dish.

A whole-salad buffet was served at the table: lettuce salad with fruit, market salad, roasted shushka peppers, glazed sweet potatoes, hummus, tahini, eggplant carpaccio, and baked beets, alongside soft frena rolls and a sweet challah with dips. Each dish was a celebration, and in the eggplant, you could really feel the coals from the Josper oven. The fennel soup also surprised me for the better; as someone who does not like fennel, I enjoyed it very much. For the main course, we chose a juicy beef fillet, appropriately prepared with aromatic truffle mashed potatoes and asparagus. During the day, the restaurant also offers a menu featuring dairy dishes as an alternative.

Breakfast is served as a generous buffet with an abundance of choices, yet it avoids the feeling of crowded stalls, focusing on a high-quality selection in an intimate atmosphere. Omelets and drinks are served at the table, while the buffet features a wide variety, including an active tabun for hot pastries and a whole-cut salmon. Lotte offers several seating areas: the main space overlooking the pool and the Kinneret, a patio, and an open balcony where we enjoyed our morning coffee.

After dinner, we went to the lobby. On the first evening, we took a tour to be impressed by the design: stylish seating areas with chairs strung like sails in the wind, unique tables, and sculptures. In the library, a selection of books awaited, mainly in the fields of design, alongside books in English for reading. For us, the center was the white fireplace with its surprising design. There is nothing like spending an evening with a book in front of the roaring fire, while quiet music plays in the background, that makes you forget the whole world for a moment.

Galei Kinneret succeeds in bringing the standards of the world’s leading resorts to the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It is the ideal place for those looking for quiet, meticulous modern design, and a high-quality wellness experience that you don’t need to leave.