Comfort Balcony with Pool View
In the Main House, with a balcony overlooking the pool and a queen or two single beds, subject to availability.
Jerusalem / COURTYARDS & CHARACTER
The American Colony
East Jerusalem
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The experience
A historic boutique hotel with gardens and an intimate courtyard. Individually furnished rooms and Ottoman architectural details give this stay a distinct character, alongside restaurants and bars.
The American Colony is a historic boutique hotel in East Jerusalem, near the city centre and the Old City. Its Main House was built in the mid-19th century by Rabah Effendi El Husseini and bought in 1895 by the American Colony, a Christian community whose members came from Chicago and Sweden; the hotel traces its origins to 1902. The property now spreads across several buildings, including the Main House, East House and Palm House, set around a courtyard and gardens.
Rooms are individually furnished, from Classic Pasha rooms in the Ottoman style of late-19th-century Jerusalem to Junior Suites, some with original painted wooden ceilings. Breakfast is served in the Courtyard, shaded by mulberry trees and cooled by a fountain, when the weather allows, and the Arabesque dining room offers Middle Eastern and international dishes. A seasonal heated outdoor pool, a Swedish-style sauna, a fitness room overlooking the pool and a massage lounge among olive trees complete the stay.
A good fit for
- Travellers drawn to history and architecture, including the hotel's own photographic archive.
- Guests who prefer a quieter, garden-centred stay to a large city hotel.
- Visitors planning to explore the Old City on foot by way of Damascus Gate.
- Receptions, weddings and smaller meetings in the Pasha Room and its outdoor terrace.
Rooms & suites
25–32 m²
Classic Pasha
Individually furnished in the Ottoman style of late-19th-century Jerusalem, mainly in the Palm House.
Deluxe Pasha
A king bed; Main House rooms open from a gallery overlooking the pool, and some have a garden, patio or balcony.
Junior Suite
A larger room with a king bed; three in the Main House were originally summer rooms of the Pasha's residence.
Suite
A king bed, a spacious sitting area and a large bathroom, in buildings across the property.
Room sizes, views and included benefits vary by room category. Review the details of your selected room before booking.
At the hotel
- Gardens & courtyard
- Individual room designs
- Restaurants & bars
- Seasonal heated outdoor pool
- Swedish-style sauna
- Fitness room overlooking the pool
- Beauty & Health Lounge for massage
- The Courtyard, Arabesque, Val's Brasserie and Terrace Café
- Cellar Bar and seasonal Summer Bar
- Pasha Room and meeting rooms
- Concierge for airport transfers and licensed guides
- Free Wi-Fi and free parking, subject to availability
- Bookshop, antiques shop and print shop
Check opening dates, access rules and any additional charges with the hotel.
In the neighbourhood
East Jerusalem
In East Jerusalem. Use the hotel’s location details to plan your arrival and your route to the Old City.
1 Louis Vincent Street, Jerusalem
Open in Google MapsNearby
- Damascus GateThe hotel's Small Luxury Hotels of the World listing suggests a stroll down to Damascus Gate to begin exploring the Old City.
- The Garden TombA garden and ancient tomb revered by many Christians, just beyond Damascus Gate; its official site lists it as closed on Fridays and Sundays.
- Jerusalem city centreThe hotel describes its location as near the centre of Jerusalem.
Worth knowing
- The pool is seasonal. The hotel's pool page gives early June to the end of October, sometimes extended in good weather, while another page says May to October. Access is limited to in-house guests.
- Several venues depend on the season: the Courtyard opens when the weather allows, the Summer Bar operates only in summer, and Val's Brasserie serves lunch and dinner in the winter months.
- The bars serve cocktails, beer and wine. The official site does not state any halal or kosher certification, so guests with dietary requirements should ask the hotel directly.
Frequently asked questions
How old is the American Colony hotel?
The Main House dates from the mid-19th century and was bought by the American Colony community in 1895. The hotel traces its origins to 1902, when lodging was needed for visitors to Jerusalem. Daily management passed to Gauer Hotels of Switzerland in 1980.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
The hotel's Small Luxury Hotels of the World listing gives check-in from 15:00 and check-out by 12:00. The hotel may allow pool access before check-in or after check-out if space permits, at management's discretion.
Can the hotel arrange airport transfers?
Yes. The concierge arranges airport transfers, from regular taxis to luxury vehicles, and a meet-and-assist service at the airport that must be booked in advance. SLH lists Ben Gurion Airport as 52 km away, and car rental is available on site.
Is there parking?
Free parking is available on the premises, subject to availability, and the hotel has an electric vehicle charging station. Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel, and babysitting can be arranged for families travelling with young children.
Before you book
Choose your dates on the booking website. Check the total price, taxes, cancellation terms and what is included before you book.
Travelling with specific needs? Confirm accessible rooms, connecting rooms, dietary requirements and service languages directly with the hotel.
Photographs are dated in their credits and may predate renovations. Rooms and facilities may have changed since the photographs were taken.
Information checked: · Official hotel information
- americancolony.com
- americancolony.com/ar
- americancolony.com/explore
- americancolony.com/history
- americancolony.com/explore/historical-buildings-in-jerusalem
- americancolony.com/explore/gardens-in-jerusalem
- americancolony.com/explore/pool-and-spa-jerusalem
- americancolony.com/wellness/the-pool
- americancolony.com/wellness/massage-villa
- americancolony.com/luxury-rooms-jerusalem
- americancolony.com/luxury-rooms-jerusalem/comfort-pool-view
- americancolony.com/luxury-rooms-jerusalem/classic-pasha
- americancolony.com/luxury-rooms-jerusalem/deluxe-pasha
- americancolony.com/luxury-rooms-jerusalem/junior-suite
- americancolony.com/luxury-rooms-jerusalem/suite
- americancolony.com/dining-and-events-in-jerusalem/restaurants-and-bars
- americancolony.com/dining-and-events-in-jerusalem/restaurants-and-bars/the-summer-bar
- americancolony.com/ar/restaurants-and-bars/the-arabesque
- americancolony.com/ar/restaurants-and-bars/the-courtyard
- americancolony.com/explore/seasons
- americancolony.com/meeting-rooms
- americancolony.com/explore/concierge-service-jerusalem
- americancolony.com/explore/shops-jerusalem
- americancolony.com/contact-location
- slh.com/hotels/the-american-colony-hotel
- gardentomb.com
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