At Jerusalem’s leading hotels, the Sukkot holiday is taken to the next level — with lavishly designed sukkahs that combine luxury, symbolism and tradition. Guests can marvel at the décor, take inspiration and even borrow a few ideas for their own sukkahs at home.
As in previous years, the city’s luxury David Citadel and Mamilla hotels are hosting Sukkot festivities overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City walls — a dramatic and emotional backdrop in itself. This year, the two hotels are featuring five uniquely designed sukkahs, all created by designer Chaya Aloni, who has been crafting the hotels’ sukkahs for 13 years.
Aloni says this year’s designs carry “a renewed, elegant expression in the spirit of the times.” Each sukkah, she explains, was “meticulously crafted, from color and material selection to lighting and artistic details, to create harmony and tell a story of inner strength and faith in a better future.”
At the David Citadel Hotel, the sukkahs draw inspiration from Jerusalem’s regal grandeur, blending naturally with the city’s skyline. The rooftop sukkah, covering 711 square meters (7,650 square feet) and seating up to 350 guests, offers sweeping views of the Old City and will feature a royal black, white and gold palette highlighting Jerusalem’s majesty, including motifs such as a lion — symbol of the Tribe of Judah and the city itself.
Another sukkah, on the expansive terrace facing the walls, spans 427 square meters (4,600 square feet) and accommodates 220 guests. It’s decorated in white, purple and silver, with crystal chandeliers that add an air of elegance. A third sukkah by the pool, 581 square meters (6,250 square feet) in size with room for 280 guests, features deep red, mustard and gold tones for a warm, sophisticated royal look.
At the Mamilla Hotel, the sukkahs reflect a dialogue between Jerusalem’s ancient heritage and its modern refinement. The rooftop sukkah at the Rooftop Restaurant, seating 200 guests across 300 square meters (3,230 square feet), uses a rich palette of bronze and brushed gold that complements the glow of the illuminated Old City at dusk. The main sukkah at Happy Fish Restaurant, perched above Mamilla Avenue, spans 350 square meters (3770 square feet) and hosts 300 diners in a festive space colored deep green, white and gold — evoking abundance and elegance.
“The sukkah project begins months before the holiday,” says Aloni. “We carefully curate fabrics, lighting and styling elements to blend design, local art and floral arrangements. Each year, we’re proud to open the sukkahs to guests from Israel and abroad who come to celebrate one of Judaism’s most meaningful holidays.”
Other Jerusalem hotels have also gone all out for the holiday. The new Theatron Hotel built a large sukkah designed as a cultural gathering space, hosting events such as Santur music with artist Elia Elmalich, a Greek music night with the Greek Groove Band, wine tastings and children’s activities. The sukkah features a natural, eclectic design with wooden furniture, rattan lamps, macramé decorations, flowers and hanging plants — and is strictly kosher.
At the Leonardo Plaza Hotel, part of the Fattal chain, two lavish sukkahs were built at a cost of more than 100,000 shekels, together seating about 600 diners. Designed around the theme “Love of the Homeland,” they feature white and beige tones accented with greenery, lanterns and fragrant Israeli herbs — blending nature, tradition and luxury.
The Orient Jerusalem Hotel, part of Isrotel Exclusive, offers a refined sukkah in its English patio, draped in soft white fabrics and natural greenery for a warm, intimate atmosphere. Tables set in white with delicate floral arrangements and gentle lighting lend the space a classic Jerusalem elegance.
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The world’s largest indoor hanging sukkah at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem Hotel
(Photo: Rotem Raphael)
Meanwhile, the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem boasts what it calls the world’s largest indoor hanging sukkah, measuring 400 square meters (4300 square feet) and five meters (16 feet) high. Suspended under the hotel’s glass roof, the sukkah was built by teams of engineers and designers using custom fabrics, chandeliers and reinforced bamboo roofing secured with metal cables. Fully kosher, it will allow hotel guests and visitors to fulfill the Sukkot commandment in unparalleled style.