The State of Israel has welcomed the opportunity to self-style itself as a technology startup nation. Scotland coined the term Silicon Glen to denote its tech growth zone just outside Edinburgh and beyond, Utah has Silicon Slopes and Dubai has Silicon Oasis. Logically enough then, Israel went for Silicon Wadi as the term to symbolize the location of its tech business hub, …

It’s Thursday night and Tel Aviv is hopping. Diners are lining up outside of Port Said restaurant; the sidewalk is filled with drinkers. It’s a similar story nearby at Santa Katarina. If you haven’t booked a table, good luck. Across town at the Salon, it’s even more lively. The dining room is jammed and the terrace is packed with people …

Not so very long ago terminally bland chain hotels were the mainstay of lodging in Israel—indeed, a certain generation of travelers can remember when they were practically the only choice in cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. But the past decade has seen a total transformation of the Israeli boutique hotel landscape. Big chains are still amply represented, but with demand for innovation …