Eastern Europe is a popular destination for American Jews who want to explore family history or connect with their Jewish roots. There’s increasing demand for kosher hotels in Eastern Europe, and enterprising hoteliers are beginning to see the value of offering either a fully kosher menu, or kosher options. A few luxury kosher hotels even have on site synagogues for observant guests. If you’re looking for a kosher hotel it’s important to be clear about exactly what makes a hotel kosher, and to be sure that the luxury kosher hotels you look at online really can guarantee genuine kashrut.
What is a Kosher Hotel?
A Kosher hotel is an establishment that offers guests a fully kosher meal with food prepared under the supervision of qualified mashgichim (with certification from a kashrus agency that you recognize). A genuinely kosher hotel will also be organized to allow guests to observe Shabbat (e.g. candle lighting and Shabbes compliant electronics). There should also be a shul, either in the building or within convenient walking distance. A Kosher hotel should also insist on a basic level of tznius or modesty from its guests.
There are other hotels that actively welcome observant Jewish guests and make an effort to meet their dietary and other religious needs. You may want to satisfy yourself about the standard of food preparation, kosher utensils and staff training.
3 Things to Look For in Kosher Hotels in Eastern Europe
- Reviews and recommendations from other Jewish guests
- Valid kashrut certification and qualified mashgichim
- Approval from an experienced Israeli Jewish travel agency.
Kosher Hotels in Eastern Europe
Recommended kosher hotels in Georgia, Poland, Berlin, Budapest, Prague and Vienna
Eastern Europe has been a home of Jewish communities for centuries. From the Czech Republic and Hungary, over Austria and Germany, to the vast land of Russia, the Jewish people have been living there, creating their homes, and preserving their tradition and culture. Various persecutions followed by World War II have decimated the Jewish community in Eastern European cities. However, we are witnessing a revival of Jewish communities in this region, and with them, the revival of Jewish culture. Kosher restaurants in particular seem to become increasingly popular. And while it’s easy to find a multitude of kosher eateries and Jewish observant-friendly eateries in this part of the world, it is unfortunately still somewhat difficult to find kosher hotels in Eastern Europe. Let’s check out some of the best ones you can stay at while on your trip to Eastern Europe.
King David Hotel, Prague
If you’re looking for luxury kosher hotels while you’re in this lovely city, then this five-star boutique might be the place for you. King David Hotel is a certified kosher hotel under the supervision of Rabbi Eliyahu Rotenberg from Jerusalem and the Rabbinat kashrut department of Prague’s Jewish community. Your comfort is guaranteed in this recently fully refurbished hotel, in one of its four room types with eye-catching designs. All guests are welcomed to enjoy the delicious kosher breakfast buffet. The hotel is located near the train station in Prague city center and you will easily reach all the Prague experience attractions you’d like to visit, such as the Old Town with the Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock, the Prague Castle, the St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Jewish Museum, the Josefov Jewish quarter, the Old New Synagogue, Franz Kafka’s Birthplace, and many other wonders.
Malone, St Petersburg
In the center of this amazing old city, situated in a modern, new building, you will find Malone – a Jewish guesthouse run by Chabad. As a matter of fact, it is located in the complex of the Grand Choral Synagogue, Europe’s biggest synagogue and the world’s second largest, which is a center of St Petersburg Jewish life. The rooms are cozy and comfortable, and outside you’ll find a kosher restaurant, a kosher store, and Jewish activity centers.
There is a round-the-clock security here for some extra safety – but worry not, St Petersburg is a safe city – and the staff will gladly help you with anything you might need or with any questions you might have. Being in the center, all major attractions are nearby, such as the State Hermitage Museum, the Peterhof Palace, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Winter Palace, the Palace Square, the Yusupov Palace, and Yesod Centre in the House of St. Petersburg Jewish Community.
Hotel Stefanie, Vienna
Like Budapest, many inhabitants of Vienna will tell you that their city is in Central Europe, but the Vienna experience is amazing anyway! In the very heart of Vienna, in the 2nd district, you’ll find Hotel Stefanie where you’ll be welcomed in one of over a hundred recently renovated, beautiful, and elegant rooms in Vienna’s oldest hotel. As a matter of fact, Hotel Stefanie was first mentioned in a document all the way back in 1600. You can also see a personal exhibit of antiques, paintings, and sculptures in the hotel, collected over the years by the Schick family who have been running this and other Schick hotels for four generations now. Vienna has an excellent public transportations system, and from the hotel, you can be at any major attraction in the blink of an eye. See Vienna’s Jewish Museum, the Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial on the Judenplatz Square, Museum Judenplatz, the Stadttempel Synagogue, the Leopold Museum, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Naturhistorisches Museum, and much, much more.
Polin, Kraków
This lovely hotel in Poland’s Kraków was even written about in the media when it was opened by the descendants of survivors seventy-five years after the Nazis deported the city’s Jews to concentration camps. Polin is Kraków’s first post-Holocaust kosher hotel with an in-house synagogue, elevators programmed for use on Shabbat, and high-quality traditional Jewish dishes. The milk and the meat kitchens are separated and supervised by the mashgiach. Kraków is a key part of the Poland experience and guarantees relaxation and fun at its many wonderful attractions, such as the Wawel Castle, the Main Square of the Old Town, the National Museum, the Kraków Barbican, St Mary’s Basilica, the Old Synagogue, the Wolf Popper Synagogue, the Ghetto Heroes Square, and a lot more.
Continental Hotel, Budapest
This is a non-kosher, but Jewish observant-friendly hotel in the very center of Budapest, near the lively Jewish Quarter. It takes pride in its elegant and unique combination of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Modern designs. After taking a rest in one of the maximum-comfort rooms, have a delicious meal at the hotel restaurant, and relax at the hotel spa. Then it’s time to enjoy the Budapest experience . Take a walk and see the Jewish Quarter, the Jewish Museum, the Dohány Street Synagogue, the Kazinczy Street Synagogue, the Rumbach Street Synagogue, Keren-Or Chabad Israeli Centre, the Buda Castle, the Szent István Park, the Rózsák Square and the Church of St. Elizabeth of the House of Árpád, the Hungarian National Museum, and the city’s many thermal baths.
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Berlin
The Crowne Plaza is an elegant and welcoming kosher hotel in Berlin that is just 2 minutes walk from the bright lights of the Kurfürstendamm and a short walk from a local synagogue. Kosher meals cost slightly extra, but the food is excellent and the hotel is highly recommended. Guests at the Crowne Plaza have full access to a range of facilities, including gym, sauna, wifi and the hotel’s prestigious Kemmons Bar. Berlin is a wonderful modern city with a darker past. Visitors can explore Cold War sites like Checkpoint Charlie, as well as the Berlin Jewish Museum, and the Topography of Terror Museum. The other side of the Berlin experience is the city’s numerous parks, open air swimming pools, lakes and forests.
Cron Palace Hotel, Tbilisi
You might be surprised to find a really fine kosher hotel in Georgia, but the Cron Palace in Tbilisi is a magnificent 4* hotel with its own synagogue and an excellent kosher menu (with some superb local wines and brandies). The hotel building is a superb example of Georgian architecture and includes an indoor swimming pool, sauna, hammam and rooftop area for guests. The Cron Palace is a genuinely welcoming hotel that provides immaculate service.
The winding streets of the Old Town in Tbilisi make for an unforgettable Georgia experience . There are 17 historical synagogues, including 2 active ones, sulfur baths and a great shopping experience. We also recommend Narikala Fort and the Art Museum.
