The elegantly weathered facade of the New Imperial, a few steps from Jaffa Gate, harks back to the 1880s. Its common areas, from reception to the breakfast room, are a trove of Islamic art curios. Rooms are a lottery, however: some are poky and misshapen (with an attic-style sleeping space above the bathroom), while others are tidily renovated.
The welcome is warm, but the variance in quality makes it hard to justify the rates (particularly with money-saving measures like 'no air-con before 6pm'). A sizeable breakfast spread includes Middle Eastern salads, cheeses and baked goods.