Iris Zohar, left, and Susan look over the selection at Abraham Men’s Accessories

In mid-November, I took a fascinating trip to Tel Aviv at the invitation of Iris Zohar, the founder of 9ROOMS. It was an incredible experience, and Iris was a tireless guide during my five days there. I spent most of my time with her, discovering the wonders of the city–and I was pleased, and very touched, to discover how warm and welcoming Tel Aviv’s people could be!

Yanush Gioielli’s gold rings with diamonds and carved gemstone flowers

We spent one full day touring a selection of the city’s hot spots, starting with some cool boutiques, like Abraham (Tel Aviv’s best shop for men’s shoes and accessories); Yanush Gioielli, for fine jewelry; TES, Tali Epstein’s fun collection of bohemian leather bags; and Lilamist, a unusual range of clothes, from daywear to intricate evening pieces, designed by Lila Elgrably.

Two sizes of the Odri shoulder bag, by TES Leather Bags

Liliamist’s one-shouldered, ruffled dress in brilliant blue silk has hints of haute couture

Along the way, we stopped for a short lunch break at Juno Wine & Food, where we chatted with the owner, Eyal Dubinski. Then it was on to B. Knit, to see designer Maya Calderon’s monochromatic collection of cotton sheets, towels and clothing basics; and Kastiel House of Design, where co-owner Jchoshua Kastiel gave us a tour of the showroom, discussed his philosophy of interior design and pointed out some favorite pieces. We finished the long day with a delicious meal at Mul-Yam, an extraordinary seafood restaurant (and the only one in Israel to be included in Les Grandes Tables du Monde).

Juno Wine & Food is a charming spot for an easy meal and a glass of wine

B. Knit’s comfy cotton sheets and pillow cases seem simple, but hide a wealth of design details

A few days later, I presented the keynote address at the 9ROOMS Autumn Event. Iris organizes most of these day-long presentations around special activities for women: spa treatmens like massages and manicures, plus individual speakers (like me). These days, the average woman’s day-to-day life is incredibly busy–and Iris believes we all need time, and a place, in which to meet friends, chat, bond, network and, above all, share. Before this visit to Tel Aviv, I didn’t know what Iris and 9ROOMS were all about. But I quickly realized that, although we’ve taken different paths, we value many of the same things. Clearly, Iris and I both appreciate the potential for beauty (some might call it luxury) in our lives, and we seek to embrace it every day.

Kastiel House of Design is both a showroom and a full-service interior design firm that does beautiful work!

Iris is a hardworking businesswoman, but she understands the need to slow down and spend time with important people in her life. Near the end of my stay, she hosted a tea at her fabulous office in the old city of Jaffa, to which she invited a small number of strong, intelligent and interesting women. It was an intimate, empowering group, and I felt very proud to be among them.

The extraordinary seafood restaurant, Mul-Yam, with a signature dish of scallops

Towards the end of my stay, I had some free time to explore Tel Aviv on my own. Alejandra Barav, a charming woman who works with Iris, introduced me to another side of the city, taking me to flea markets and small boutiques I probably wouldn’t have found myself, as well as showing me a little bit of the nightlife Tel Aviv is known for. I’ll never forget this amazing experience, and I hope to see Iris again very soon. Perhaps next time we’ll meet in Paris?