TEL AVIV TRAVEL GUIDE
OUR CURATED LIST OF PLACES TO CHECK OUT & THINGS TO DO
THINGS TO SEE
WHITE CITY BAUHAUS ARCHITECTURE
In accordance with Tel Aviv’s multicultural flare is the city’s massive collection of Bauhaus architecture-style buildings, second only to Germany and deemed UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right. It is quintessential not to miss some of the city’s most spectacular Bauhaus buildings, which would be relatively impossible, considering they are scattered across the city and in well-known districts like Lev HaIr (Heart of the City), Bialik Street and Neve Tzedek. Each year Tel Aviv throws an annual party called White Night to celebrate UNESCO’s appointment of its 4,000+ Bauhaus-style buildings. To experience Tel Aviv’s stunning Bauhaus buildings with a licensed architect, click below.
LEVINSKY MARKET
Where all the gourmets do their shopping for unique products, Persian spices and some of the best cheese and ethnic food in the city. What started as a “black food market” in the 1960’s has evolved as an epicenter for Moroccan, Turkish, Persian, Greek and Bulgarian-style eateries, not to mention some of the best hummus in the country. Simply wander along Levinsky Street and the surrounding alleyways and find yourself in a culinary mecca all of its own. Turkish deli Yom Tov and Salimi, a three-generation-old Persian restaurant, are personal favorites for no-frills, delectable cuisine. For a special treat to cap off the market crawl, stop by Cafe Levinsky (Levinsky 41) for an organic gazoz drink, an artisanal spin off of the early-Israel carbonated beverage that bursts with vibrancy, both in taste and sight. Lemongrass, pomegranate syrup, melon and homegrown sage are just some of the herbs and florals adorning the insides of your beverage cup. To feast upon local delicacies with an Israeli drink expert, click below.
BOTANICAL GARDEN AND SAINT TABITHA CHURCH ON KIBBUTZ GALUYOT STREET
Framed by the giant pink, 18th-century church in its middle, the park on Kibbutz Galuyot Street boasts clean, paved running, biking and walking paths, an agricultural school with wild peacocks and a mini-forest worth sneaking into, a cactus garden, a self-defined bird sanctuary hosting rare breeds of our flying friends. The cherry on top is a botanical garden designed by Israeli architect Moshe Safde.
YOKO KITAHARA
From the moment you enter Kikar Kidumim and approach the white-clad gate of Yoko Kitahara, guests immediately feel moved and captivated by the “omotenashi” philosophy of Japanese hospitality championed by the gallery and center. With its meticulous attention to interiors and spacial understanding, Yoko Kitahara has the ability to intrinsically calm its guests upon their very first step inside. From its Aromatherapy based on Hogushi & Nagashi methodology to its Dr. Hauschka facials, acupuncture, shiatsu and “Biijin” treatments, Yoko Kitahara - House of treatments & Gallery is unparalleled and the premiere wellness experience that Tel Aviv has to offer.
To receive special discounts and experiences at Yoko Kitahara, contact us at ross@eagertourist.com.
KIRYAT MELECHA
Once a massive housing and workplace district in South Tel Aviv created with Socialist intentions in the 1950’s, Kiryat Melecha has been transformed into one of Tel Aviv’s most vibrant arts districts, with dozens of galleries, studios and art workplaces housed within the multi-floor, industrial buildings, such as Raw Art, or the studio of renowned street artists Klone Yourself. On Thursday evenings, most of the galleries host exhibition openings and parties, and the neighborhood’s landmark vegetarian restaurant, A la Rampa, is the perfect haunt to stopover for drinks or dinner before or after an art filled excursion. HaMeretz Street, HaAmal Street, Tel Aviv. To take a tour with a local artist as your guide, click below.
YAACOV GARDEN
Nestled behind the Loveeat at Habima Square is one of Tel Aviv’s most impressive urban gardens known as “Yaacov Garden,” designed by the influential architect Yaakov Rechter in the Burtalist-style and built in 1964. Today, the hidden gem is an ideal spot to read, think and enjoy an oasis of calm in the bustling city, with two garden levels surrounded by giant Ficus trees and unique architectural design.
Sderot Tarsat 6, Tel Aviv
AJAMI JAFFA
Who knew that Tel Aviv-Jaffa’s southernmost beach is also its nicest? The Ajami district of Jaffa is home to a gorgeous Mediterranean beach that shies away from the crowds and built-up coastline of hotels in central Tel Aviv. Walk along the hyperlocal and vibrant Kedem Street to the far end of Jaffa, make a right once you arrive to the Peres Center for Peace Studies and marvel at the gorgeous, locals only beachfront surrounded by sandy bluffs that can make you feel as if you were in France, Italy or Spain.
THE CREVASSES OF NEVE TZEDEK
While Shabazi Street is this original neighborhood of Tel Aviv’s most known street, the real magic lies in the small alleyways, passages and hidden walkways inhabited by locals. Take a walk past the Eden Theater, Tel Aviv’s original house for cinema, through the stunning Sharabi Street with its Bougainvillea trees and adorable, Eclectic architecture-style houses to coveted shops, as well as the heralded Suzanne Dellal Center for Dance and Theater. Just don’t forget to bring your camera on this charming, local walk through Tel Aviv’s most gorgeous district.
DINING IN TOWN
Tel Aviv’s strongest allure as of late is its heralded food culture and dining scene. You won’t find Michelin-starred formal restaurants, but prepare to feast on some of the most innovative cuisine your tastebuds have yet to experience. Tel Aviv culinary institutions like CoffeeBar, HaBasta, and Oasis are staple experiences for a true taste of international-caliber cuisine using local Israeli ingredients and an innovative approach to gastronomy. Additional favorites include Timna by Nir Mesika, Opa, the innovative plant-based restaurant designed by Craft & Bloom, Brut Wine Bar, and North Abraxas, the Tel Aviv institution. Of course, street food across town, in the markets and in the homes of residents define the true culture of Tel Aviv dining.
WHERE TO STAY
Tel Aviv’s boutique hotel scene has blossomed over the past several years, with more than 20 new properties opening in the past year and many more planned for the years to come. While many visitors tend to flock to the beachside properties for morning views of the Mediterranean, staying in one of the urban, boutique hotels in the city’s cultural core is the preferable option for a true hyperlocal experience. Boutiques by Brown hotels, such as the 12-key Hotel Montefiore, which boasts stylish rooms and one of the best restaurants in the city, as well as the Drisco Hotel, a member of LHW and housed in a restored Ottoman-era building. Click below to receive special rates at our choice properties and partners across Tel Aviv.