Discover Tel Aviv! Tel Aviv is the cultural capital of Israel, renowned for its partying, culinary and art scenes. The Time Out Israel team picks out the highlights of one of the most vibrant cities in the Middle East With an influx of 2.5 million international visitors every year, Tel Aviv is one of the most visited cities in the Middle East. A lively 24-hour carousel of activity, the only uniform aspect of Israel’s second city – though many locals consider it the country’s first – is its continuous ability to surprise. With inbound Jewish influences from the East Coast of the United States to Ashkenazi Eastern Europe and the Mizrachi Yemen – and in recent decades, overwhelmingly, Russia – Tel Aviv is a cacophonous mixtape of backgrounds. In contrast to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv is avowedly a secular city. It is known for its 24-hour nightlife, and is seen as licentious by many Israelis who live outside of ‘the Bubble’, as proud hedonist Tel Avivim refer to their town. Perched on the Mediterranean coast, and blessed with a strip of perfect white-sand beach that runs almost the length of the city itself, there is plenty to offer by way of wild party nights and lazy sunny afternoons. You’ll find an array of modern restaurants, clubs, cafes and bars dominate the blocks by the beach and the centre of town. Around Town When travelling through Tel Aviv the journey can be as invigorating as the destination. One place to make sure you visit is the capital’s White City, home to 4,000 Bauhaus buildings built in the 1930s. The area is so unique that it has been placed under UN preservation and you can even have guided tours from the local Bauhaus Centre. Another area to visit is the port town area of Jaffa, which is home to many budding Israeli artists, and dozens of contemporary art galleries. Keep your eyes peeled for converted warehouses, which host performances and installations that rival any on the international stage. Tel Aviv Art Museum It is impossible to miss the city’s abundance of street art. Make sure to stroll down Allenby Street or Rothschild Boulevard to take in a rousing mix of graphic images, political statements and Hebrew tags. Or, for a different kind of art head to The Tel Aviv Art Museum (27 Shaul Hamelech Blvd, +972 3607 7000; tamuseum.org.il) where you are greeted by two giant panels painted by Roy Lichtenstein in the entrance foyer. The museum’s permanent collection includes everything from Old Masters to Israeli art, and ranges in specialism from architecture to sculpture to photography. Eating and drinking Dive straight into local cuisine and consider a home visit with an Israeli family. Through excellent websites like the Israeli-born eatwith, you can join Israelis in their ultimate natural habitats: their own homes. A Shabbat meal with an Israeli family, for example, is a not-to-be missed opportunity to get a feel for the elements of life here. Haute cuisine at Alma For dining out, Tel Aviv has upped the ante on Mediterranean cuisine in recent years, particularly with celebrity chefs like Eyal Shani, Meir Adoni and Yonatan Roshfeld. Be sure to check out Shani’s innovative, rustic and unexpected concoctions at North Abraxas (40 Lilienblum St, +972 3516 6660), Adoni’s ingenious haute dining at Catit (4 Heihal HaTalmud St, +972 3510 7001; catit.co.il) and Roshfeld’s contemporary Mediterranean at several restaurants including the Alma Hotel (23 Yavne St, +972 3630 8777; almahotel.co.il). Don’t forget the amazing array of freshly caught seafood Tel Aviv has to offer. Eat on the beach at Manta Ray (Kaufmann St Manshiye, +972 3517 4773; mantaray.co.il), which serves fantastic fish dishes like grouper gnocchi, croaker kebab and sautéed shrimp. Music and Nightlife Tel Aviv is renowned for being one of the hottest nightlife spots across the globe. Whether you’re looking to dance on the beach, escape the sweltering heat at a rooftop bar or party the night away to the sounds of the world’s trendiest DJs, there’s something for you. Israelis tend to go out very late, with nights typically starting at 10pm or 11pm. During the summer months, they also love going to daytime roof parties. The location of these parties is disclosed through word of mouth, but if you’re taking a stroll and can hear a booming bass-line above you, you’re quite likely near one. Just follow your ears and the other partygoers to find the entrance, where you typically pay a cover charge of around ILS20 ($45). Clara club For a quiet drink, you could do worse than the famous Minzar (60 Allenby St, +972 3517 3015). This Tel Aviv institution is one of the only places in Israel where you can find an afternoon, after-work drinking culture. To fit in, order a half litre of Goldstar alongside a chaser, or an arak and grapefruit drink. Israelis tend to follow the crowds and head to the trendiest places – and nowhere is trendier than the beach bars. Clara (Koifman 1, Dolphinarium, +972 3510 2060; clara.co.il), in particular, is a great place to catch a chilled out sunset or take in a wild night of partying to electro and house music. And though wild parties in Tel Aviv aren’t hard to come by, it’s well worth heading down to Nanuchka (30 Lilenblum St, +972 3516 2254) on a Sunday night to check out one of the city’s most unique scenes. A frenzied fusion of gypsy, Middle Eastern and Baltic beats sees the crowd partake in an energetic evening that always involves some wild dancing on the bar top (Israelis tend to like dancing on the bar – get used to it). Underground bars are also a big thing, with places like the trendy Radio EPGB (7 Shadal St, +972 3560 3636) being one of the best spots for late-night parties. Shopping and Markets One of the best ways to experience Tel Aviv is via a visit to its markets. At the winding and weaving Carmel Market (parallel to Nachalat Binyamin St), you can browse vibrant local produce, gawk at the hotshot butchers and toss away your shekels on trinkets, housewares and questionable beachwear. This raucous hub for visitors and locals alike is a long-winded path marked by light-hearted merchants peddling produce, tasty street eats and everything in-between. At the Antique Market at Dizengoff Square on Tuesdays and Fridays, find a spectacle rife with antique stands, merchants wheelin’ and dealin’ on vintage frocks, old war paraphernalia, Art Deco jewellery and ancient tomes. For more antiques and random found objects, the famed Jaffa Flea Market is a scattered mix of prized, authentic Middle Eastern wares and the ubiquitous souvenir. Take the time to weave through the maze-like alleyways and rummage for the diamonds in the rough. The main shopping rue, Shabazi Street, is buzzing with Euro charm, great high end shopping and cafes. Be sure to wander around the Suzanne Dellal Center (6 Yechieli St, +972 3510 5656, suzannedellal.org.il), a must-see for any culture junkie. The dance complex was established in 1989 and continues today to bring together Israel’s social and cultural existence. Getting there El Al Israel Airlines flies direct from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv from $8,710 (exc taxes and surcharges) return. elal.co.il Where to stay - ArtPlus Hotel Just steps from Frishman beach, this 62-room hotel is dedicated to Israeli art, with five local artists commissioned to create murals for each floor and various rotating exhibits, installations and paintings grace the in-house collection. 35 Ben Yehuda St, 972-35425555; atlas.co.il/art-hotel-tel-aviv.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:24:05 +0000
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