The capital of Israel is one of the world’s most buzzing cities, with an art scene that rivals New York City and a food culture that draws chefs from all over the globe.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a Tel Aviv regular, there are always things to see and do in this vibrant city. Here are some tips for making the most of your trip to the White City.
Jonny Stark
Jonny Stark is the man behind Secret Tel Aviv, a website, Facebook group and newsletter that together form the largest English-speaking community in Israel. He made Aliyah in 2009 at the age of 28 and has since built a community that helps new Olim (Israeli immigrants) settle into their new lives here.
On this episode of Journeys, we talk to Stark about some of the challenges faced by new Olim. He also discusses the importance of Secret Tel Aviv’s Job Board, which has a large number of jobs posted on it and is a huge source of revenue for the website.
Gilad Goren
Gilad Goren is the man behind the scenes of secret Tel Aviv. As the founder of Travel+SocialGood, the first conference series/global community aimed at propelling the travel industry to meet its potential for positive impact on a global scale, he has a deep understanding of the nexus of travel and social good.
A passionate advocate for travel and entrepreneurship, he has spent the last 10 years building a career in the tourism industry. Gilad’s newest venture, Only Six Degrees, is an impact travel consultancy focused on education and travel experiences crafted for impact.
Josh Fischlin
The man behind the scenes of secret Tel Aviv is Josh Fischlin. He interned with us in Summer 2015 and grew the Events Newsletter distribution list by 20% and website traffic by 10%.
He also built the attractions section on our website and wrote our famous Best Bars and Clubs section which has had over 100,000 page views.
Josh is a passionate husband and dad, recovering human, and on stage speaker. He and his wife, Christi, run Famous at Home, a company equipping leaders in emotional intelligence and healthy family systems.
Anna Kernus
Anna Kernus volunteered at secret Tel Aviv between March and May 2015 and headed up the Content department. During her time she grew the Secret Tel Aviv Events Newsletter Distribution list by 30% and wrote our famous Best Bars and Clubs section on the website which has had over 100,000 page views.
Orel is the man behind the scene, a WordPress expert with an eye for design, he also runs the Curiosity Meetup which is one of our most popular and a regular part of our DLD planning committee. His favourite ‘Secret’ is cracking all the Locked Rooms in Israel.
Georgina Balcombe
Georgina Balcombe interned with Secret Tel Aviv in April/June 2015 and is currently studying Middle Eastern Studies at SOAS, London. She wrote our Shopping and Shuks sections on the website and set up the Secret Tel Aviv Instagram account.
Jonny Stark, the man behind the secret Tel Aviv, is a strategy consultant who made Aliyah in 2009. He founded the group to help people find local information about lockdowns and vaccinations and is a popular resource for finding jobs in the Tel Aviv tech community.
Nicole Armitage
Nicole Armitage is the Staff Specialist at Bear Cottage, Sydney Children’s Hospice. She’s a Palliative Care specialist with experience in maternity, emergency and general medicine, and paediatric palliative care.
She loves helping patients and their families in the last few months of life. She’s proud to work with a team that values the importance of the relationships between caregivers and patients, and is passionate about helping people find meaning in their final days. She also enjoys traveling, gardening and spending time with her family. She’s born and raised in Oklahoma, USA.
Benedict Restaurant
With Santa Monica-esque beaches, stunning shopping and amazing markets, Tel Aviv is the kind of place that oozes pleasure. But what really gets people drooling is the food.
When it comes to breakfast, this city heaves with places to eat it up. But there’s one that’s truly unique – it serves up breakfast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The eggs Benedict are a must-try. It’s a delicious twist on an English classic, with a generous serving of eggs and a side of homemade bread and butter.
This place is also popular with meat lovers – order the brave man’s breakfast, entrecote paired with potatoes a la plancha and tomato salad.
Located in Levinsky Market, this Yemenite immigrant-owned restaurant is popular with locals for its informal atmosphere and hearty Palestinian-style meals. The hummus is spicey and delicious, and the labane, roasted vegetables and tuna salad are also great. The price is a little on the high side, but worth it for the quality of the food.
Snack Bar
The city is a feast for the senses, a culinary playground that mixes Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and North African flavours. From hole-in-the-wall food stalls to gourmet dining, from a huge range of open-air markets and a kaleidoscope of bars, Tel Aviv is one of the world’s greatest food cities.
The food scene here is incredible and the locals are extremely passionate about it, so you can find anything you’re craving in this buzzing city. From a gourmet pita at Miznon, to a delicious Shawarma, from an authentic Sabich to an amazing crack pie – there’s so much to try!
A must-visit when you’re in Tel Aviv is the Shuk HaCarmel market, where you’ll find a huge range of foods from around the globe. Don’t miss out on the hummus at Shlomo and Doron, which is one of the best in the city!
Beer Bar
If you’re in Tel Aviv for a vacation and love beer, you should check out one of the city’s best bars. This place has a good selection of Israeli craft beers, a great atmosphere and a friendly staff.
The Dancing Camel Brewery is a real hidden gem on HaMasger street. The staff here know their stuff and are always willing to help you find a new favorite beer.
This bar is a bit expensive, but the quality of the beer and the service are worth it. It’s a popular choice among locals and tourists alike.
If you’re looking to experience the nightlife in Tel Aviv, book a small-group pub crawl. The experience is a fun way to explore the city’s diverse pubs, clubs and bars. With a small group and a guide, you’ll have an unforgettable time in the vibrant and wild world of Tel Aviv’s nightlife