Michael & I went to Tel Aviv to visit our dear friends Merav & Lloyd and their cuties Romi & Ben, who now live there. Merav is originally from Israel and we had a blast exploring Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with them as our tour guides.

TEL AVIV

Tel Aviv has an incredible vibe & energy. Everyone is out at the beach, in the parks, along the boulevards, at outdoor cafés, biking around…it’s a dynamic city with lots of attitude!

EAT & DRINK

Shila [fusion, a lot of great seafood, beautiful space. Make reservations] HaBasta [at the Carmel Market with innovative dishes and fun ambiance. Also make reservations] North Abraxas [Eyal Shani has a few popular restaurants in Tel Aviv and this is one of them. While I did not eat her, I heard good things. I did go to his other restaurant Port Said for lunch and highly recommend it. Dinner is a bit chaotic so I would avoid that. Beit Romano is another one of his restaurants. Also did not try but heard it has incredible energy. The pizza place downstairs is worth checking out too] Ha’achim [bustling restaurant on Ibn Gvirol Street. Really great vibe and delicious food] Santa Katarina [Tel Avivien easy going place in an arcade. Feels very European and the food was delicious. Also recommend making reservations] Mashya [beautiful space, fancier, inside the Mendeli Street hotel. Very creative dishes. We went for brunch and sat at the bar, really fun – book ahead] Café Puaa [on one of the charming streets in the Jaffa market area, this is a very popular spot for lunch. The food is good but it will not rock your world. The vibe is great!] Beit Kandinof [not sure if the food is good, but it’s a great space. Maybe for a drink?] Abu Hasan [in Jaffa for hummus. This is all they serve and it’s always packed. They know what they’re doing!] Hamiznon [famous spot with 2 locations. While it is not as amazing as I expected, it is a good spot for lunch. Super loud music and a bit chaotic but that is part of the appeal. Don’t miss the side dish of a whole cauliflower. Best thing on the menu!] Anita [delicious ice cream parlor in Neve Tzedek] Hilton Beach Bar [right on the white sandy beach in front of the Hilton Hotel, great spot for sundowner cocktails. Very sexy!] If you enjoy food markets these 2 are worth a visit - Carmel Market & Levinski Market. I would highly recommend finding a guide so you don’t miss the older gentleman who makes amazing almond cookies, the wonderful burekas or the freshly made kombuchas full of fresh fruits & herbs.

TO DO

The beaches [the Mediterranean water is clear, blue and the sand fine and white. A run along the boardwalk or a drink at the Hilton Beach top my list] Make your way along the seawall to Jaffa [wander up the hill to Jaffa and get lost among the maze of winding passageways lined up by honeyed color stone buildings. There are great views of Tel Aviv stretching along the Mediterranean coast. But make sure to go back down the hill towards the antique’s quarter, where cave-like recesses are filled with treasures if you have the time to to hunt for them. You will also encounter contemporary boutiques selling an exciting mix of handmade shoes, clothes and jewellery. This a bustling place in the evenings with a young, hip crowd] Bauhaus Architecture [Tel Aviv has a vast collection - around 4,000 - of Bauhaus buildings known as the White City. Go to the Bauhaus Center at 99 Dizengoff Street to learn more and get a map of the highlights worth visiting. The Nachalat Binyamin area has a lot of restored Bauhaus buildings. It also has a street market specializing in all sorts of different arts and crafts from all corners of Israel and it runs every Tuesday and Friday] Rothschild Boulevard [stroll down or bike down this shady boulevard flanked by very mature beautiful trees and by so many Bauhaus buildings in all states of repair and disrepair. Stop for a refreshment at one of the kiosks along the way] Neve Tzedek [the first neighborhood in Tel Aviv, now restored and very desirable with its narrow streets and photogenic houses. Walk along Shabazi Street, its main street full of fashionable restaurants & boutiques, but make sure to also wander along the side passageways]

STAY

White Villa [charming boutique hotel housed in a refurbished mansion, very centrally located by Habima Square & Rothschild Boulevard. Delicious breakfast included]

JERUSALEM

We took the bus from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem just for the day. Once you get to the bus station in Jerusalem, you can catch the brand new and modern monorail that will take you to the Old City - our first stop. If you don’t have someone with you who knows the Old City, I would highly recommend a guide. This is an area so rich in history & culture, with a maze of narrow alleyways that need an expert to navigate you through. Shuki Haidu from www.tastejerusalem.com is a pro. Our next stop was the Machane Yehuda market, "The Shuk", which is a must see. Fresh spices sold by weight, pitas coming out of the oven, fresh fruits & vegetables, halvas of every flavor imaginable…..it’s a feast for your senses! We were able to walk into the impossibly popular and busy Machneyuda restaurant – the most famous restaurant in Israel. While I did not think the food was out of this world, the place is super high energy & really fun. Our friends went back there a couple of weeks later and said the food was out of this world, so maybe we caught an off day. Make reservations months in advance if you don’t want to risk it like we did. This is a very full & fulfilling day, and a day is not enough time if you really want to experience Jerusalem!