Tel Aviv native Nir Blatman gives his top 5 recommendations for great eats, shops & places to dance the night away in the city that never sleeps.
Want to know the top 5 of everything in Tel Aviv? Our list includes the Top 5 restaurants, shopping districts, museums and galleries, tourist attractions and recommended places to stroll and stay to make your visit to Tel Aviv amazing.
Read on and find out what makes our list of favorites. There’s also a handy map of Tel Aviv’s Top 5 below so you can find everything easily.
We’ve also listed all the days, contact details and websites where they exist for our Tel Aviv faves, so you’ll know the best things to do in Tel Aviv on Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday evening), and all during the week!
Top 5 Tel Aviv Restaurants
The delicious Mul Yam restaurant in Tel Aviv - for when you feel like splurging!
Our favorite restaurants tend to be on the pricier-side, but they are all great food experiences and we’d recommend you try at least one on your stay in Tel Aviv.
1. Barbarbunia. Price range average. Great fish and beer restaurant. Located in Ben Yehuda 192. The Grouper cubes are highly recommended. Tel: +972-3-5276965
2. Taizu. Price range high. Asian cuisine. Menahem Begin 23. Try a great cocktail for a start. Tel:. +972-3-5225005
3. Rafael. Price range very high. Middle Eastern food. Located in Yarkon 87. 03-522-6464
4. Mul-Yam. Price Range very high. Considered by many the best restaurant in Israel, specializing in seafood. Located in the Northern Port of Tel-Aviv in Hanger number 24 by the lovely undulating boardwalk. Try to come for the Business menu on lunch which is much more reasonably priced. Don’t miss the Faberge egg for desert. Tel: +972-3-5469920
5. Turkiz. Price range high. Fish and meat restaurant, the best ingredients with a rather simple approach to food. Located on Hertzel Rozenblum 5, Sea and Sun compound. Try the Tuna tartar and the Shrimps Falafel for starters. +972 3-699-6306
Top 5 Tel Aviv Street Food
Delicious at anytime of the day - Shakshuka!
Israeli street food is packed full of flavor - you can’t leave the country without trying fresh hummus and falafel, sabich and shakshuka for breakfast!
1. Sabich Efi. Located Tchernachovski 2. Pita bread with a boiled egg, eggplant, Tahini and salads. Closed on Shabbat (Friday afternoon & Saturday).
2. Shlomo and Sons. Located on the corner of Nordau and Ben Yehuda. Israeli Signature food the Falafel. Closed on Shabbat.
3. Hakosem. Delicious and fresh Shwarma and Falafel. Closed on Shabbat. Located King Geoge 85.
4. Dr. ShakShuka. Homemade food with a famous Shwarma, KosKos and signature Shakshuka. Beit Haeshel 3, Yafo., +972 3-682-2842. Open on Shabbat.
5. Abu Hasan. Hummus and Masabacha. Shevtei Israel 14, Yafo. Best hummus in town, prepare to stand in line! Open on Shabbat.
Top 5 Tel Aviv Shopping Districts and places to stroll
1. Dizengoff Center. Get lost in the maze that is Israel’s first mall. Love it or hate it, it is a unique Israeli experience! There is a cinema at the top if you feel like watching a movie (there are plenty of English films shown, and only the animated films are dubbed for kids). Opening Hours: Sun - Thurs: 10:00 - 22:00; Friday: 10:00- 17:00; Shabbat (Sat night): 30 min from end Shabbat - 22:00
2. Shenkin Street. Browse a variety of Israeli designer clothing stores. Rest for an afternoon beer & tasty food at Port Said, Har Sinai 2.
3. Jaffa Flea market. Atmospheric and eclectic market where you’ll find antique treasures, cheap souvenirs, along with some very funky restaurants, bars and tasty food ranging from Doctor Shakshuka to Italian and Greek seafood. A must visit!
4. The Old Train Station – Hatachana. A former Ottoman railway station recently renovated to become a lovely place to stroll through specialty stores and great restaurants.
5. Neve Tzedek. Wander through this quaint neighborhood and duck into the cute shops with clothes, jewelry and homewares. Visit Tel-Avivian’s favorite bakery - Dallal at Kol Israel Haverim 7.
Top 5 Tel Aviv Museums and Galleries
Tel Aviv is a cultural hub of Israel - make sure you venture into one of these when you get tired of the beach and eating!
1. Bialik Square, including Bialik House, which is the former home of Israel’s national poet, Haim Nachman Bialik. It contains memorabilia connected with his life and work. Open: Sun-Thurs 9am-4:30pm; Sat 11am-2pm. Free Admission
2. Tel Aviv Museum of Art Israel’s premier art museum, with an impressive collection that includes major works from the 19th Century to the huge mural created by the American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein in the foyer. 27 Shaul Hamelech Boulevard. Opening hours: Sun: Closed Mon: 10:00-16:00 Tue: 10:00-22:00 Wed: 10:00-16:00 Thu: 10:00-22:00 Fri: 10:00-14:00 Sat: 10:00-16:00.
3. Dvir Gallery Interesting modern art gallery. 14 Reshit Chochma Street.
4. South Tel-Aviv Gallery. 25 Haaliya st., Tel Aviv
5. Bauhaus Museum Small gallery but an excellent place to shop for unique souvenirs made in Israel. They also tours on Friday mornings and have a self guided tour you can do at any time. 99 Dizengoff St
Top 5 Tel Aviv Bars and Clubs
One of the many great bars in Tel Aviv - busy most nights of the week, with Thursday being the busiest!
Tel Avivians love to party and you’ll always find a fun crowd at these bars and clubs!
1. Radio EPGB. Underground electronic dance bar. 7 Shadal St.
2. Alphabeit. Bar with House and Techno music, Ehad Ha’am 54.
3. The Block. Tel Aviv Biggest club. Derech Shlomo 157.
4. Mike’s Place. Tourist bar with not many locals and a lot of beer. Tasty and inexpensive pub food. 86 Herbert Samuel.
5. Jimmy Who. Rothschild 24. Great dance bar. Located in the famous Rothschild Boulevard.
Top Accommodation in Tel Aviv
A gorgeous Tel Aviv apartment available for swapping on CasaVersa home exchange.
The best place to stay in Tel Aviv is in a real home with a home exchange. The number of Israelis wanting to swap their homes is only increasing, and there are lots of great home swaps available in Tel Aviv. There are apartments available in the city center, or on the outskirts if you want to stay somewhere a bit quieter. With flights becoming cheaper for international travel, Tel Avivians are traveling more, and overseas tourism is increasing every year.
Map of Tel Aviv Restaurants and Attractions
Here is a handy map to help you find all these top spots in Tel Aviv!
Do you want to visit Tel Aviv? Try a home exchange and stay for free!
