[Travel Advice] Tel Aviv, Israel

Random Observation/Comment #781: There’s so much more to eat and see in Israel. Time to plan another trip.

What Tel Aviv Does Well:

Super friendly bike and scooter commuting – The roads have dedicated bike lanes. There’s even a new modern looking light rail being tested that runs North and South connecting major neighborhoods.
Extremely attractive people who are very health conscious – We think it’s because the mandatory military training leads to an incredible regiment and dedication.
Public park gyms – Even people walking home from work in work clothes will stop to do some exercises.
Beaches – I love the jetties, shallow water, and small waves. Even in Nov, I thought the water was refreshing.
Foot volleyball and paddle ball sports – While walking on the beach, I loved watching the one touch juggle circles and super experienced older teams.
Veggies and salads – If salads tasted this good in the US, I’d totally be able to go vegetarian. Tomato salads come with the whole vine.
Stray cats, crows, and bats – The cats are super friendly and wander, but I wouldn’t recommend petting them (in case there’s diseases). Bats flying near the trees in the middle of the night and they’re just super cool. On a side note, I saw the latest episodes of the Rick and Morty Season 5, so I love crows.
Extremely walkable city – I was able to walk from old Jaffa to Tel Aviv north along the beach within 30 minutes.

Palm trees – Beautiful trees lining the beach and parks. For some reason the flora didn’t connect in my mind because I expected more drought and desert.
Jaffa friendliness to multiple religions – Super modern acceptance and practice. Synagogues, monasteries, and mosques within blocks of each other.
Israeli weddings are super relaxed and just a fun party – Congratulations to Stephanie and Aviad! Lovely ceremony with delicious meals and lots of dancing. Party until 1:30AM with a gorgeous space.
Not as kosher keeping as I thought it would be – There’s definitely a lot of people who keep kosher, but it’s pretty flexible.
High real estate costs – It’s pretty close to NYC prices for rentals and apartment purchases with matching space scarcity.
Tree fruit and pretty much no grass – I love the extra color of the blooming fruit while walking through neighborhoods. It does feel less like a concrete jungle.
Mosquitos – I think the mosquitos just like me. Long pants or mosquito repellent recommended.
Smoking is everywhere – People still smoke inside bars and on the streets. I don’t think vaping has caught on.
Dinged/Dented cars – There’s not much space for parking or wide streets for driving. It seems like every car has scratches.
Be careful of bikes and electric scooters – The bike lanes are arguably more dangerous than the car ones.

I didn’t have a long trip. For me, it was more about catching up with old friends and being in the moment. We did walk around everywhere though.

Wandering areas

Tel Aviv along Dizengoff St – We stayed a block off from the major street and usually just walked out the door to explore new restaurants and bars.
Tel Aviv Carmel Market – If you want a huge market of random things, the Carmel Market is open on Tuesday and Saturdays.
Old Jaffa – We started walking on the port area and continued along the cobblestone stores. It’s super artsy and a scenic place to get lost.
Florentin – There were some back streets with some incredible graffiti and weird shops.
Wandering on the beach – I can easily spend 4 hours just walking up and down the beach area. The boardwalk feels natural and inviting.

Places I loved visiting

Sushi at Moon – I would have sushi here on a daily basis. It’s a little expensive, but the business lunch is the way to go.
Persian and Iranian food at Kaful – I didn’t even know I wanted this as a category of food. Delicious combination of flavors.
Beers at Cheers – This rock and roll bar was very inviting towards Americans. We stayed up until 4AM every night.
Hummus at a place that didn’t speak English – The full set of dishes were really abundant and expansive. I love the smooth with the chunky.

General delicious eats

Fresh Juices – So much juicing!
Malabi – Crushed orchid pudding with rose water syrup on top. I don’t like desserts, but this is pretty refreshing.
Hummus – I think the pita is just as important. Loved the flavors and the crema that is used in general.
Pomegranate – Crunchy and juicy.
Shawarma – Absolutely a must drunk food.
Challah bread – The bakeries in general were really delicious. Maybe there’s something in the water for some tight breads.

~See Lemons Love Israel