Can’t-Miss Spots in Tel Aviv

I was torn over whether or not to go to Tel Aviv. I’d always envisioned Israel to be some war-torn area that would be hostile towards tourists. Recently, a few of my friends had traveled to Tel Aviv and I had heard nothing but wonderful things about the city. After a lot of back and forth, I found a cheap ticket from Albania to Tel Aviv, and I’m so glad I didn’t let my preconceived notions stop me from going to this wonderful city. I definitely thought Tel Aviv was going to be cheaper than it is (prices are very similar to SF prices), so I had some sticker shock initially, especially coming from the Balkans where everything is ridiculously cheap.

I’d been warned by a few different people by the intense questioning I’d face at passport control at the airport but I had the chillest guy who just kept telling me that I needed to be in Amsterdam..? When he asked why I was coming to Tel Aviv, I straight up told him I was there to eat shakshuka and hummus. While the hummus did not disappoint, I’m going to have to be honest and say that I still preferred my shakshuka to all the ones that I tried. But there are plenty of other amazing spots in the city. See below for my must-try spots in Tel Aviv!

The Old Man and The Sea: This place is soo good that I came here two days in a row. I never ordered an entree because their salads are bomb and will leave you feeling stuffed and happy (if you have a friend, definitely come here with them because you’ll get twice as many salads). It’s right by the water in Old Jaffa, so you get great views of people milling around.
Shlomo & Doron: Because of Rosh Hashanah and Shabbat, I wasn’t able to make it here again before I left. I will literally go back to Tel Aviv just to eat here again. This institution has been around for decades and once you try the hummus, you’ll understand why. Newer to their list of offerings is the hummushuka (AKA THE MOST AMAZING THING ON EARTH BECAUSE IT COMBINES TWO OF MY LOVES). DEAR HUMMUSHUKA, I LOVE YOU.

Shmuel: Their beef kebab. Unffff. The meat is moist. Their hot sauce is spicy. Their pita is fluffy. It’s just all so good. Brb, wiping the drool off my face.

Abu Hassan: The hummus here is really good. It’s creamy, fresh, and probably one of the cheapest meals you’ll have while in Tel Aviv. If you manage to kill the entire bowl, I bow down to you.

Sabich: A typical Iraqi Jewish breakfast, a sabich is made of roasted eggplant, hardboiled eggs, and various salads, stuffed inside a pita. Sabich on Tchernikhovski Street, right off of the Ha’Carmel Market is the spot to go.

Ha’Carmel Market: A bit touristy but still frequented by locals, it’s just so much fun walking through the market. Don’t forget to wander off into the side streets and restaurants where you’ll find gems like Shmuel and Shlomo & Doron.

I happened to be there during Rosh Hashanah, which meant that I had limited time to try everything I wanted to. I missed a few must-try spots which just means that I’ll have to go back to Tel Aviv: HaKosem, Miznon, Bucke Coffee Shop.