These quaint alleys sit parallel to one another just off bustling King George Street. Meir Dizengoff called them Anonymous Alley and So-and-So Alley after an argument with their founder, Meir Shapira, who wanted to name them after himself and his wife. Today, Almonit and Plonit are known for charming cafes, galleries, an anarchist bookstore, and …
Starting in the 1980s, Sheinkin became a bastion of Tel Aviv bohemia, where writers, actors and musicians went to see and be seen. Stretching from Allenby to Rothschild Boulevard, Sheinkin is lined with funky stores and second-hand shops that attract large crowds, especially on Fridays. Cafe Tamar, an old-time institution, is worth a visit for …
Boulevard of Bauhaus Dreams There is no place like leafy Rothschild, Tel Aviv’s first boulevard, for its number and variety of fascinating buildings. Rothschild is by far the most popular and dynamic of Tel Aviv’s boulevards—and it is easily the loveliest. Stretching from Habima Theater practically until the eastern edge of Neve Tzedek, Rothschild is …
Named for Israel’s first prime minister, Ben-Gurion Boulevard is a sleepy strip lined with leafy trees and dotted with cafes. The mostly residential street is a pleasant connecting path between Rabin Square and the beach, especially for bike riders. The Bauhaus building Ben-Gurion called home is now a museum showcasing personal items, including his impressive …
Named after Meir Dizengoff’s wife Tzina, the square has been one of Tel Aviv’s focal points since 1934. In the 1970s, it was reconfigured as a bi-level structure, featuring the pedestrian bridge and multicolored fountain at its center designed by renowned Israeli artist Yaacov Agam. On Tuesdays and Fridays, Dizengoff Square is also home to …
Adjacent to City Hall is Gan Ha’ir (City Garden), an upscale two-storey mall arranged around an open courtyard. The center’s elegant stores draw a sophisticated crowd, many of whom frequent Yehudith’s, the popular Hungarian cafe also housed there. The roof level of the building is home to the Enav Cultural Center, an intimate space offering …
Just steps away from Rabin Square, Masaryk Square (actually a circle) has developed into a quiet corner that boasts cutting-edge boutiques, a quaint French bookstore and a number of top-notch cafes that overlook a small park and playground. Named after Tomas Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia, the square has a truly local atmosphere of …
One of Tel Aviv’s main thoroughfares, Ibn Gabirol (or Even Gvirol) is rapidly evolving. The street is home to a hodgepodge of businesses, which include old-time falafel joints and upscale restaurants, fashionable boutiques and a number of gourmet chocolate shops. Ibn Gabirol is a pleasant place to stroll or sip coffee, eat chocolate and people-watch.
The significance of Rabin Square lies in its history and purpose, not in its design. Originally called Kings of Israel Square, it was renamed after the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin at a November 1995 peace rally. Today, Rabin Square still serves as the site locals flock to for peace rallies and various …
The history of Tel Aviv’s posh circular “square” dates back to before the establishment of Israel itself. Some plots of land in Kikar Hamedina (The State’s Square) were purchased in 1942, while the low-rise residential buildings in its outer ring were erected in the 1960s. The square has long been synonymous with Tel Aviv’s upper …
