bar – Marilyn Ambach

In the spirit of John Cusack’s top 5 lists in the movie High Fidelity here’s Tel Aviv in my Top 5 – part 1. food

Top 5 “just coffee”
my favorite: hafuch katan dal

Ben Ami – corner Nahmani/Melchett street
Espresso Bar– corner Rothschild/Herzl street – easy & fast take away at the city’s oldest kiosk
BaShdera – corner Rothschild/Maze street
Maze9 – Mazeh street 9 (also a bookstore)
We love you – corner Habima/Ben Zion Street

Top 4 “fruit juice”

my favorite: banana, melon & dates

Tamara – Dizengoff/Ben Gurion street – and extra small branch on Herzl street
Pri 101 – Allenby/Ahad Ha’am street
Mitzim – Shenkin 54
ShakesPri – King George 11
My friend Eli on Yehuda Halevy – fresh & cheap carrot and orange juice

Top 5 “breakfast”

Delicatessen – my favorite: porridge with fresh cut fruit & assorted nuts
Ben Ami – my favorite: chocolate yeast cake
Rothschild 12 – my favorite: ham & cheese toast
Hotel Montefiore – my favorite: eggs florentine
Mersand – my favorite: turkish breakfast

Top 5 “lunch”

Orna ve Ella – my favorite: ravioli with pumpkin & sage butter (photo)
Humus Nahmani – hummus & tehina like the locals
Tachtit – open 24h, my favorite: schnitzel with rice & salad
Pua – my favorite: cherry tomato salad
Buddha Burgers -for vegan & vegetarians, the Israeli version of Lombardia

Top 5 “diner”

Cafe Europa – my favorite: lamb tortellini
Port Saïd – my favorite: minute steak and tehina (the best tehina in town)
Brasserie – timeless and tasteful
Makom shel Bassar – the best meat in town
Fleamarket – my favorite: shoarma shel ossobucco

Top 5 “desserts”

Benedict – 24 hour breakfast service, my favorite: pancakes
Stefan Braun – chocolate fudge with vanilla ice cream
Delicatessen – apple pie mmmmm
Port Said – French toast
Anita – coconut ice cream

Tel Aviv is divided into 9 districts that have formed naturally over the city’s history. The oldest of these is Jaffa, the ancient port city out of which Tel Aviv grew. There’s much to write about Jaffa, I’d talk about the flea-market or the ancient city but let’s focus on the port today. The Old Port of Jaffa is reputed to be one of the oldest ports in the world, notably being the port from which Jonah set off in the famous Biblical story of Jonah and the Whale. Its long and fascinating history as strategic port in the Eastern Mediterranean continued until only recently when new ports were built south of Tel Aviv in Ashdod and north in Haifa, to cater for modern-day shipping methods. Still functional as a small fishing port, the port is currently a recreational zone featuring many restaurants and cafes with lots cultural and artistic activities.

One of my favorite spots in the Namal (port in Hebrew) is called The Container. The Container is an industrial warehouse from the 1920s that has been converted into an art project space, bar and restaurant, located on the waterfront. The NY times recently wrote: “The space fuses Red Hook grit with Levantine glam, incorporating a sweeping, 45-seat horseshoe-shaped bar under a warehouse-high ceiling that affords nice views of both the oversize wood oven in the open kitchen and the rotating exhibits on the walls. Adding to the mix is a three-times-a-week D.J. set.” And live gigs:

As my brother is coming to visit Tel Aviv again, we set up a little concert there. On Friday July 6th at 10PM, N8n will perform with his Israeli band led by drummer Ori Raz for another night of good vibes by the water, some good old funk and some new ‘raw’ material. People are advised to reserve tables, entrance is free. Join us!

More info: http://www.namalyafo.co.il/ – http://www.container.org.il/ 03- 683 63 21