august-2011

CITY FOCUS
Over the last decade
Tel Aviv has experienced
something of a revolution
as a travel destination,
combining its unique history with an
insatiable appetite for forward thinking
to stunning effect. Whether it’s vintage
cool in ancient Jaffa or New York-style
restaurants in the recently renovated north
port, the city imbues the charm of the old
with the spirit of the new at every turn.
Day One
■ 9:00 In Israel we take breakfast seriously.
Not only do we have great coffee, but we’re
also one of the few countries to have salads
for breakfast. Try one at Café Noah (93 Ahad
Ha’Am Street, tel. +972 (0)3 629 3799).
■ 10:00 Café Noah is just round the corner
from the Habima complex (19 Leonardo
Da Vinci Street, habima.co.il), Israel’s
national theatre. Recently renovated, the
building is stunning – it’s worth taking a look
even if you’re not going to see a play. At the
back of Habima is the Helena Rubinstein
62 Brussels Airlines b.there! magazine August 2011
Clockwise from left:
Go nuts amid the sights
and smells of the lively
Levinsky Market; Try
local flavours with a
twist at bar-restaurant
Tzfon Abraxas, owned
by a local celeb chef;
Stay ahead of the
fashion pack at chic
boutique Maya Bash;
Rediscover your inner
child at designer
Sarit Shani Hay
Pavilion for Contemporary Art (6 Tarsat
Boulevard, tamuseum.com), which has
a fascinating permanent display.
■ 12:30 While you’re in this area you must
pop in to Sarit Shani Hay (36 Nachmani
Street, shanihay.com), an Israeli designer
who specialises in interiors, furniture and
toys. I love the way she works, and this
shop is both beautiful to look at and
packed with irresistible products.
■ 13:00 An authentic Middle Eastern
market on Levinsky Street, Levinsky Market
is a wonderful place for lunch. It’s full of
street vendors selling spices, bread, smoked
fish, olives, cheese and bourekas (savoury
pastries), so you can get a proper Israeli
meal. It’s one of my favourite places – you
really feel the texture of the city here.
■ 14:30 After soaking up the sights of the
market take a stroll over to Gan Hahashmal,
an up-and-coming neighbourhood with a
fabulous atmosphere. It’s full of young
artists and designers, who sell their wares
in many of the area’s independent boutiques.
One of my favourites is Maya Bash (13