Tips for tourists - cool things to do in Tel Aviv:
The Secret Tel Aviv Events Newsletter
A weekly list of events in The Viv
Ultimate Hipster Guide to Tel Aviv
Great ideas re stuff to do in the VIV.
DIY Tel Aviv - Alternative City Guide
Listing of parties and events to join while you're here, hip and groovy.
Cafe: Casbah. The epitome of the Florentin spirit, with art exhibitions, muffins plus the odd dog or two. Check out the nice terrace, although they smoke there. 3 Florentin St.
Port: Jaffa Port. Smell the fishing nets and hop on the Sababa-5 boat, which will take you for a 30 min. tour outside the port for 25 shekel. You will get to see TLV from the sea, and she is beautiful. Back at the port, check out the coffee at Love Eat, then go to the third floor and hang out at the veranda. See map here.
Park: Midron Yafo Park. South of the Jaffa Port lies this new park, and sunset here combines what I love about life: Stars, planes, boats, moon, sea. Lying down on the lawn and watching the stars is highly recommended.
Falafel: Ha-kosem, meaning 'the magician', is my favorite falafel. It's scrumptious, fresh, the place is clean, and the staff are amazing. Look for William, the guy who hands you a falafel ball while you're standing on line, while saying "zehirut, ze ta'im!" ("Be careful, it's delicious"). Check out the eggplant sabih, the shawarma and the tasty mujaddara.
Address: 1 Shlomo Ha-melekh ; Buses: 25, 125, 18
Falafel Tadmor is the "taxi drivers falafel". You'll see them pulling off, getting their pita fix, and continue with their day. This is an old school falafel hangout, not a fancy north Tel Avivi place at all. This is what I grew up on in Ashdod. You can check out the schnitzel in a pita. Make sure to take some hamutsim, pickles, in a plastic bag, and consume them outside, sitting on a plastic chair. People watching is free of charge. Address: 98 Salame St.; Buses: 1, 42, 142, 189, 289
Shuk: Shuk Ha-tikva, at the Ha-tikva neighborhood, is the real thing: Wide, with fresh produce and hardly any tourists, this is the place to be early on a Friday morning. Check out the olives and figs, look at pitas descending from heaven - the oven is on the second floor and the pita stand is downstairs - and have some Yemenite delights at the shuk entrance or Iraqi kubbe at David Haviv inside the meat market. Address: Corner of Derekh Ha-hagana and Ha-Etsel; Buses: 104, 204, 16, and sherut no. 16.
Sandwiches: Yom Tov, 43 Levinsky St., has great sandwiches. Sherut 4, 16.
Xoho, 73 Ben Yehuda St., is where you go for great bagels, coffee and other goodies. Closed on Saturday.