72 hours in Tel Aviv: the best addresses in a city between two worlds

Where to stay in Tel Aviv? The city's best hotels

There's no shortage of hotels in Tel Aviv: from the best-known on the seafront to the superb boutique hotels in the heart of the city, you'll always find a place to suit your taste.

• The Norman Tel Aviv, the most luxurious of Tel Aviv's new hotels, with a retro-chic design inspired by the 20s, an ideal location on Nachmani Street and ultra-chic outdoor spaces (including a superb swimming pool on the rootop) in the city's bobo center.
  The +: The rooms and suites, each more beautiful than the last, and yoga classes in the private garden.
  How much? 400 € per night.
  
  The Norman Tel Aviv Nachmani St 23-25, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israël

• Carlton Hotel, facing the sea, with a breathtaking view of the horizon. This 5* hotel will give you some very chic nights, even if the outside of the hotel is as standardized as the others along the tayelet (the seaside promenade), it has the reputation of being the best hotel in Tel Aviv.
  The +: the hotel's rooftop pool, and breakfast in a house on the sea.
  How much? 400€ per night
  
  Carlton Hotel Eliezer Peri St 10, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israël

   

• Center Chic Hotel, part of the Atlas group, is a boutique hotel next to Dizengoff Square, right in the heart of the city (2 minutes from the shopping center and lively streets). Its chic, funky decor sets a friendly, intimate tone for your rooms, all of which feature a mini-terrace. Its chic, funky decor lends a friendly, intimate tone to your rooms, all of which have a mini-terrace.
  The +: a rooftop with deckchairs and hammocks, open day and night.
  How much? 200€ per night
  
  Center Chic Hotel Zamenhoff St 2, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israël

• Brown TLV Urban Hotel, located between Neve Tsedek and Rotschild, is renowned for its rooftop with jaccuzi and its DJ sets after dark. With around 30 rooms and breakfast in several different cafés, the Brown Urban is typical of Tel Aviv: festive and welcoming.
  The +: this summer, the Brown Urban inaugurates its seaside version, with the same hotel on the beach.
  How much? 200€ per night
  
  Brown TLV Urban Hotel Kalischer St 25, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israël
  
  

Once you've settled into the heart of the city, here's a list of 10 things to do / see before youleave Tel Aviv, both touristy and confidential.

10 typically Telavivian things to do to get to know the city

1. Enjoy the many beaches along the waterfront

Day or night, the beach in Tel Aviv is the place to be if you want to take the temperature of the city. By day, all along the coast, you'll find both private and public beaches.they're relatively empty during the week, bearing in mind that every Friday and Saturday (the Israeli weekend), they're all packed, so it's best to get there early to get a deckchair. As for your choice of beach: it depends on whether you prefer a deckchair, umbrella and catering service or whether you prefer to lie directly on the sand with your towel, in which case you can go anywhere, otherwise you'll find French people at Gordon, hippies at Banana (and a few French people too) and Italians at Frishman.The restaurants on the private beaches are generally of good quality and offer a varied menu, with the beach classic everywhere: sliced watermelon served with your choice of feta cheese.

By night: you can head to Metzizim in north Tel Aviv to dine with your feet in the water, enjoy fresh salads and drink cocktails, just like on an island paradise.

2. Takeastroll through Shuk HaCarmel, the city's best market.

Most Telavivites shop at Shuk HaCarmel before Shabbat. You'll find preserved fruit juices, knick-knacks and all manner of Mediterranean produce: prickly pear, dates, pomegranates, peppers, challah, halva, mint, etc. Note: as you walk down from the market, there are little restaurants around the parking lot and delicious, sweet bomboloni (Italian-Tunisian doughnuts), which you can sample on your way to the beach or Neve Tzedek.

3. Have breakfast at Suzanna's

And visit the Suzanne Dellal Center in Neve Tzedek. Neve Tzedek is famous for its artists' galleries, old buildings and hippie-chic spirit (a smaller, more oriental version of Paris's Marais).The heart of the district, with its tempting restaurants and jewelry boutiques, is enlivened by the Suzanne Dellal Center, a contemporary dance center, and its eponymous Suzanna restaurant, where you can enjoy a typically Mediterranean brunch.

4. Take a stroll through the city's old railway station, La Tachana

Enjoy a glass of wine and a tapas at Vicky Cristina, the hot spot of La Tachana.

5. Spend half a day in Jaffa, for a change of atmosphere

You can pick up rare gems at the flea market, taste the city's best bread at ABoulafia, admire Tel Aviv from the Old Port, stroll along streets lined with historic walls.for fans of grilled meats, dine at Itzik Hagadol or for fans of chackchouka at Docteur Shakshuka: right on the street, on communal tables.it's more than advisable to end the evening in style at Anna Loulou Bar for an ultra-cool, trendy Rock The Casbah atmosphere.

6. Running on the tayelet (seaside) between dogs and wolves

To do what all Israelis do after work, who also stop at the beach to do pull-ups using the equipment provided. Alternatively, take a bike (the green ones are those of the city) and ride up and down the streets to the next fresh juice stall or bar on Dizengoff Street.

7. Discover Boulevard Rotschild between Nauhaus architecture and restaurants

Passing the city's Opera House, you can spend the day: playing pétanque under the tall trees; enjoying a frozen yoghurt while strolling along; or dining in a French-accented courtyard at Par Derrière.

8. Listen to the sound of the waves at Namal or have a picnic in Hayarkon Park

Hayarkon Park is the city's largest park to the north, in more residential areas. You can spend your Shabbat afternoon (as everything's closed and the beach is packed) by the lake, or take your bike (your new ally) to explore its wooded paths.

9. Eating falafels at Gabay, the world-famous stall on Bograshov Street

If it's a holiday, you'll even be treated to the waiters' song. Don't expect order at Gabay's; it's a typically Israeli, organized mess in an unpretentious setting, but the taste is there.

10. Finish with a panoramic view of Tel Aviv and go shopping in the city's largest shopping mall

Much further inland, the futuristic Azrieli Center shopping mall is made up of Tel Aviv's three tallest skyscrapers. After you've had your fill of shopping, we recommend dining at Restaurant 2C, offering a panoramic view of the city and a gourmet menu.With these ten sun-drenched Tel Aviv experiences under your belt, if you'd like to discover the nightlife, here are a few must-visit Tel Aviv nightlife addresses.

Tel Aviv never sleeps - Where to go out?

For a drink, Dizengoff Street and Rotschild Boulevard are packed with open-air, high-table bars that are always busy and lively.

Or, more specifically

• Port Sa'id: opposite Tel Aviv's Great Synagogue and run by the same owners as Miznon: creative mezzes and glasses of wine in a casual atmosphere.
• Kuli Alma: cool, arty atmosphere.

For clubbers, there are plenty of nightclubs in Namal, but as they change regularly, Yonder only lists the "sustainable" addresses:

• Clara Club, the only seaside club open in summer
• JimmyWho?
• Secret Garden