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Hayarkon Park Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv travel guide

Located at the north end of the city, Hayarkon Park is the largest public park in Tel Aviv and one of the most famous parks in Israel. It is a kind of a “central park” in the north of Tel Aviv, but even bigger. Alongside trees and greenery, the Yarkon River is streaming through this giant park, which is the major urban retreat inside of the city, along with the Tel Aviv beaches, off course. Hayarkon Park is a perfect chill out place for couples and is full with children and family activities. The eastern part of the park is much wider and has many all-family activity centers. The western part of the park is narrower, less family-oriented, and is a better choice for chill out seekers, especially on weekends, when the rest of the park tends to be packed.

Hayarkon Park is jam-packed with family activities, therefore a great place to hang out with your children. Cycling is probably the best way to explore the park, which has a network of small trails and places to rent bicycles. It is flat in most parts, making cycling with children pretty easy.

For the ones wishing to explore the park through the river, there are few rental places that offer paddle boats, kayaks, and small motor boats, both in the river and the artificial lake in the north-eastern part of the park. Other family activities include a miniature golf field at the north river bank and Tel Aviv’s largest amusement park, the “Lunapark”, with rollercoasters, pirate ships and other facilities just across the road.

In the north bank of Hayarkon Park you will find the “Sportec”, a large sports center with basketball and rollerblades courts and several soccer fields. It also has a wall climbing facility with all the necessary gear, guidance and security measures.

When it comes to family activities and chilling out in the city, it is difficult to beat the Hayarkon Park.. Though many people visit the park every weekend, it is large enough and has many corners and activities for you to find exactly what you’re looking for, whether it’s cycling, paddling by boat, traveling or chilling out.

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LOKAL: A Cozy Road Inn Serving Exceptional Burgers and Chicken in Tel Aviv

I recently had the pleasure of dining at LOKAL, a humble yet present road inn located on Ahad Ha'am street in Tel Aviv. This establishment was born out of a partnership between Alon Peled and Aviv Cohen, who raised a very efficient chicken startup in their crowded apartment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The menu at LOKAL is concise but impressive, offering a burger, chicken, and vegan option with fries on the side and a large container of kombucha that can come plain or alcoholic. I opted for the Smashburger meal, which included 200 grams of aged meat, American cheese, house sauce, house pickles, lettuce, and onion served with chips and a drink for NIS 72.00. The burger was cooked to perfection on a plancha with a dedicated iron weight, resulting in a patty that was neither too crispy nor too juicy. The Koji salt and cheddar cheese added a unique flavor profile that elevated the burger to something truly exceptional. The homemade sauce was also outstanding, completing the burger in a truly satisfying way. My dining companion opted for the Crispy Chicken Dinner, which was served with garlic aioli, homemade pickles, garlic pepper sauce, and fermented honey, American cheese, and lettuce for NIS 72.00. The chicken breast was marinated in ravioli and spices, resulting in a super crispy coating that was incredibly delicious. The additional sauces and toppings made for a flavor explosion that we both thoroughly enjoyed. The restaurant's atmosphere is humble and unpretentious, with a focus on providing customers with high-quality food and drink in a cozy setting. The staff were friendly and accommodating, making us feel right at home. Overall, LOKAL is an outstanding addition to the Tel Aviv food scene. The restaurant's dedication to providing customers with delicious, high-quality food in a cozy atmosphere is evident in every aspect of the dining experience. I highly recommend stopping by LOKAL for a meal that is sure to satisfy both your taste buds and your soul.

Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian walkway

The Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian walkway holds a festival of arts, crafts and street performances every Tuesday and Friday between 10AM and 5PM. You can find there quite a selection of toys, jewelry and Judaica items, painted ceramics and different articles, souvenirs and gifts. Besides the craft stands, many artists, including musicians, theater actors, fortune tellers and others, perform street acts during these hours, so even if you are not in a shopping mood, you might still have fun visiting there, especially on Friday afternoons. The Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian walkway is a fun place to visit on other weekdays as well. You can catch a light bite to eat at one of the cafés, shop in some of the many textile shops or visit one of the finer restaurants. Carmela banachala (Hatavor 46 St.) is situated at the edge of the shopping area of Nachalat Binyamin and offers a fine selection of fresh seafood and meat. This bistro is located at a beautiful restored building, and allows the diners to enjoy their meal in a hospitable atmosphere. Agadir bar burger (2 Nachalat Binyamin St.) claims to have one of the city's finest burgers. It is nothing like a fast food joint, but rather an extremely popular restaurant which is open till very late. Located in the heart of Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian walkway, Agadir offers a comfortable setting, good music and tasty food. Hamitbahon (18 Rabi Akiva St.) is a small homemade food restaurant in the crossing point of the Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian' walkway and the Carmel market. It is a small and authentic black-board restaurant, with traditional Israeli and North African dishes, including Cuscus, tahini and beans, all in very affordable prices. Another fun option for a cold beer nearby is the Minzar bar (the Monastery) at 60 Allenby St., known for its unorthodox opening hours. It hosts varied clientele, both locals and tourists, and has an-interesting play-list most of the time.

Florentine - a hip neighborhood in the southern part of Tel Aviv

Florentine is a very hip neighborhood in the southern part of Tel Aviv. It has lively nightlife and a wide selection of bars, cafes and nightclubs, which attract young as well as more mature crowd. Florentine is located between Neve Tzedek and Jaffa, and is named after David Florentine, a Zionist leader from Greece, and the founding father of the neighborhood, back in 1927. Metushelach Restaurant in Florentine Florentine has been attracting many young residents for the last decade. First they used to come there because it was simply cheaper than the center of the city, but nowadays Florentine is considered to be a center for young artists and musicians, who create a village-like atmosphere. At the same time, some of the old traditional spirit of Florentine remains and many small synagogues can be spotted, as a symbol for the mixture of old and new this neighborhood possess. Florentine is a lively quarter which offers selection of long-established small family restaurants. Elimelech (43 Ha'aliya St.) has been known since 1936 for its traditional Jewish food, and other small restaurants are all around the place. Another culinary must in Florentine is the small bakeries scattered throughout the area, which serve delicious Borekas (filled pastries) and other traditional snacks. In the morning Florentine acts as a busy commercial center, but at sunset the worn out streets turn into a nightlife center. Some of the best nightclubs and bars of the city are located in Florentine. "Haoman 17" nightclub (88 Abarbanel St.) hosts some of the best dance Djs in the world every weekend. Other options include live rock bands at the "BarbY" (52 Kibbutz Galuyot St.), live Reggae acts at the "Slow Moshe" (4 Hamechoga St.) and many more. Finding bars in Florentine is quite an easy task. You can visit "Bugsy" (26 Florentine St.), which serves great breakfasts at daytime, "Lenny's" (7 Vital St.), which is the residents' favorite, or what seems to be the last "Rockers" bar in Tel Aviv, "Satchmo" (6 Vital St.) The closest hotels to Florentine are Dan Panorama and David Intercontinental, located next to the beach, just minutes away from this hip artistic nightlife center.

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