South Beach: Tel Aviv / Jaffa
Beaches of Israel travel guideThe “south beach” area, on the Tel Aviv/Jaffa border, includes quite a few attractions: great beaches, fabulous food, and even one historic museum. Whether you’re touring the beach promenade or on your way to or from Jaffa – you’d want to get to know that area.
The beach right on the border of Tel Aviv/Jaffa is Alma Beach, one of the most laid-back beaches in Tel Aviv that offers the beautiful view of the port and towers of Old Jaffa. The beach is relatively clean and untouched. There are sunshades and showers but no lifeguard, so be extra careful. There are no sun beds, but there is a sitting area with plastic chairs and tables which are part of the Alma Beach Kiosk, the beach extension of the up-scale restaurant Manta Ray. In the Kiosk you can order some of the restaurant’s simpler dishes and nice cocktails.
If we’re already mentioning Manta Ray (Tel: +972-3-5174773), we must say that it offers fantastic view of the Mediterranean Sea and Old Jaffa and serves great seafood and fish dishes. Breakfasts are especially recommended and a drink with little Tapas on the Manta Ray porch during sunset is a Tel Aviv experience you can’t beat.
One of the most famous restaurants on the Tel Aviv/Jaffa border is Margaret Tayar’s, at 4 Retsif Ha-Aliyah Shenei St. (Tel: +972-3-6824741 – it’s recommended you call to check on opening hours because they tend to change with the weather and the mood). Margaret Tayar is an inspired cook who loves to see people enjoying her creations – as fish and other Mediterranean dishes there deserve to be called.
We said an historic museum on the beach and we weren’t kidding. The Etzel Museum 1947-1948 (Beit Gidi) is located right on South Herbert Samuel Promenade, (Tel:+972-3-5172044). The Etzel was a paramilitary force that operated against both the British and the Arabs to win Jewish sovereignty, before being incorporated into the Israel Defense Force. This museum follows the campaign to ‘liberate’ Jaffa in a set of well organized exhibits and English translated materials.
Right on the Tel Aviv/Jaffa border you’ll find the luxurious hotels Dan Panorama and the David Intercontinental. Both offer a great view of the beach and the Mediterranean, of Old Jaffa on one end and the Tel Aviv skyline on the other – A great view to start your day with.
