Sharon Feiereisen

We’ve put together a guide to navigating the White City that you'll actually want to follow. We’re talking boozing while painting, smoothie bowls loaded with fresh blueberries (which all locals know is a rarity), and kosher food that’s actually amazing. Here’s your A to Z guide to Tel Aviv, whether you’re a tourist planning your vacation schedule or a local looking for something other than Netflix and tanning.

There’s a reason Starbucks – with their beans’ signature burned and bitter flavor – failed in Israel. Tel Avivians take their coffee as seriously as they do their hummus and pita, which is why no matter where you go, the coffee tends to be top-notch. The thriving café culture and the rise in work-from-home jobs also means that the coffee options in this caffeine-obsessed city are constantly growing. Here’s a look at five new spots that manage to deliver perfectly roasted beans and then some:

We might not have SoulCycle, Barry’s Bootcamp, SLT or any of the other flashy name brand boutique fitness spots Olim are likely familiar with, but Tel Aviv has some of the best fitness options you’ll find anywhere in the world (we live by the beach, after-all!). Whether you’re a tourist here for a short stay or a permanent resident looking to dip your toes into something new, there are plenty of options to try. And they come with perks! From free trial classes to studio locker rooms stocked with high-end skincare, here’s a look at Tel Aviv’s standout pay-per-class fitness options.

We all know Anastasia, Bana and Urban Shaman, but the Tel Aviv vegan scene is ever-growing and there are plenty of more under-the-radar spots you might not know. We’re talking crispy pizzas, protein-rich salads (that are actually filling!), creamy raw-vegan desserts, and more. Here’s a look at standouts you should add to your list next time you’re looking for a nosh.

Yes, yes we know you love The Cheesecake Factory, but there are plenty of other options to get your sugar fix in Tel Aviv that won’t leave you with clogged arteries (have you seen their nutrition facts)? A serving of the Oreo cheesecake has 1620 calories, 134g of sugar, and more saturated fat than you should be consuming in an entire day)! That doesn’t mean the below options are any less deliciously indulgent. Whether you’re into a pistachio croissant, a cream cheese frosted red velvet cupcake, a cronut, a Swedish cardamom cinnamon bun, and yes even cheesecake (or savory pastries!), we’ve got you covered with the best options in the city.

We don’t have to tell you that Tel Aviv is insanely expensive. Fortunately (unfortunately?) the food is amazing! It’s hard to resist a fresh shake, even if it’s 32NIS or a hot-from-the-oven plain bagel, even at 8NIS (yes, Tel Aviv has great bagels!). The reason many of the city’s best spots are as good as they are is because they take quality – and freshness – seriously. You won’t get yesterday’s eats, today. In a last-ditch effort to clean out their shops, many of Tel Aviv’s best spots offer discount deals shortly before closing. Here’s a look at some of the deals worth queuing up for:

If there’s one thing that’s becoming increasingly clear it’s that boutique fitness studios are in and traditional gyms are on their way out. In this era where wellness is king, the demand for personalization, higher intensity workouts, and cleaner more amenity-driven spaces has never been more acute. Here’s a look at the six studios changing the fitness landscape in Tel Aviv. Prep to break a sweat in style with our round up of niche activewear brands in Israel. And if working out inside is really not your jam, there are an unlimited range of options in the great Israeli outdoors - including a host of summer sports and refreshing hikes.

Every season is swimsuit season in Israel, so it’s befitting to turn to homegrown talent for fashion inspiration. Whether you’re looking for a classic two-piece, a covered-up one piece, or a new-fangled silhouette, Israeli designers have all the bases covered. They also have styles to fit a wide range of body types and activities (everything from surf-ready to sunbathing only).

It's June, which means it's the most colorful time of year, Gay Pride Week, and Tel Aviv is celebrating in full force. Many of our favorite restaurants, bars, and dessert shops are selling special rainbow-inspired dishes, cocktails, and treats to mark the occasion. You’ll also be seeing Absolut Rainbow bottles at liquor stores throughout the country. Absolut is, in fact, the first spirits bottle ever to wear the rainbow flag, which was made in collaboration with Gilbert Baker, the designer behind the original flag. So load up on the neutral spirit and read on for all the best spots to dive into rainbow-fied eats.

You can wander along Dizengoff Street, the Tel Aviv Port, or Rothschild Boulevard and come across endless alternatives to Tinder-ing, but when time is of the essence, zone in on one of these tried-and-true pickup spots - all of which are guaranteed to be hot zones for flirty shenanigans and midnight barstool make out sessions. Here’s a look at the best pickup bars and clubs that are part of the Tel Aviv nightlife scene.

While many people relish the holiday and embrace the traditional matzah brei, many others curse the fact that they’re paying top shekel for what is often sub-par food (think a bread basket filled with what amounts to basically flavor-less crackers). Because you can’t count on your favorite kosher (like Malka) or non-kosher (like Café XOHO) spots to be open, we did the heavy lifting for you and have rounded up the best Passover week options – whether you’re looking to go classic Rabbicertified or whether you’d rather put a new spin on the Passover dinner act– however your matzah crumbles.

And no, we’re not talking about matzo ball soup! We’re not even talking about chicken-noodle. Israeli chefs are some of the worlds most creative and, with access to farm-fresh produce, we’re privy to some of the best winter soups around. With that in mind, we asked some of our favorite local chefs to share their top-notch soup recipes. Should you not feel inclined to get busy in the kitchen, you can enjoy most of them in the featured chefs’ restaurants.

Cube Coffee may be tiny, but with its bold gold aesthetic it’s nearly impossible to miss. It’s basically a kiosk built into a storefront and while it’s meant to be grab-and-go, there are a few bar-style seats. Surprisingly, Cube Coffee uses capsules (yes, like your Nespresso at home), but their coffee is smooth and flavorful and they have a number of portion-controlled (read: small) sweet little cakes and baklava-style treats to go with your caffeine fix.

HOC, an acronym for house of coffee, is an adorable inside-outside café run by a young husband and wife duo. The savory menu is short but has enough variety to suit most palettes. In addition to some in-house crafted sweets, they stock pastries and cookies from cult-faves Fika (a Swedish bakery chain) and Piece of Nature (a plant-based vegan brand with a focus on healthy desserts – think no refined sugar). There’s a Japanese vibe to how most of the dishes are presented and to the sparse, zen-like decor at the sun-drenched self-service eatery. 

FEED, not to be confused with the charitable fashion brand started by Lauren Bush (which not only shares the same name but the same logo font), is a sprawling new self-service café located in a WeWork space near Shapira. It’s a gem just a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Rothchild in a stretch of Tel Aviv that’s still not glaringly gentrified. Given those facts, it was perhaps foreseeable that as soon as FEED opened its doors it was flooded with eager patrons ready to nosh on their ever-changing sweets, salads, sandwiches, and lunch specials (think quiche, green curry, couscous, and more). They also have custom coffee blends and a curated selection of specialty items for sale including wine, beer, cheese, and packaged cookies and treats from Reviva And Celia. Beit Kandinof regulars will very likely recognize many of the staffers as FEED was opened by the same team.

Isla, part of a glossy new hostel of the same name, had us when we spotted the container of unsweetened almond milk – still, a surprising rarity at cafés in Tel Aviv. The next hook was the marble cake samples on the counter. Most of Isla’s sweets come from the popular Lehem Vehaverim, so they’re predictably fantastic (do yourself a favor and take home some cookies to heat in the oven later). Isla is one of those cozy yet spacious all-day destination cafés where you can order a madeleine and a cappuccino (or custom blended chai or a latte made with that aforementioned unsweetened almond milk…) and linger with your laptop all day. When a craving for something savory hits, they also have borekitas and samosas, both of which are made locally in South Tel Aviv. Better yet, unlike most cafés, Isla is open late – till 10 pm every day with a bar that is open until midnight. Hostel guests have 24-hour access to the space.

Who knew Swedish pastries were so good! Flakey and delicious, the standouts include kanelbulle (aka a cinnamon bun; there’s also a cardamom iteration of this), kokostopp (aka coconut macaroon), and a variety of savory pastries crafted with feta/spinach, pesto/ mozzarella, and more.

Whether you want a savory pastry like burekas or sambusak or something sweet like a rugelach, they’ve got it all of ‘em – and at reasonable prices to boot.

Showroom has a selection of cronuts along with a wild assortment of donuts (think covered in frosting and Oreo bits), cookies (s'mores) and croissants dripping with fillings like Nutella or strawberry. They’ve also got vanilla and chocolate pretzels that will make Americans nostalgic about your childhood Auntie Anne’s.

At this popular landmark bakery, locals and visitors alike chomp at the bit for the fluffy rounds of pita lovingly sprinkled with zaatar and sesame seeds, half moon pastries oozing with salty Bulgarian cheese and honeyed desserts of baklava and knafe that are equally delicious.

You’d never know it, but these founders are all Israeli - and they’re leading some of the most exciting startups in America You probably know that Waze, Wix, WalkMe, and Fiverr have roots in Israel, but they’re just a drop in the bucket. Whether you’re looking to get help checking off chores on your never-ending to-do list, looking for home decor inspo, or are trying to make finding your next apartment less of a headache, these three Israeli entrepreneurs are making waves. Ohad Elhelo and Ori Cohen of STUFF That dream of having a personal assistant to checkoff those annoying to-dos might not be as far off as you think. “STUFF offers users an unlimited ‘chief of stuff’ service that completes personal day-to-day tasks providing the ability to prioritize and streamline users' lives,” says co-founder and CEO of STUFF, Ohad Elhelo, who also happens to be one of Forbes 30 under 30 and the force behind start-up incubator, Our Generation Speaks. While a typical personal assistant service can cost upwards of $500 a month, a monthly STUFF subscription is just $50. “Our guarantee is that we’ll complete all the tasks you delegate to us at least as well as you’d do them yourself, and typically better thanks to powerful AI that allows us to easily identify the patterns of how people solve personal tasks in the real world and translate them into efficient processes.” To use the service, you simply text or record a voice message request (up to three open tasks at a time). All your tasks get

Find out why everyone's buzzing about Syte and Tipa - two Israeli startups with the potential to disrupt retail products and services on a global scale The Israeli startup community never ceases to amaze. From life-saving medical technologies to cybersecurity innovations to game-changing payment conduits, this tiny country has thousands of startups positively influencing the way the world at large works. Recently two startups have been getting a particularly feverish amount of buzz: Syte and Tipa. This is particularly interesting because they are both b2b (business to business) startups, which rarely stir up as much excitement among the general public as companies with products or services that sell directly to consumers.  Courtesy of Syte Syte is basically Shazam for shopping. They power visual search, product recommendations, and deep tagging for major retailers like Tommy Hilfiger and Farfetch. What this means for the consumer is a better, faster, more satisfying online shopping experience. When a buyer goes to a brand’s website that uses Syte they can do things like upload an image of an item they want and in a matter of seconds Syte will work to generate all visually similar products within a retailer’s site. They’re not the first startup to attempt to do this, but they are far and away the best at doing it and given how prominent their clients are, they are truly transforming product discovery.  Syte has already raised millions and with five offices around the

And it’s only NIS 10 Most people don't leave an Eyal Shani restaurant with much of anything left in their wallet, so it's with particular delight that there's something available for a mere NIS 10 at his fast-casual hot spot, Miznon. It won't fill your belly, but it will benefit charity and add a cute touch to your outfits. What are we talking about? Let us explain. Dexterous design student Dana Ben Ami, currently a student at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, took an enamel course in which she opted to dedicate brooches to Eyal Shani, the celebrity chef behind Miznon, where she works. dana Jewelry Design, Courtesy of PR “I was inspired by his passion, dedication, and approach, so I decided to dedicate the brooches to him. I chose the three items that I believe represent Eyal Shani the most – cauliflower, pita bread, and a tomato,” says Ben Ami. “The tomato was the first thing that popped in my mind [Shani’s Instagram handle is @Eyaltomato], after that was the cauliflower (which is an amazing dish, you must try it), and of course the pita bread with the famous spring onion.” dana Jewelry Design, Courtesy of PR Shani was clearly inspired by Ben Ami as well since you can now buy those very pins at Miznon for NIS 10 a pop. Three thousand limited edition ones were made with all proceeds going to “Latet” (To Give), an Israeli charitable organization dedicated to reducing poverty. There are already talks for a second manufacturing run for more brooches and possibly

Sort of, not really, maybe a little, but hopefully actually really soon  Don't be fooled by the flashy headlines, Amazon has not launched a proper Israel vertical. There's no amazon.co.il - and no official word on when or if there will ever be one.   So, what's the deal? While Amazon, which does have offices in Israel, has not formerly launched in Israel yet, they have launched a new feature on Amazon.com, which allows Israeli customers to search for local Israeli sellers who have products stored locally in Israel.   Here’s how it works: users simply search the site for a product as they would normally and then filter the results by “ships locally.” “The point of this is to try and make the shopping experience a little easier for our Israeli customers by removing a couple of the barriers to entry, by speeding up delivery, as the product doesn’t need to be shipped from the United States and ideally saving money on shipping costs,” a press representative for Amazon exclusively told Time Out Israel. “We are always looking for ways to improve the customer experience and felt that by speeding up delivery times and reducing delivery costs, we would reduce barriers for Israeli customers. “ Amazon © Shutterstock This new “Ships Locally” feature is open to all Israeli sellers who have products stored in Israel.  Sign-up for potential sellers is easy via Amazon’s normal seller portals meaning that the categories and products are determined by the sellers interested in being on the pl

The mushrooming growth of American television's Israeli connection makes for dynamic and addictive watching. Let's just say there is much more than Homeland, Shtisel, and Fauda. These are the latest, most talked-about shows to get the Israeli treatment.  Odds are you know and love cult favorites Homeland, Shtisel, and Fauda, but there’s so much more where those came from. A quick scan of Netflix not only shows that they’re now allowing viewers to watch classic Israeli shows like Beauty and the Baker (which incidentally will be getting its own American spinoff in the coming months on ABC), but developing original programing with an Israeli connection. And they’re not alone. HBO and other channels are also getting in on the action. Here’s a look at three series to consider watching on any upcoming lazy Saturday nights at home. Euphoria Starring Zendaya, Euphoria is an HBO teen drama based on the popular Israeli miniseries by the same name. It also happens to be produced by Jewish rapper Drake. The show follows the troubled life of a 17-year-old drug addict, Rue (Zendaya), who though recently out of rehab, doesn’t plan on staying clean. The series also follows various other teens who are all struggling with their own issues as they navigate the trials and tribulations of love, friendship, drugs, and sex in this age of social media. Though it’s certainly not a show any soon-to-be-parents should consider watching, it won’t be a stretch for many viewers to connect and be captivated

Israelis love to surf. In fact, most of us can think of at least a handful of people who play hooky on days when the conditions for surfing are optimal. The Arie Klang House Artists Gallery in Ashdod is paying homage to all things surfing with the opening of their exhibition titled “Wave Catchers.”  Wave Catchers will mark the first Israeli show to present what they are calling “the Israeli world of surfing, the surfing experience, and the cultural world of Wave Catchers.” The exhibit, which is free, features photos, art installations, sound and video art, historical collectors’ items as well as surfing outfits, and surfing-inspired clothing. “Israel has a very large community of surfers, but Ashdod in particular has a strong and fast-growing community – there are five schools of surfing now!” says the exhibit’s art and design curator Naama Arbel. “It’s also worth noting that while there have been a number of surf-inspired exhibitions in Israel in the past, none were as comprehensive and on the scale that we are presenting; they were more niche with a focus on photography or art on surf boards, for example.” She goes on to explain that this is the first exhibition to capture the true nature and culture of surfing. Arches Beach Ashdod © Maor Ben Hamo Ashdod is, in fact, the ideal location for this two-gallery exhibit as a big portion of the community lives by the sea. “All the people in Ashdod know and love the sea, but they don’t know a lot about the culture of the sea and

Beit Hanna opens its doors in Tel Aviv! The newly opened Beit Hanna is being billed as a members-only community center, open to all. Meaning unlike other members-only clubs there is no screening process or referrals. Instead, the focus is on community, networking, eating (of course!), fitness, and overall healthy living. Aside from a gym, there’s a full schedule of classes offered (think Pilates, yoga, TRX…) starting as early as 7 a.m. and running till about 8:30 p.m. all days except for Saturday (Friday, in observance of Shabbat, the last class starts at 11:30 a.m.). As for instructors, you might recognize some faces given that the fitness portion of Bait Hanna was spearheaded by one of the owners of hotspot gym Kolnoapeer. While the gym and the classes are only open to members, there’s also a community center and expansive outdoor patio space where lectures, film screenings, mediation, various programs (think post-natal workshops) will be held. These events, free for members, will be open to the neighborhood in an effort to turn Beit Hanna into a community hub (prices will vary by event). © Doron Sery   Food is another central element to the vibrant space. Their cafeteria-style eatery, EATS, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Weekend brunch will begin next month. The focus is on clean, fresh foods and snacks. While not everything is totally in-step with keeping your calorie count low – they have a long list of sweets including cakes, pastries, banana bread, brownies, an

Alternative medicine that wins everyone’s respect – and tastebuds You already know that Tel Aviv is peppered with juice shops, vegan eateries, and health havens. For the most part, however, unless you land on the owner, you won’t get helped by someone who is there for more than a paycheck. Not so at Uzi- Eli. Nearly two decades since the so-called Etrog Man opened up his shop in Jerusalem’sMachane Yehuda market, he still runs it along with his two kids and a well-trained staff of true believers. A second beloved location, at the top of Carmel Market, can be spotted from a mile away – just from the line winding out the door. While you can certainly stop by either of Uzi-Eli’s shops for a fresh orange juice or an almond-date smoothie, you’d be seriously missing out. “My favorite thing to do is open new channels of discovery for the people who come here,” says Uzi- Eli’s daughter Maayan, who runs the Carmel shop. “We speak with our customers and find out what they really need: do they need to boost their immune system? Or maybe they are trying to detox or perhaps they’re looking for more energy. Uzi-Eli Etrogman No matter what the case, I try to get them out of their comfort zone to try something that will truly help them and boost their positive energy.” There are no menus at Uzi-Eli (yet!); it’s all about a two-way conversation here – though there are plenty of repeat customers who buy their favorite juices/smoothies by the gallon. “We show people that healthy can be not onl

Poppin’: A chat with Instafamous artist Sivan Sternbach Sivan Sternbach’s (@sivansternbach) playful ceramic balloon art is made for Instagram. Bold, bright, and totally fun, the Israeli artist, at the time of publication, has over 12,000 followers, and many are loyal collectors. Sternbach’s signature are classic floating balloons – which come in varying sizes, colors, and levels of inflatedness – as well as helium balloon shapes, animals, and letters. Her ‘balloon language’ has been featured everywhere from the iconic windows of Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan, to the Ritz-Carlton in Herzliya and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. What is your background? I studied hotel management at New York University as well as pastry at the French Culinary Institute. In 2000, I left New York and came back to Israel with my husband and two small children and opened a chic pastry shop in Tel Aviv called Crème Fraîche. [Sternbach sold her share two years later to be a more hands-on mother]. Once I started studying pottery many years later I felt an immediate connection to the clay; it felt like I was working with dough again. It was love at first touch! Sivan Sternbach How did you become fascinated with balloons? Around 2010 an art curator took me to art galleries, museums, and to visit artists in their studios, that was the time I fell in love with art and early on I was inspired by balloons. When I started building balloons, art curator Keren Bar Gil saw them and loved them so I gave her on

Over two decades of churning out Israel’s best Thai food When contemplating where to take visitors out to dinner in Tel Aviv, Thai House almost always makes the 'hit list'. And while today we locals take for granted how international the Tel Aviv food scene has become, it hasn't always been the case - by a long shot. Thai House founder, Yariv Malili, was in fact a pioneer when he opened his Asian-inspired hot spot, which most people don’t realize is over two decades old. His second endeavor, the equally popular Kab Kem, has more than solidified the entrepreneur's spot as one of the major players on Israel’s culinary scene. Malili lets us in on how he has successfully taught one culture about another culture through through food, where he likes to eat in Tel Aviv, and more. Did you always have an interest in the restaurant business? Not at all! I grew up in Israel and I never even ate at restaurants, let alone had any idea of what it would mean to own a place or be a chef! After the army I traveled around and when I was in Thailand, I met my now wife, Lek Sunan. We spent years traveling throughout Thailand and had a child together. At the time, I was working as a fisherman and never had dreams of opening a restaurant, but what happened was that my sister got married so it was my chance to come back to Israel and introduce my family to my new wife and child. We thought at most we would stay for six months.  How did you go from six months to permanent?  I came to Israel with no

And some of your favorite restaurants are involved You already know that Vicky Cristina is the place to go for Spanish-style tapas in Tel Aviv, but starting this month they’ll be a go-to for a lot more than that. The longstanding Neve Tzedek favorite has teamed up with some of the country’s best restaurants, each of whom will be infiltrating the Vicky Cristina kitchen for two days, putting their own spin on the tapas style of dining. The pop-up events will take place every two weeks on Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning January 8th and they’ll run for three months. Live music and specialty cocktails sweeten an already sugary pot. photo of Pinat Balkan pop up © Sarit Goffen Dubbed "Tapas Around the World," the special bites will be served along with the restaurant’s signature menu. Each eatery will work in collaboration with the Vicky Cristina team to conceive six to eight dishes. Expect a mix of exclusives along with tapas versions of dishes you’ll find on the guest restaurants’ own menus. Some sure-to-be favorites include Banana Lotti (crispy pastry filled with slices of banana and roasted coconut served with condensed milk and topped with roasted coconut) from Tiger Lilly and Phyllo Borek (with eggplant, feta, yogurt, and garlic) from Onza. Prices are in line with what Vicky Cristina patrons are used to – around 30 to 70NIS per plate – and you should plan on ordering three to four tapas per person (though you’ll undoubtedly want to order the whole menu, so come with a big

We might not have Amazon, Caviar or Foody Direct to bring us an endless assortment of nosh-able options, but Israel has some of the best packaged and fresh food on the planet. Plus, they’re extra special – most of them aren’t available internationally! There’s no babka like an Israeli babka and that goes double for challah, and crispy packaged snacks. Here’s a look at a highly curated list (because anyone who has ever been to Israel knows the list is endless) of totally delicious food items to bring home to your friends and family when traveling abroad. Babka from Bakery There are many babka purveyors, but Bakery’s reigns supreme. Their standard offering includes halva, chocolate, and cheese, along with seasonal options. Counter-intuitively, not even the cheese one needs to be refrigerated and usually all varieties last about five days before going stale.  © Idit Ben Uliel Challah from Lehamim You’ll want to save this option for same day arrival trips because unlike babka, challah does not taste as good the day after. Particularly for Shabbat arrivals, however, there’s no beating Lehamim’s Festive Challah, aesthetically or taste-wise, a round weave with a half dozen kinds of multicolored seeds. © Daniel Layla Elite Milk Chocolate with Popping Candies When Gal Gadot stopped by The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon around Halloween last year, she brought this bar of chocolate with her, declaring it one of her favorites. The truth is, Elite has nothing on other chocolate, but i