I planned to take my dad on a Tel Aviv food walking tour for the longest time, but it took us a while to find the perfect timing.
That’s the good thing about delays though – they just give you more time to plan, and we ended up having a great day – visiting the Carmel and Levinski markets, and also a quick stop to Jaffa.
Since we enjoyed it so much, I thought – why not share our tour with you as well?
Just to clarify – you can easily spend half a day or more in each of the markets, however, this route is more suitable for those of you who have a free day in Tel Aviv and wish to sample more than one place.
In addition, you can take the entire route or just select the places that interest you most.
Just remember to bring good walking shoes as the walks in between segments are necessary for digestion š
START YOUR MORNING AT NORDINYO
To get your energy going, start at this beautiful cafe located near the Carmel Market, at the Nachalat Binyamin street. Nordinyo opened in August 2019 and is already very popular with the locals.
Whenever I’m here, I get their amazing drip coffee and a maritozzo – a sweet brioche bun filled with whipped cream, originally from Rome.
The chocolate and olive oil cake is also delicious – and in any case, make sure to have a look at the display window and check out the selection of fresh pastries and sandwiches they have available that day.
But I do warn you – it’s not going to be an easy choice š
HAVE LUNCH AT THE FISHERMEN’S AND STROLL THE CARMEL MARKET
A 5-minute walk from Nordinio, you will find the Carmel Market, which has really become a culinary empire in the last few years. You can easily spend half a day here, and there are even organized food tours you can take.
However, as I wrote in the beginning, the goal here is to sample a few places in one day, so I’ll write about one of the restaurants I love most.
If you have some extra free time, I recommend strolling in the market for a while, have a look at the stands and soak the vibe.
When you’re ready to eat, head over to Carmel 40 – a recently opened fish stand, where you can have fresh fish dishes straight from the fisherman’s.
Even if it’s crowded, I suggest waiting a bit for spots to open. The turnover is pretty quick and sitting on the little stools is fun, especially with the great staff on board which is super nice and talkative.
In terms of dishes, don’t miss out on the fishermen’s sandwich, a version of the Turkish Balik Ekmek – with fresh grilled sea-bass, saffron aioli, chopped lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onion and chimichurri sauce.
We also took some batter-fried red mullets which were delicious, and two cups of cold tap beer – truly a delightful meal!
VISIT LEVINSKI MARKET FOR FRESH BUREK AND REFRESHING SODA
From the Carmel Market, you can take a short bus ride to Levinski market, however, I strongly recommend taking a 15-minute walk via Nachalat Binyamin – it’s a chance to see the unique streets and prepare for the next food stop š
Levinski market was recently turned into a pedestrian zone, and the Tel Aviv municipality added some sitting areas with colorful metal chairs.
I thought it was a really nice addition, for those who wish to get some food and then sit comfortably to eat (like me š )
Once again, if you have some extra time on your hands, have a look at the shops – this is a much smaller market then the Carmel, which specializes in spices, nuts and dried fruits.
In terms of food, we made 2 stops here:
#1 Delicious Burek (or bourekas as we say in Hebrew) – a flaky pastry filled with cheese, potatoes or spinach. It comes with some tomato sauce, spicy harissa and olives. You can also add a hard-boiled egg, and I definitely recommend that you do!
Levinsky Burekas Google Maps
#2 After eating the bourekas, a refreshing drink is definitely needed – and I have just the place for that.
Levinsky 41 or Cafe Levinsky is a little stand, serving very special and refreshing sodas with herbs and a variety of fruits.
In Hebrew we call it Gazoz, so make sure to stop by and get a refreshing Gazoz before continuing your day!
VISIT JAFFA GREEK MARKET AND END THE DAY WITH A YUMMY DESSERT
From Levinski market, you can either walk to Jaffa for about 30 minutes (and even take a detour through the Tel Aviv promenade) – or take a 15 minutes bus ride.
Before getting to our last food stop, take a few minutes to stroll in the Greek Market and check out the beautiful street art. The Jaffa Flea Market is also nearby if you wish to see some antiques:
And now for our dessert –
Knafeh is a traditional Middle Eastern dish that came back to glory in the last couple of years, and Tel Aviv definitely has it’s share of Knafeh places.
So what is it you ask?
Thin noodles, soaked in sweet sugar syrup, layered with cheese and nuts. You can also find savory versions, but the classic dish is a dessert.
At Knafe Yafo, which is the last stop of our tour, there’s a very yummy Knafeh dish, served with some refreshing and not too sweer Kaymak ice cream.
You can have it to-go or to-stay, but notice you first need to place your order with the cashier outside.
Sometimes there’s a line and it can take a while, but if you’re staying definitely get a cup of Turkish Cay with your Knafeh – a sweet ending to a great day š
Knafe Yafo Google Maps
For more Tel Aviv recommendations, make sure to check out my Best Restraunts in Tel Aviv post!
The Hungry Chick Journeys 