Tel Aviv’s markets are the best show in town, and they’re bustling all day long. A Middle Eastern mélange of tastes, scents, sounds, colors – and lots of people.
The Carmel Market, Bursting with life, with surprises tucked away. For those who are mad about markets, this place is heave. And for fans of freshness, there could be no better destination – perfect parsley, the juiciest melons, the most marvelous mangoes. Not to mention the meat, the fish, the cheeses, the flowers – a true cornucopia of flavors and aromas.
Don’t miss the shops in the tiny alleys behind. That’s where you’ll find the genuine gems: the cheese and smoked meat delicatessens, the barrels full of herring and other salted fish, all varieties of pickles, halvah and other sweets, even clothing and fabric shops. Your nose will guide you to the bakeries, spice shops and coffee-roasters.
The Carmel Market is a feast for senses, an anthropological and gastronomic adventure. For visitors who are marketplace aficionados, a captivating two-hour exploration of this truly authentic bazaar will add a memorable dash of spice to their stay in Tel Aviv.
Open every day except Saturday, from 8 a.m. until evening (shops close earlier on Friday afternoons, before Shabbat). Located between Allenby Street and the seashore.
The Flea Marker- Bargains and hidden treasures in Jaffa. Antique furniture, hand made carpets, wooden statues, china dolls, colorful pillows, swords, narghiles, silver and copper items from the East (both Near and Far) – you can find here everything! The bustling partially covered market is packed with bargains to suit every taste and pocketbook, especially for those who have time and patience.
The young – and the young at heart – will find clothing and accessories, much of it Indian-style: sharwal pants, bright tunics and ponchos, scarves in every hue, as well as jewelry made from silver, wood and plastic. Most of the merchandise makes their long way here from the Far East.
You can find here tiny cafes, simple workers’ eateries and fresh juice, but the jewel in the crown is the legendary Abulafia bakery on Yefet Street. Don’t miss the freshly baked pittot topped with eggs, cheese, za’atar (a local herb) and olive oil, or the piping-hot sambusak, a pastry stuffed with delicious fillings.
Open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays until 2 p.m. Located near the Clock Tower at the beginning of Yefet Street.
The Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall
Twice a week, in the laid-back, urban atmosphere, Isreal’s main crafts fair showcases an amazing array of unique, locally made items. The bustling bazaar along both sides of the pedestrian mall in one of the city’s oldest shopping precincts has earned a reputation for striking original designs in jewelry, ceramics, home décor and more. Along with the fine crafts on offer, the welcoming cafes and fresh-juice stands, you’ll also find street theater, musicians and palm readers. You can even get future foretold by a readers of the coffee grounds that sink to the bottom of a cup of Turkish brew. It’s a treasure trove of trinkets that can transform life into one big smile!
Tuesdays and Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located on Nahalat Binyamin Street, starting from Allenby.
Creative Artists Fair
A twice-weekly happening that gathers together artists and craftspeople to sell their unique works, along the city’s premiere shopping street, Dizengoff. The bazaar features works in wood, glass, ceramics, metal, as well as jewelry, painting, sculpture and illuminated blessings, New Age items and crafts of all kinds, plus imported works. Romantics will be happy to browse among the second – (third –and fourth-) hand clothing, including some finds from Sixties. The prices are reasonable, and so are the hours.
Mondays from noon until 8 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located on Dizwngoff Street between Dizengoff Circle and Frishman Street
Antiques and Secondhand items fair
A wonderful alternative for those who have done the flea Market and are looking for bargains in the center of the city. This quality antiques fair, featuring about 100 different vendors, offers private collections of rare items in the fields of Judaica, old photographs, original and reproduced paintings and drawings, antique tools and musical instruments, rare books, household items, toys, vintage clothing, props for theater and film productions and more. Don’t miss this mobile museum!
Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at Dizengoff Circle.
For more information, please visit Tel Aviv’s Web site Here.
