Concierge Service

Practical answers to guests' frequently asked questions.

Who are you and what is Live Well Tel Aviv?
Please see the About Live Well Tel Aviv section for more information.

What is your favorite part of the city?
As someone who lives in the center, Rothschild is a favorite haunt. A stroll down the boulevard on a Friday afternoon is an unbeatable people-watching experience. I am also always charmed by Neve Tzedek and am constantly being amazed by Yaffo: the confluence of cultures, the stunning architecture, and the rapid pace at which it is gentrifying are astonishing. To me, it's the most unique and revealing neighborhood around.

How do you get around within Tel Aviv?
I walk. It's very popular to bike, but I don't feel so confident in my skills. When it's convenient, I take a sherute, which is a shared van that runs on part of the bus lines. The main ones are sherute #5 (which cuts from Gan HaHashmal up several blocks of Rothschild, then all the way to the port on Dizengoff and through the Bavli neighborhood) and the #4 (which goes along Allenby and Ben Yehuda). I have an admitted paranoia about buses and, when all else fails, I take a taxi, which can be easily hailed on the street. Tourists should be advised that drivers often ask whether they can arrange a fixed price for the ride. I recommend not taking this offer, which often is a jacked up price, and sticking to the good old meter instead. Cab drivers do not generally get tipped.

How do you get around outside of Tel Aviv?
I am lucky to have the use of my boyfriend's car. However, there's an excellent train route that runs mostly north of Tel Aviv, taking you to places along the coast like Haifa and Akko. There's also a train to Jerusalem, but it is slow and the more popular option is to go by sherute.

How do you get back and forth from the airport?
I take a taxi, since I often have a lot of luggage. From Tel Aviv, it is advisable to order one several hours in advance. I always use Hadar Taxi, which is extremely reliable and offers an excellent flat rate of 90NIS to the airport. They speak English and can be reached at +972 3 971 1103. For those interested in saving a little money, the train is an excellent option and leaves from several locations in the city along the Ayalon. The most central station is HaShalom located next to the Azrieli towers.

How do you find out about cultural events?
One complaint I hear (and have) a lot is that there's not a lot of up-to-date information online in English. I advise visitors to pick up a copy of the English-language version of Time Out when they arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport. The current issue is available free and can be found in the center of baggage claim. Once you're in Tel Aviv, make sure to purchase the Thursday editions of Haaretz or The Jerusalem Post. Both papers have English versions and contain comprehensive guides for the upcoming week, as well as restaurant listings.

What type of cuisine can I expect?
Israel street food may be the dishes it's most typically identified with: hummus, pita, falafel, shawarma, kebab, etc. The cuisine found in restaurants, however, is decidedly more sophisticated and is based largely on the typical Mediterranean diet: olive oil, nuts, legumes, grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, and low-fat dairy. It strays from this most largely in the prevalence of red meat dishes. Shawarma, for instance, is made from lamb and the number of steak restaurants is astounding. Chicken is eaten primarily in the form of shnitzel, a much-beloved German import, and all such protein entrees are accompanied by french fries ("chips," as they are called here) or mashed potatoes ("puree").

Salatim, a typical menu feature, refers to a platter of small spreads and salads, including hummus, tehina (sesame paste), eggplant and yogurt, chopped beets, marinated carrots, Israeli salad (diced tomatoes and cucumbers), and cooked cauliflower, to name a few. These small plates are served with pita bread for dipping. Also prevalent are "toasts" - a simpler version of panini sandwiches, usually made from different types of cheeses, perhaps with olives, tomatoes, or tuna. An "Israeli breakfast" refers to a large spread, sometimes shared, of eggs prepared as you like, Israeli salad, cheese spreads, jam, olives, tuna salad, and bread. Quinoa, a high-protein grain, is often a salad ingredient or side dish.

As for foreign imports, there is the aforementioned schnitzel, a large amount of Italian food (mainly pasta and pizza), plus a plethora of hamburger places and surprising number of sushi joints. Iraqi dishes such as sabich, a pita variation filled with roasted eggplant, potatoes, and hardboiled egg and mujhadara, a rice and lentil dish, are easily found, as are Indian curries, North African cous cous, and Persian stews.

A noticeable aspect of Israeli cuisine is that it abides by the seasons, so certain ingredients are only available during specific months. In the fall, expect an abundance of pomegranates, the symbol of Israel, which appear around the time of Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year). Citrus rules in winter, pitted fruit like apricots and avocados make an appearance in the spring, and cherries and watermelon reach their peak during summer. Strangely, limes are particularly hard to come by: they are available only a few weeks per year, in early winter.

You review many restaurants, but which is your favorite?
This is a personal question and, to be honest, on any given night I will find myself craving something entirely different. I tend to respond most to places that offer not only good food, but a distinct atmosphere and experience. I chose Joz ve Loz as the subject of my first blog entry because I think it offers the best confluence of these factors. I return to it again and again for special events and celebrations. However, every restaurant I feature on the site is a favorite. Places I don't like simply don't get reviewed.

What is the typical payment method?
Almost all places in Tel Aviv accept credit cards, unless they are small hole-in-the-wall shops or falafel joints. Even then, you may be surprised. Travelers checks seem to be a bit outdated here but, in a pinch, you may be able to convince places to take dollars. As is obvious, it's best to ask about payment methods at specific restaurants ahead of time, and you should always have on hand at least a little cash for tipping. Tips in Israel are never put on credit cards, so if you prefer to pay this way you MUST ask your servers to add on a specific amount to the total BEFORE they run your card through the machine. Once your card has been processed, the amount of money charged to you is fixed, so speak up or prepare to leave your tip in cash. The standard rate is 10%, although it's not uncommon to give more for good service.

What happens during Shabbat?
The Jewish sabbath (Shabbat) lasts from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday and is designed as a day of rest. All businesses are required to close during this time and restaurants especially must do so in order to qualify as kosher. Thus, it is often surprising to Tel Aviv visitors that the majority of the city's dining options and bars actually remain open, a testament to the city's secular character. Cinemas, cab companies, gas stations, ATMs, and some museums also remain open during Shabbat, or at least retain reduced opening hours.

So, what does close? For one thing, all banks, government offices and public transportation shut down, so forget taking the bus or sherute during this time. Shopping ceases, as evidenced by the shuttered boutiques and extremely quiet streets, and even most grocery stores, minimarts, and pharmacies close. Rest assured, however, that select "emergency" places remain open, such as a few branches of SuperPharm (a drugstore chain) and Tiv Taam (a market chain), so you will never be stranded, unable to purchase a new toothbrush or carton of milk. Ask ahead of time to identify the options closest to you. And beware if you travel to Jerusalem, where Shabbat takes on a much more all-encompassing atmosphere.

What is appropriate attire?
Anything goes in Tel Aviv and its suburbs, especially during summer, when the intense heat causes people to dress in next to nothing. The larger cities, where there is a balanced mix of secular and religious, are all fairly easy-going. Conservative neighborhoods, however, get easily offended when people do not dress according to their customs. This is especially true of Mea Shearim, the Orthodox quarter of Jerusalem, where large signs dictate the attire that must be warn before entering the area. It behooves visitors to heed such advice, as not doing so invites stone-throwing or worse. Particularly Muslim neighborhoods, such as are found in the Old City of Jerusalem or the West Bank, also prefer a certain level of modesty. Holy sites belonging to all religions require the knees and shoulders to be covered, if not also the head. Be prudent, be prepared, and plan ahead.

Why do spellings vary so much?
Since we are translating Hebrew characters into Latin letters, there is often more than one way to spell - and even pronounce - many major streets and areas (I say Yaffo, you say Jaffa). Be patient with your map or guidebook and always try to sound things out.

How have you arranged trips to the West Bank, Jordan, and Egypt?
Although many Israelis choose to forgo these locations, I understand that they are still popular tourist destinations for visitors to Israel. My limited travel experience here is chronicled in the blog, but here's the basic info: When I went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, I took a taxi from Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem. My one-day trip to Petra was an organized tour with the company Tour Plan Israel (www.tourplanisrael.com), which flew participants from Tel Aviv to Eilat and escorted them through the border crossing there. When I went to Cairo, I flew on El Al. Be advised that you need your passport for all the above trips, although it is only stamped in Jordan and Egypt, where you are also required to buy tourist visas.

Is it safe?
This is a major question and perhaps the most difficult one to answer. It is important to always check for travel advisories and to exercise good judgment. This includes making personal choices about what has the potential to make you feel uncomfortable. As mentioned above, I have a difficult time riding buses in Tel Aviv, even though the majority of people here do not. I prefer to stay away from crowded areas, such as major celebrations in Rabin Square, packed markets, and busy malls. This doesn't mean that I never go to them (I do), I just do so sparingly and make my decisions on a case by case basis. If you don't feel comfortable taking trains or going to certain areas withing Jerusalem or the country, listen to your gut instincts. My observation is that, even if everything turns out to be totally fine and normal, the stress induced from worrying makes such experiences not worth it.