The Carmel Market, located in Central Tel Aviv, not far from Tel Aviv Beach, is widely considered to be the best market in Tel Aviv. As one of the most central and busy places in the city, the Carmel Market offers nearly endless possibilities for its visitors, from world-class cuisine to vintage shops, cool bars, and much more. Here are the best ways to experience the Carmel Market, for the ultimate Tel Aviv experience.
The Story of Carmel Market
The Carmel Market, which is operating since the 1920s, is considered to be the most central and famous market of Tel Aviv and is an integral part of the history of the first Hebrew city. In the market, you’ll find a combination of crowded stalls loaded with fresh goods, alongside a culinary and tourist center with cafes, restaurants, and specialty shops, all with a young and lively atmosphere. The smells, sounds, and colors of the Carmel market have become an integral part of the city’s identity over the years, making it one of the symbols of Tel Aviv.
Best restaurants in Carmel Market
Gerti Doner
The tastiest shawarma in the Carmel Market and perhaps in all of Tel Aviv, Gerti Doner Shawarma is a legend in the Carmel Market. The shawarma here is made from lamb and is topped with pistachios, which are adding a lot to the culinary experience. Unfortunately, the stall is only open on Thursdays and Fridays and sometimes on Tuesdays. You’ll recognize it in the market by the extremely upbeat music which is being played here the whole time.
Panda Pita
Panda Pita, which is very popular in the Carmel Market, offers one of the tastiest pitas in all of Israel. The pitas here are made by chef Idan Feinburg, who makes an outstanding pita with surprising flavors that make you want to come back for more again and again. In Panda Pita, you can find three versions of pita – Sabich pita, ceviche pita, and shredded meat pita.
Hamalabiya
Hamalabiya offers cold and delicious Malabi, which goes perfectly in the hot summer days of Tel Aviv. Originally Turkish and Iraqi, the Malabi is one of Israel’s most popular deserts, and Hamalabiya is widely considered to be the best place for Malabi in Tel Aviv. The place offers classic and vegan Malabi, at relatively affordable prices, and always with coffee on the house
Khao San Restaurant
The Carmel Market is well-known for its wide variety of Thai food, which is one of the most popular cuisines in Israel, largely thanks to a growing Thai community in the country. One of the best places to experience the great Thai food of Israel is the authentic food of the excellent Khao San restaurant, located in the heart of the Carmel market. Here, you will find all of the classic dishes of Thai cuisine, including Pad Thai, papaya salad, egg rolls, stir-fried egg noodles, and more.
Things to do in Carmel Market
Enjoy the nightlife
Although the Carmel Market itself is closing down at nighttime, the market’s surrounding area only starts to come alive after dark, with several bars, pubs, and late-night restaurants, most of them being around Nachalat Binyamin and Allenby Street. With several great options, including live music bars, jazz bars, and high-quality restaurants, this is one of the best places to visit for those who want to experience the world-renowned Tel Aviv nightlife.
Do a food tour
If you want to experience the Carmel Market with a local who knows all of the secret local stalls and shops, you can take one of the several available tours of the market. Those will give you the opportunity to learn more about the market’s history, see the most unique artisan shops, and of course, sample the best of Carmel Market’s mouth-watering cuisine.
Check the nearby Nachalat Binyamin Art Fair
The Art Fair in Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian street, located just outside the Carmel Market, is the largest and oldest of its kind in Israel and is one of the most beautiful and highly-rated art fairs in the world.
The fair has existed since 1988 and operates on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the year, as well as on holidays. The unique location of the fair, in the heart of a bustling commercial area, and its special urban environment, which includes a cluster of unique historical buildings and among them, dozens of graffiti works, are a fascinating attraction for a fun day in the city.
At the fair, there are about two hundred and eighty stalls presenting handicrafts and arts in the fields of painting and sculpture, ceramics, textiles, wood, glass, paper, plastic, stone, toys, games, dolls, recycled artifacts, and more.
