There are so many different neighborhoods in the beautiful city of Tel Aviv. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, culture, and feeling. From north to south, you’ll cross so many different things to see in Tel Aviv, but one of the best neighborhoods to check out is Neve Tzedek. While it may be one of Tel Aviv’s oldest neighborhoods (or districts), but it is young at heart!
This neighborhood has become increasingly popular in the past couple of years. Between renovations and its historic beauty, the whole neighborhood has been restored to its former glory. Here, you’ll find many quaint, narrow streets with many boutiques. Additionally, there are many cafes, fun activities, and plenty to explore while here.
Where is Neve Tzedek in Tel Aviv?
Just north of Florentin and Old Jaffa, you’ll find Neve Tzedek. It moves diagonally away from the beach in the northeast direction. It is located south of the city center.
What’s Near Neve Tzedek?
- HaTachana, Tel Aviv’s Old Railway station, is located a short walk away from Neve Tzedek on the Mediterranean Coast.
- Just south of Neve Tzedek is Florentin which is currently the neighborhood with the hottest nightlife in Tel Aviv.
- Old Jaffa Flea Market is nearby in the Old Jaffa neighborhood; it is within walking distance. Additionally, Levinski Market is also within walking distance from Neve Tzedek
- Charles Clore Beach is the closest beach to this neighborhood.
History
Neve Tzedek was established in 1887. This was over 20 years before the city of Tel Aviv was established. It was created by a group of families seeking a suburb outside the busy and overcrowded Jaffa. It became a bohemian escape with low-slung and colorful buildings. Additionally, the buildings had expansive gardens and many winding alleys. By the 1900s, Neve Tzedek had become an oasis for many artists and writers, including Shmuel Yosef Agnon (Nobel Prize Laureate) and Nahum Gutman (famous Israeli artist).
As Tel Aviv developed, Neve Tzedek became less popular and fell into disrepair. Buildings became neglected, and by the 1960s, it was considered a rundown “slum-like” area incompatible with its bustling and thriving northern counterparts. Initially, the city planned on tearing down the whole neighborhood and constructing high-rise apartments. Thankfully, that never came to pass, and many of the buildings were instead placed on a preservation list. In the 1980s, restoration work began. Now you can see the results: a tranquil oasis in the center of a bustling city. It is a cultural hot spot.
Things To Do in Neve Tzedek
Activities
There are many activities in this beautiful neighborhood, not just walking around to enjoy the beauty. It is such a popular and beautiful neighborhood that the last time we visited, a photography class was taking pictures there. Below are some of the most popular things to do.
Museum of Art
The Museum of Art is one of the three museums in Neve Tzedek. The Hagana Museum, Gutman Museum, and Aden Jewish Heritage Museum are the three places to visit! Gutman Museum is an art museum that features the famous Israeli artist Nahum Gutman. There is genuinely so much to learn and experience in these three museums.
Suzanne Dellal Center
Suzanne Dellal Center is the premiere performing arts center in Tel Aviv. It is the place to experience many different shows both inside and some art on the grounds. Even if you don’t speak Hebrew, there are many incredible dance shows to watch here. There is also a cafe here that further allows you to enjoy the Dellal Center grounds. On weekends, you’ll find people picnicking here.
Walking Tours
Walking in this neighborhood is amazing! There is truly so much to see and so many alleys to get lost down. While we highly recommend taking a walk down the streets yourself, it is always nice to know what you’re seeing. For that, we recommend some guided tours of the neighborhood. This tour will give you all the background information on the bohemian architecture and historical buildings in Neve Tzedek. With its proximity to Jaffa, it makes sense to have a walking tour that includes both of these unique neighborhoods of Tel Aviv-Yaffo.
Restaurants
One of the best things about visiting new places is the food! Of course, Tel Aviv as a city does not disappoint. There are so many traditional foods to try. In Neve Tzedek, you’ll find many wonderful cafes, ice cream shops, and restaurants. We love the cafe life, so below are some of our favorite cafes. We also really enjoy eating ice cream, so I’m pointing out our favorite one in this neighborhood.
Restaurants & Cafes
One of the most agreed upon “best croissants” in Tel Aviv is located in Neve Tzedek. They can be found in Alexander Bakery. Alexander Bakery has some of the flakiest and butteriest croissants. They are absolutely worth checking out! We loved them. Additionally, they offer coffee and have plenty of seats outside.
Next door to Alexander Bakery is Night Kitchen, which serves you food according to a conversation you have with your waiter. There is no menu, and you don’t get to know ahead of time what they offer. It is definitely a unique experience!
Near the Suzanne Dellal Center, there are some more restaurants and cafes. There are also some restaurants as you walk along the main street of the neighborhood. Finally, with close proximity to Rothschild Blvd and Allenby, there are even more restaurants to check out.
Ice Cream
Months before we even landed in Tel Aviv, I found Anita Gelato on Instagram. I was putting together my list of places to try in Tel Aviv, and I knew we needed to come get ice cream here. They have so many wonderful flavors to try. Larry got the salted caramel caramel and salted cashew. I got the tiramisu and Belgian chocolate. I love trying out chocolate ice cream in different stores.
The ice cream shop has plenty of seating outside to lean into the cafe culture of Tel Aviv. Additionally, across the street, there is an Anita Frozen Yogurt for even more frozen treat options. If you’re not averse to a late-in-the-day coffee, check out their affogato.
Shops
Of course, what is a neighborhood without its shopping? There are many local shops to check out while in Neve Tzedek. Some of them include Agas & Tamar, Art Maroc, and Epicerie Fine. We loved checking out the Epicerie Fine because they had foods from all sorts of different places. Art Maroc has a great collection of Moroccan Art. Down Shabazi Street, there are many other shops as well. There are bookstores, clothing stores, galleries, and jewelry stores! Definitely check them out.
Where to Stay in Neve Tzedek?
There are so many lovely places to stay in Neve Tzedek. Not only are there wonderful hotels with rooftop views of the ocean, but there are also many apartment-style hotels. These apartments can be cheaper than a hotel, but definitely ensure your stay has a bomb shelter in the building. All hotels have them as well. There are hotels with rooftop pools and bars as well.
Final Thoughts about Neve Tzedek
Neve Tzedek is truly an oasis in Tel Aviv. Away from the bustle of central Tel Aviv and the busy streets of Jaffa, this neighborhood begs you to slow down and relax. There are so many wonderful neighborhoods to visit, make sure to see them all. The beautiful buildings keep you constantly interested in what else is coming down the road. Additionally, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to sit at while enjoying a meal or time with family and friends. Finally, the cultural things to do add to the charm of this neighborhood. Definitely add a stop to Neve Tzedek on your trip to Israel.
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