|
Jaffa (Yaffo) - The Ancient Jewel of Tel-Aviv
By: Roye Salomon
Jaffa - Eating and Drinking
Jaffa has many restaurants for any budget. Try to avoid the tourist traps around the port area, though they often have fine food. For those who enjoy fine food and don’t mind paying a heavy price for it, don’t miss out on Yoezer Bar Yain on the eastern side of the clock square. This bar-restaurant is situated in an old grotto and serves excellent food (try the eggs benedict for brunch) PR 150+ pp. For a more moderate priced meal you can try Poa a café-restaurant located just outside the flea market. Poa is a relaxed place with young hip clientele and good food (open till late)PR 50-120 pp. Also nearby is Dr. Shakshuka, who serves Tripolian (from Tripoli, Libya) food. Try the shakshuka which is a typical Israeli food (eggs and vegetables fried together in a tomato sauce) PR 50-100pp. For those on a tight budget there are many cheap fast food places around the clock square. Try Abulafia on the north side of the square for interesting bakery goods and excellent Malabi (a cool desert) PR 10-30 pp.
South of the port, at the end of Dolphin st. lays Ali Karavan, a Mecca of humus. Here you can find some of the best humus in Tel-Aviv. People line up around the block and eat sitting outside on the sidewalk. It is that good. Not really the place for a romantic lunch, as the owner may sit others with you to fill the table, but a good place to meet people. The owner closes after he finishes the last of the humus so it is usually closed after 15:00 PR 12-30pp. From Ali Karvan you can take a slow digestive stroll up dolphin st. through the alleys to an excellent viewpoint on the port below.
Shopping in Jaffa
The best and funnest place for shopping in Jaffa is the Flea market. Here you can find clothes, antiques, chess sets, carpets and much, much more. The flea market retains the feel of an old Middle Eastern market and there are many good bargains to be made. Bargaining and haggling over the price is customary (see Jacky’s advice) and needed in order to get a good deal. |
|
| The best place for shopping in Jaffa is the Flea market. Here you can find clothes, antiques, chess sets, carpets and more. Feel free to bargain. |
|
Jacky Says...
Bargaining is a Middle Eastern hobby and is customary in many places. Here are some guidelines:
- Never be the first to name a price.
- If you name a price first, think of what you would like to pay for the item then half it.
- Sometimes it is good to be stubborn as a donkey.
|
 |
Old Jaffa is a good place for buying Judaica and arts and crafts. There are many stores in the old city so look around before buying. In the clock square area you can find shops selling Hookahs (Nargila) a Middle Eastern smoking device with flavored tobacco. The hookahs come in all colors and sizes and can be good fun to smoke with people. Caterpillars not included.
Entertainment in Jaffa
Jaffa is home to a few theatres (Hasimta, Gesher) with different plays and shows nightly. Around the Noga center (further eastward from the clock square) there are many pubs and bars (open till late). The old city and the port also boast some relaxed bars overlooking the sea. During the spring and summer there are happenings and live music every Saturday evening at the Kedumiim square in the heart of the old city. These are well worth a visit for their carnival feeling in a beautiful setting.
<---- Jaffa past and present

| |
