Your Trip Story
The air along HaYarkon in December has that particular Tel Aviv sharpness: sea salt, espresso, and the faint metallic chill of a city that still refuses to put on a proper winter coat. Mornings here belong to the coffee obsessives – the ones who argue over roast profiles at Allenby’s minimalist counters and know exactly which bakery on Lilienblum still pulls loaves from the oven at 9am. By evening, the city softens; yellow light spills from café windows, jazz seeps out of basement doors, and couples walk the promenade with scarves half‑tied, stretching out the night over one more glass of wine. This two‑day escape is built for people who travel with café tabs instead of guidebooks. Tel Aviv’s creative energy lives in its daytime rituals – the second cappuccino, the late brunch, the decision to walk from the Bauhaus boulevards down to Old Jaffa rather than call a taxi. You’ll move through the city’s best neighborhoods on foot, the way every decent local guide insists you should: from Allenby’s coffee roasters to the sea‑facing promenades around the port, through streets that feel more like conversations than infrastructure. Day one leans into narrative and nuance: coffee that tastes like someone thought about it for months, history told through a modest house on Ben‑Gurion Boulevard, and a night that ends with live jazz in a room that feels almost too small for the sound it holds. Day two widens the frame – beach‑adjacent bakeries, a slow wander through Old Jaffa’s stone alleys, and an evening where the sea acts as your dinner soundtrack at Herbert Samuel before you slip into Florentin’s after‑dark personality. You leave with Tel Aviv under your skin: the sound of cutlery on shared plates, the way December light hits Bauhaus balconies, the smell of cardamom and salt in your scarf. More than a checklist, it feels like you borrowed the city’s daily rhythm for 48 hours – sea‑breeze brunches, moonlit cafés, and the quiet certainty that you’ll be back, if only to chase that perfect mid‑morning flat white on Allenby again.
The Vibe
- Sea-salt mornings
- Cafe-to-cafe wandering
- Moonlit conversations
Local Tips
- 01Tel Aviv runs late: many cafés don’t really hit their stride until 9–10am, and dinner at 21:00 is completely normal, so shift your schedule accordingly.
- 02Dress codes are relaxed even in excellent restaurants; ‘smart casual with good shoes’ will take you almost anywhere, but bring a light layer for December sea breeze.
- 03Taxis and rideshares are plentiful, but locals swear by walking between neighborhoods – Allenby to Rothschild to the sea is a very doable, rewarding route.
The Research
Before you go to Tel Aviv
Neighborhoods
Explore the vibrant streets of Jaffa, where you can experience a blend of history and modern culture. This area is known for its artistic vibe and is perfect for leisurely strolls, offering a variety of galleries, shops, and stunning views of the Mediterranean.
Food Scene
For a delightful brunch experience, head to Landwer Cafe located on Herbert Samuel St in the Kerem HaTeimanim neighborhood. This cafe offers an all-day menu with delicious breakfast options and is a beloved spot among locals for its cozy atmosphere and quality coffee.
Events
If you're visiting in December 2025, don't miss the Discover Festival, which features a range of cultural events and activities, including a Tchaikovsky Night at the Israel Philharmonic on December 30. This is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in Tel Aviv's vibrant arts scene.
Where to Stay
Your Basecamp
Select your home base in Tel Aviv, Israel — this anchors your journey and appears in the navigation above.
The Splurge
$$$$Where discerning travelers stay
The David Kempinski Tel Aviv
A sleek, contemporary tower on HaYarkon where glass, polished stone, and plush textiles buffer you from the roar of the promenade below. Inside, everything feels hushed and temperature‑controlled, with glimpses of the sea flashing blue through large windows.
Try: Have one pre‑dinner drink in the hotel bar with its sea views before heading out into the city.
The Vibe
$$$Design-forward stays with character
Soho House
A members’ club‑hotel hybrid with that familiar Soho House formula: low sofas, dim lighting, curated art, and a soft murmur of conversation that feels more like a private living room than a public space. The air smells faintly of good candles and better coffee.
Try: Spend an hour working or reading in the communal spaces with a coffee, pretending you actually live here.
The Steal
$$Smart stays, prime locations
LALA Boutique Hotel Tel Aviv
A cozy, almost home‑like property with a leafy garden, warm lighting, and the soft murmur of guests chatting with the owners at reception. Rooms mix simple lines with small, thoughtful touches, and the air carries a hint of greenery from the outdoor spaces.
Try: Spend a few minutes chatting with the hosts; they’re a font of local intel and restaurant suggestions.
Day by Day
The Itinerary
Cafés
Allenby Espresso & Jazz After Midnight
Steam curls up from your first cup before the city has quite decided what kind of day it wants to be. At Ada Lewinsky, the light is still gentle, catching on ceramic cups and the sheen of small cakes while the street outside stretches awake. From there, the tempo shifts: Ben-Gurion’s modest house whispers its version of history, and Allenby’s coffee culture takes over, all brushed concrete, careful roasts, and the low hum of people who treat espresso like a serious hobby. Lunch is Asian‑leaning, generous and chatty, before you slip back into the sea air at the port and wander through Yarkon Park’s green sprawl, the smell of damp grass and river water a contrast to the morning’s roasted beans. Evening brings you back toward the center: a farm‑to‑table dinner in a warm, brick‑and‑glass space, then down into AMAMA’s jazz room where the sound wraps around you like heavy velvet. As you walk back through the cool December air, the city feels tuned to your frequency – caffeinated, conversational, and just a little bit wired for what tomorrow might hold by the sea.
Ada Lewinsky Cafe
Ada Lewinsky Cafe
A compact, quietly confident café where the first thing you notice is the smell – freshly ground beans with a hint of caramel hanging in the air. Light filters in from Zevulun Street onto a simple counter lined with small, elegant cakes, while the soft clatter of cups and the hiss of the machine form a gentle soundtrack.
Ada Lewinsky Cafe
10‑minute stroll along Ben-Gurion Boulevard, letting the city noise thicken as you head toward the museum‑quiet of the next stop.
Ben-Gurion House
Ben-Gurion House
A modest two‑story home where the air smells faintly of old paper and polished wood, lined with shelves of books that seem to press in from every wall. Floorboards creak softly as you move from room to room, accompanied by the low murmur of the audio guide and the occasional whisper from other visitors.
Ben-Gurion House
15‑minute walk toward Allenby, letting the boulevard widen into the more urban fabric of central Tel Aviv.
Norish Cafe
Norish Cafe
A small, art‑filled café on Allenby where the walls feel curated rather than decorated and the air smells like matcha, espresso, and something sweet from the counter. Natural light washes over simple wooden tables, and the soundtrack is low enough that conversations stay intimate.
Norish Cafe
5‑minute walk further along Allenby to your next roaster‑driven caffeine stop.
Nomena Roasters - נומנה
Nomena Roasters - נומנה
A sleek, minimalist café on Allenby where pale walls, simple tables, and a long counter put all the focus on the coffee. The air is rich with the smell of freshly ground beans, and there’s a quiet buzz from people working, chatting softly, or simply watching the street through big windows.
Nomena Roasters - נומנה
Short taxi ride (about 10 minutes) toward Menakhem Begin Road for a change of scene and a more formal lunch setting.
Taizu
Taizu
A dimly lit, design‑driven dining room where the clink of chopsticks and glassware competes with an open kitchen sending out waves of lemongrass, chili, and smoke. Dark wood, deep tones, and carefully placed lighting create a space that feels both theatrical and intimate.
Taizu
10‑minute taxi north‑west to the waterfront, watching the city’s glass and concrete give way to sea.
Tel Aviv Port
Tel Aviv Port
A long, curving wooden boardwalk over the water where waves slap against pilings and the air smells of salt, fried food, and sunscreen even in winter. Restaurants, cafés, and shops spill onto the deck, with cyclists, runners, and strolling couples weaving through the scene.
Tel Aviv Port
15‑minute walk or quick bike ride east into Yarkon Park as the light softens, trading sea for greenery.
Yarkon Park
Yarkon Park
A vast green corridor along the Yarkon River where lawns, gardens, and bike paths stretch under a wide sky. The air smells of grass, river water, and sometimes barbecue smoke, with the soundtrack of runners’ footsteps, kids shouting, and birds in the trees.
Yarkon Park
Short taxi (about 10 minutes) back toward the Ha'arbaa Street area for dinner in a converted Templar building.
claro;
claro;
A spacious, rustic‑chic dining room in a restored building near Ha’arbaa, with exposed brick, high ceilings, and an open kitchen sending out waves of roasted vegetables and herbs. The lighting is warm, catching on wine glasses and the soft textures of wood and stone.
claro;
Romance
Sea Air, Stone Alleys & Florentin After Dark
Morning smells like butter and yeast on Lilienblum: trays of pastries at Alexander Bread & Bakery, coffee warming your hands while the December air nips at your cheeks. From there, the day arcs outward – a quick, unpretentious lunch in an industrial pocket at Coffee Bar Express, then down the coast toward Old Jaffa where stone alleys twist and open suddenly onto sea views and church bells. The afternoon stretches into something softer: slow coffee on a quiet corner, Bauhaus‑lined streets, and the decision to walk instead of ride just to stay in the light a little longer. As evening drops, you’re back on Herbert Samuel with the sea breathing just beyond the glass at Villa Mare, the sound of cutlery and waves threading together. Later, Florentin shifts into its nocturnal personality – graffiti, low‑lit bars like Florentina, and the warm indoor hum of Shuffle Bar – before you finally call it, sea salt still on your lips and a little buzz in your step.
Alexander Bread & Bakery
Alexander Bread & Bakery
A warm, flour‑dusted space on Lilienblum where trays of pastries and loaves crowd the counter, and the smell of butter and sugar wraps around you the moment you step in. Staff move quickly but kindly, sliding cakes into boxes and handing over coffee in simple cups as people hover, unable to decide.
Alexander Bread & Bakery
Leisurely 15‑minute walk south‑east through backstreets and along main roads toward Yad Harutsim and your next stop.
Coffee Bar Express
Coffee Bar Express
A laid‑back spot tucked into an industrial area where the interior glows with warm light against the concrete outside. Plates of pastas, fish, and burgers move through the room, and the soundtrack is the easy clatter of cutlery and the soft hum of conversations from people who clearly treat it as a second home.
Coffee Bar Express
Taxi 15–20 minutes down along the coast toward Jaffa’s older stone streets.
Old Jaffa
Old Jaffa
A maze of stone alleys, arches, and staircases clinging to a hill above the sea, where the air smells of salt, old stone, and occasionally baking bread. The sounds are layered – gulls, church bells, distant calls to prayer, and the murmur of tourists and locals sharing the same narrow paths.
Old Jaffa
Walk 10–15 minutes down toward the waterfront promenade, following the curve of the coast back in the direction of central Tel Aviv.
Villa Mare
Villa Mare
A bright, sea‑facing restaurant along Herbert Samuel where white linens, glass, and soft lighting reflect the shifting blues outside. The air carries a mix of grilled fish, citrus, and the clean scent of the Mediterranean rolling just beyond the windows.
Villa Mare
After lunch, follow the promenade north on foot toward the city center, letting your meal settle with the rhythm of the waves.
WayCup Coffee
WayCup Coffee
A compact neighborhood café with a narrow terrace and a cozy interior where the smell of espresso hits you before you’ve fully stepped inside. Baristas chat with regulars over the hum of the grinder, and the whole space feels like a small, caffeinated living room.
WayCup Coffee
Short taxi ride (about 10 minutes) to Dizengoff for a pre‑dinner wander through one of the city’s classic boulevards.
La Shuk
La Shuk
An energetic corner on Dizengoff where an open kitchen, bar seating, and sidewalk tables create a constant flow of sound and movement. The air smells like grilled meat, herbs, and fresh pita, and you can hear the sizzle from the pans over the music and street noise.
La Shuk
Taxi about 10 minutes south‑east into Florentin, where the streets narrow and the graffiti starts to layer up on every surface.
Florentina
Florentina
A lively bar‑restaurant in Florentin where the lighting is warm, the walls hum with conversation, and plates land on tables with a satisfying thud. The air smells like herbs, grilled meats, and olive oil, and there’s a sense that everyone here is in on a good secret.
Florentina
5‑minute walk deeper into Florentin’s grid of streets to your nightcap spot.
Shuffle Bar
Shuffle Bar
An intimate Florentin bar with low lighting, shelves of board and card games, and the soft clink of ice in glasses. The space hums with conversation and laughter, more living room than nightclub, with a faint scent of fried snacks and citrus peels in the air.
Shuffle Bar
Customize
Make This Trip Yours
3 more places to explore
Sonder cafe Tel aviv
A compact neighborhood café where the smell of fresh jachnun and coffee hangs in the air, and conversations seem to stretch on longer than planned. The space feels personal – the owner often behind the bar, music low, and plates landing with a home‑cooked generosity.
Try: Try the jachnun plate if it’s on – it’s a local comfort dish that pairs beautifully with a strong coffee.
Jerusalem Old City & Mount Zion from Tel Aviv: Sacred Sites and Historical Landmarks Exploration
A full‑day guided journey where the textures shift from Tel Aviv’s smooth concrete to Jerusalem’s worn stone, the air scented with incense, spices, and old dust. The sounds are layered: prayers, street vendors, and tour guides’ voices bouncing off ancient walls.
Try: Stand quietly for a moment on Mount Zion looking back toward the Old City walls; it’s the emotional center of the day.
AMAMA JAZZ ROOM - מועדון הופעות חיות
A low‑lit basement‑style room where the air is thick with brass, spilled beer, and the warm press of bodies on too‑close stools. The stage is small, the sound big – saxophone and drums bouncing off dark walls while conversations drop to a murmur between solos.
Try: Order a simple highball or beer and focus your attention on the set; this is about sound, not mixology.
Before You Go
Essential Intel
Everything you need to know for a smooth trip
What is the best time to visit Tel Aviv for this trip?
How do I get around Tel Aviv?
Are there any must-visit cafes or brunch spots in Tel Aviv?
Do I need to make reservations for brunch spots?
What should I pack for my trip in December?
Is it easy to find vegetarian or vegan options at cafes in Tel Aviv?
What is the average cost of a brunch in Tel Aviv?
Are cafes in Tel Aviv typically open late?
Can I pay with credit cards at most cafes?
What cultural etiquette should I be aware of when visiting cafes in Tel Aviv?
Are there any events or festivals in December I should check out?
Coming Soon
Build Your Own Trip
Create your own personalized itinerary with our AI travel agent. Join the waitlist.