Carmel Market is Tel Aviv’s most vibrant marketplace, established in the 1920s as a humble Yemenite market. It rose to prominence in the 1950s as the best place in Tel Aviv to procure fresh local produce and not much has changed since. The market today is home to a wide range of culinary treats, so to help you settle on a place to satisfy your hunger, we have picked our top ten.
Hummus HaCarmel
Market, Israeli$$$
While walking through the Carmel Shuk you could easily miss this gem. The second you walk inside the smell of their delicious hummus is everywhere. Typically there is a small line going out the door, but once you get inside, you’ll find a spacious seating area.
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CasualMafiyat Lechemim
Bakery, Israeli, $$$
There aren’t many things better in life than a fresh cheese stick straight out of the oven, which is exactly what you will find at Mafiyat Lechemim. An unassuming bakery located towards the middle of the market, Mafiyat Lechemim sells bread and a range of bakery treats that they warm up for you. For Purim they bake a range of savory hamantaschen with fillings such as sweet potato, goat’s cheese and walnut. Thankfully, their warm cheesy breadsticks are offered all year round and baked throughout the day—pick up a free sample or more inside.
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Bar Ochel
Market, Israeli, $$$
Located in the middle of the market, Bar Ochel is the definition of simple market fare. Dishes served here are sourced straight from the market and focus on grilled vegetables, salad and meat. Grab a stool at the bar, review their English menu and tuck into a Jerusalem mix, kebab or shakshuka. Most plates are served with fresh crusty bread and dips. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a glass of limonana (lemon and mint soda).
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All DayArepa’s
Market, Venezuelan$$$
Arepa’s is the new kid on the block serving Venezuelan food including arepas (a maize flour pancake with fillings which are gluten free), empanadas and patacones. The arepas are the most popular and are served with various fillings including chicken, guacamole, vegetables or shredded beef. The cheese filling is highly recommend as once it’s filled, the chefs put it back on the grill to let the cheese melt even more inside your arepa. They are messy, but worth it.
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CasualMafiyat Lechemim
Bakery, Israeli, $$$
There aren’t many things better in life than a fresh cheese stick straight out of the oven, which is exactly what you will find at Mafiyat Lechemim. An unassuming bakery located towards the middle of the market, Mafiyat Lechemim sells bread and a range of bakery treats that they warm up for you. For Purim they bake a range of savory hamantaschen with fillings such as sweet potato, goat’s cheese and walnut. Thankfully, their warm cheesy breadsticks are offered all year round and baked throughout the day—pick up a free sample or more inside.
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Beer Bazaar
Market, Pub, Israeli, $$$
BeerBazaar in Tel Aviv offers approximately 100 Israeli brews | © Boaz Rottem / Alamy Stock Photo
If you feel yourself working up a thirst there’s no better place to quench it than at Beer Bazaar, a street bar which offers close to 100 different Israeli craft beers from a range of Israeli microbreweries. You will find everything from stout to Indian pale ale to lager and even a few ciders for non-beer drinkers. If you can’t commit to one beer, Beer Bazaar has a tasting plate of up to five different beers. They also offer a range of bar snacks if you work up an appetite from all your beer tasting.
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CasualCafé B’Shuk
Cafe, Israeli, $$$
Café B’Shuk replaced Café Stern which had been serving the perfect brew to its customers for more than 30 years. Thankfully, not much has changed since. The cafe sells a range of coffee accessories, coffee beans (brown and green), flavored coffee and teas. Coffee lovers can also take a seat, order a beverage and a small snack, and sit outside the small store watching crowds of people walk through the market.
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Mercaz HaBureka Shuk HaCarmel (הכרמל שוק הבוריקה מרכז)
Food Stand, Israeli$$
Burekas | © Christina Garofalo/Flickr
This one-man bureka stand sells a range of vegan burekas served on their own or in a pita. The filings on offer are egg, potato or potato and egg which are surrounded by thin filo pastry and deep fried right before your eyes. Served with a dash of chili sauce, they are the perfect mix of oily, crispy, flaky outside and delectable spiced inside. You can also buy Moroccan donuts and eggs at the stand. At only ten shekels a piece, they are a real steal.
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Petit Mamo
Food Stand, Israeli$$
Petit Mamo | © Mona Mizi/Flickr
If you feel like a real home cooked meal, Petit Mamo is your stop. They serve an array of hot dishes including stuffed zucchinis, meatballs and stewed meat. You can order a small, medium or large plate and fill it with anything you like. The serving sizes are generous so make sure to come with an empty stomach. There isn’t much seating, so if you can’t grab one of the seats at the bar, get your food to takeaway and eat it while you finish adventuring around the market.
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Halva Center
Market, Israeli, $$$
For those with a sweet tooth, Halva Center is a must-visit. It sells a range of halva and Turkish sweets. The halva is handmade, meaning it has a great texture and isn’t too sweet. Varieties include cocoa bean, coffee, cinnamon, seven layer nougat, pistachio and walnut, and for those health-conscious shoppers, there is also a range of sugar-free halva. Don’t forget to ask for a sample before you buy.
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CasualCafé Basara (קפה בשרה)
Food Stand$$
Hamburger from Café Basara | © Mona Mizi/Flickr
Café Basara is located in the meat section of the market and serves a variety of meats in a pita, baguette or roll. Your meat options are listed on a menu entitled ‘Roni’s Meats,’ suggesting he is the owner and chef extraordinaire of the small cafe. Your options include sabich, shakshuka, schnitzel, chicken kebab, chicken livers or hamburger all served with salad and sauce (Roni’s chili sauce is particularly good). Roni grills your meat as you like it, giving it a sensational smoky flavor. The baguettes are a meal for two, so bring a friend or get Roni to pack up half for your next meal.
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