Sarona Market, Tel Aviv (must see)

Sarona Market, Israel's largest indoor culinary marketplace, is located in the eponymous Sarona Gardens amid the lovely reconstructed Sarona Templar neighborhood. Masterminded as the heartbeat of Israeli culinary art, this innovative, contemporary urban complex covers an area of 8,700 square meters, accommodating 91 shops, stalls and restaurants under one roof.

The foodie heaven such as this smoothly combines the old with the new. Amid an array of products on sale here there are meats, cheeses from across the globe, premium balsamic vinegars from Italy, fresh seafood from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, French champagne, spices from the Far East, local fruit and vegetables from Emek Hefer and the Arava, lamb and veal from the Golan Heights, Israeli wines, boutique beer and other alcohol, chocolates and hand-made pastries, breads, baklawa, sandwiches, pizzas, burekas and other delicious stuff. The small eateries in place serve both Israeli and foreign cuisine, including Japanese, Italian, Thai, you name it, all at reasonable prices!

A place of superlatives, here you can taste olive oils at Olive People or Vom Fass – the local branch of a German company specialized in premium oils, vinegars and liqueurs. If you are into sweets, check out Max Brenner or Halva Kingdom, featuring over 100 types of halva (tahini, regular, plus tonnes of other flavors) – they even have a stone mill on the site, grinding sesame seeds into fresh tahini before your very eyes! For Thai food – consider Tiger Lily. Also notable are the Fishbar, a market fish restaurant, and Meet Wine, a place to sit down quietly with a glass of wine leaving all the hustle and bustle behind.

Why You Should Visit:
To experience the full intensity of flavors of contemporary Israeli culinary art.
No deep pockets are needed to enjoy Sarona Market, created in part to ensure price competition among quality venues.

Tip:
The place is open seven days a week, including Shabbat. Ideal to visit, particularly if it rains outside.