Welcome to Tel Aviv, the Middle Eastern capital of cool, where everyone seems to be getting around on two electric wheels, own a dog or both! The city that greets its visitors with delicious hummus, sleepless nights and thought-provoking street art won my heart over in no time. Although it has the reputation to be a party town, and very rightfully so, there is much more to Tel Aviv than a lively bar scene. I’ve discovered some of the city’s best coffee, breakfast, and accommodation in the maze of local hipster hangout spots and put together this coffee and travel guide for you. Here’s where to sleep, sip and refuel in Tel Aviv!
Apart from being a culinary hotspot and beach destination, Tel Aviv is also densely populated with coffee shops. When I ask Israelis how they like their coffee, I almost always get the same reply: dark and strong. If that is not your cup of coffee, then head to the specialty coffee shops I am introducing in this article! Although they also tend to have at least one option adapted to the general taste preferences, they offer fruity alternatives that spin the wheel of flavours.
Most coffee shops in Tel Aviv have plenty of outdoor seating and working on your laptop is widely accepted. Cafelix is no exception and with three branches across town you’ll very likely come across one near you at any point of time, whether you’re in Jaffa, Florentin or around Dizengoff Square. Jaffa is where the first coffee shop and roastery was opened back in 2011 by the owners Phillip and Yael, a German-Israeli couple. Today, the roaster moved around the corner from the original place into a newly opened roasting facility and training space.
Our Favorite
Tel Aviv Coffee Shops
Cafelix
Cafelix has direct trade agreements with farmers across the coffee belt, and there are two different origins in the grinders to choose from for espresso-based drinks. Even though filter coffee is only ordered occasionally, a V60 and French press are sitting on the shelf just in case.Jaffa: 15 Sgula
Dizengoff: 12 Shlomo Hamelech
Florentin: 6 Merkhavya Street
Nahat
Filter coffee is going through a revival. For a long time, it’s been relegated to the background, often referred to as the “americano”. But Dotan, the owner of Coffee Shop 51, took up the challenge. Even though filter coffee is only ordered occasionally, a V60 and French press are sitting on the shelf just in case.- Ahad Ha’Am St 51, Tel Aviv
51 Coffee Shop
With two house blends and seven single origin coffees Nahat has some of the biggest selection of coffee beans I’ve seen in Tel Aviv. Since 2015 the cafe and roastery sits right on Dizengoff Square in the heart of the city. The owners, Dan Urieli and Assaf Bitton are coffee experts with more than 15 years of experience. Judging from the juicy cup of coffee from Burundi I got to enjoy here, all these years of hard work paid off!
Address:
- Dizengoff Square 1, Tel Aviv
Way Cup
Way Cup has two locations in Tel Aviv, and my favorite is without a doubt the one on Mikveh Israel Street. All coffee is roasted in-house at the location on Yohanan HaSandlar Street.
The coffee is admittedly on the darker side, despite being specialty graded. The friendliest coffee people you’ll ever meet in Tel Aviv, the baristas will go out of their way to craft the coffee you want. The filter coffee selection is growing as the purest form of coffee is becoming more popular among patrons.
Address:
- Yohanan HaSandlar St 23, Tel Aviv
- Mikveh Israel St 17, Tel Aviv
HOC
is decorated in a clean and minimalist style. A blend of Japanese and Nordic styles. The epitome of third wave coffee movement, HOC staff take great pride in their coffee. Every concunction is a made with great care and there is no room for customisations. Coffee Drip (from Kinto, although Hario are also Japanese) is the specialty.They offer different house blends such as the Indonesia-Sumatra. Without a doubt one of the best coffees in Tel Aviv. The show stopper is the omelette sandwich, a fluffed egg delicately encaged between two thick slices of brioche. A take of the Japanese Tamago, it is light as a cloud. The sweet items are equally delicate and airy, a far cry from the overly sweet and buttery patisseries around. HOC is undoubtedly a game changer in the Tel Aviv Coffee Scene.
Address:
- Yitzhak Elchanan 13, Tel Aviv
Edmond
Unassumingly charming, Edmond Café holds a secret I can only share with you if you promise to pay it a visit. The dark hallway leads to this hidden courtyard cafe. Unique tiles, vintage furniture and lush greenery awaits you on the other side. The coffee is good and simple. Nothing that’ll knock your socks off. The food, however, is deliciously fresh :the avocado toast sure did the trick. As all the other specialty coffee shops Edmond Coffee roasts their own beans. They do have some of the darkest roasted specialty coffee in Tel Aviv. The secret however, is the Guatemalan coffee blend, which I only discovered after chatting with the barista. Homemade kombucha and iced almond matcha latte are the more interesting drinks. Cold brew, V60 and Chemex are available if a caffeine fix is what you’re after.
Address:
- 97, Allenby St, Tel Aviv
