A Day at the Beach in Tel Aviv

picture courtesy www.chez.com/

Article by Talia Harari

September 10, 2005

The seaside locale of Tel-Aviv is truly a city that never sleeps. There are a number of bars along the stretch of the Tayelet, Tel-Aviv's premier boardwalk, where you can sit in low chairs with your feet meshed in the sand as you watch the Mediterranean in front of you.

Each bar has its own special vibe, whether the techno music at Jerusalem Beach or the soft white lighting at Banana Beach. Each establishment serves up a great taste of a Tel-Aviv summer. Nargilas (an oversized Hookah) can be ordered at most places for your table. The pipe options include several different flavors from apple to lemon and even mint. The Nargila's range in price depending on the bar and can last for up to 45 minutes per charcoal. A must do for anyone visiting this lively city.

A popular snack for beach-goers at these pubs is fresh watermelon accompanied with Bulgarian cheese. The cheese is much like Feta, but almost saltier and harder so it doesn't crumble when you stick your fork in it. The combination of sweet and juicy mixed with salty and dry is perfect after a day of catching waves. The Israeli beer on tap, Goldstar, along with imported Carlsburg and Tuborg are all great compliments to this snack. Toasted sandwiches are a local favorite as well.

An ideal day for me is to get some sun around 3 p.m., watch the surfers in the horizon, and then sit at Chinky Beach, the closest beach bar to the Dolphinarium, and watch the sunset. The whole time I'll be sipping on an ice-coffee reminiscent of a "frappachino" and eating watermelon with a side of Bulgarian.

The music you hear along the beach can range anywhere from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, or an Israeli singer like Barry Sacharov. On Thursdays and Fridays this beach is called The Drummers Beach because bongo drummers come out in the numbers and create amazing drum circles favored by children and adults alike. All the like-minded people enjoy the music with dancing and it seems as though they help the sun set with the incredible vibe.

After the sun goes down, you can catch locals and tourists crowding the best seats at any one of the many bars and taking in the night breeze from the Mediterranean. The dress is anywhere from super beach-casual to a more fancy, Saturday night clubbing outfit. Many DJs premier their favorite tracks at bars such as Jerusalem Beach, which can't be missed with their big red cones lining each table. The clientele at this beach bar is a bit more upscale than the local Banana Beach and patrons often get up and dance to the DJ's tracks.

You should know that seating is on a first come first serve basis and getting the server's attention can be difficult so patience and persistence are both necessary.

I was sitting with my brother around 3 in the morning with a cold beer at hand and noticed a waitress putting some chairs away so I asked what time they closed. Apparently beach cleaners come around 5 am to clear the sand so our waitress simply said, with tired eyes and pouty lips, "we never close."

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