tel aviv - תל אביב
hostels
tel aviv: florentine hostel - hipster neighborhood, nice rooftop - http://www.florentinehostel.com/
jerusalem: abraham hostel - considered great hostel in jerusalem, need to book in advance - https://abrahamhostels.com/
desert: berashit - high-end and most expensive/magnificent hotel in israel - http://www.isrotelexclusivecollection.com/beresheet/
tourism
1. old city jerusalem - western/wailing wall + jesus walk
2. dead sea - lowest point on earth - get your mud on, float reading a newspaper, be careful from getting water into your eyes!
3. tel aviv beach/boardwalk - banana beach is for the hotties
4. jaffa + jaffa port + flea market (shuk hapishpeshim) - 3000 yrs old port, clock tower, great tel-aviv view from bell tower of st. peter's church
5. desert + mitzpe rimon - for desert lovers
6. tel aviv neighborhoods - nave zedek, rothchild boulevard, florentine (hipster scene), kikar hamedina
7. carmel market - shopping - best to buy all presents (including dead sea products) here
8. yad vashem museum - holocaust museum, very moving
9. masada - many like to climb it early morning and see the sunrise - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/masada
10. bahá'í gardens - in haifa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bahá'í_gardens
11. nazareth - jesus's childhood home
12. sea of galilee- were jesus walked on water - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sea_of_galilee
restaurants
1. hakosem - best falafel in town - http://www.mouse.co.il/cm.food_item_place,382,213,8540,.aspx
2. hummus abu hasan - hummus, best by consensus open until they sell out (3pm) - http://www.telavivguide.net/restaurants/israeli_cuisine_restaurants/abu-hassan_(ali-karavan)_2005090813/
3. sabich frishman - most popular sabich/eggplant sandwich in town http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/mediterranean-coast/tel-aviv/restaurants/middle-eastern/sabich-frishman
4. hamalabia - dairy and vegan malabi, 10 nis authentic israeli dessert, ask for the free turkish coffee at the end - http://www.spottedbylocals.com/telaviv/hamalabia/
5. ouzeria - great israeli vibe, get the artichoke and grilled coliflower, make reservation - https://www.tripadvisor.nl/Restaurant_Review-g293984-d3703753-Reviews-Ouzeria-Tel_Aviv_Tel_Aviv_District.html
6. miznon - avant garde israeli pita: delicious, noisy, authentic (~45 nis), they hand out free shots of arak - http://telaveat.com/miznon/
7. shmaya - amazing home cooked food (35 nis), open until they sell out (3pm) - http://hungryintelaviv.blogspot.nl/2010/08/shmaya.html
8. topolopompo - high end asian fusion - http://www.topolopompo.co.il/
9. zakaim - vegan and tasty, good ambience - http://vegansontop.co.il/zakaim/ (for other vegan venues http://vegansontop.co.il/israeli-vegan-dining-guide/)
10. hamotzi - fusion israeli food in jerusalem - http://www.hamotzi.co.il/en/
11. alabama - real american style smoke room in natanya, need to make a reservation 1.5 months in advance, good for groups - https://telavivfood.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/alabama/
12. mati hamekalel - authentic low-key gem in the middle of levinsky market (spices) for a beer and choped liver or calfs foot gelly - matalon 41, tel-aviv
13. brasserie - classy neighborhood value, pork chop is delicious - http://www.brasserie.co.il/en/
night life
clubs
1. the bloc - top quality club, most parties lead here - http://www.block-club.com/
2. kuli alma - hip dance bar - http://kulialma.com/
3. radio epgb - popular dance bar - http://www.telavivme.com/nightlife/places/radio_epgb
4. jimmy who - slightly sleazy, goes on till the early morning - http://timeout.co.il/en/nightlife/jimmy
live music
1. beit haamudim - intimate, cool, jazz scene; every night (except friday) 10pm-12am - https://www.facebook.com/beithaamudim/
2. levontine 7 - alternative live music - http://www.levontin7.com/
3. shablul - high-end jazz scene - http://www.shabluljazz.com/
4. hoodna - alternative music, coolest bar in florentine - https://www.facebook.com/hoodna-bar-florentin-151205914920419/
bars
1. uganda bar - cozy relaxed semi-hidden bar- http://ugandajlm.com/
2. teder (aka salon romano) - super cool scene, need to find the door to the court yard - http://telaveat.com/salon-romano/
3. whiskey bar & museum - 19th century cellar, huge variety - http://www.whiskeybm.co.il/en/home/a/main/
4. the prince - great roof top bar - https://www.facebook.com/theprincetlv/
5. bellboy - speak easy style hotel bar, best cocktails in tlv, make reservation - http://www.bellboybar.com/
6. port said- popular beer & post-modern israeli food https://www.facebook.com/theportsaid/
7. bicicletta- chilled back garden http://bicicletta.rest.co.il/
8. suremare- invite only industrial rooftop, entrance thru the garage - https://www.facebook.com/suramare10floor/
9. rothchild 12- trendy bar/cafe/live music in the back roomhttp://www.rothschild12.co.il/
10. shafa bar- hot spot in jaffa flea market https://www.tripadvisor.nl/Restaurant_Review-g297749-d4353192-Reviews-Shaffa_Bar-Jaffa_Tel_Aviv_Tel_Aviv_District.html
11. ilka- fun and bustling bar on dizengoff 148 http://80054171.rest.co.il/
12. shesek - low-key quality, moved to new location summer 2015 http://timeout.co.il/עירוני/תל-אביב/בר-חדש-מבית-השסק-נפתח-ליד-מגדל-שלום
cafes
1. puaa - cool cafe in the middle of jaffa flea market - http://www.rol.co.il/sites/eng/puaa/
2. little prince - sweet book store cafe - https://www.facebook.com/hanasich/
3. casbah cafe - most trendy cafe in the most hipster neighborhood (florentine) in tel aviv - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/mediterranean-coast/tel-aviv/restaurants/cafe/casbah-cafe
4. zorik - best north tel-aviv brunch/cafe place- http://cafezorik.co.il/
5. dubnov 8 - relaxed cafe in central tel aviv - http://www.dubnov8.rest-e.co.il/