Levinski market is one of the most fascinating spots in Tel-aviv, it’s a place where you can still see authentic merchants and small local boutique shops, some had been in the same spot even before the state of Israel was founded, managed by a 3rd or 4th generation family members.
The Levinski area can be categorized as the center of the small deli shops which sell all sort of pickled items starting from olives, cucumbers cabbage radishes and basically whatever you can think of. These unique delicatessens preserve the Balkan heritage, remains of a proud past Jewish community which was inspired by the local cuisine.
In addition to the delicatessens, you can find a variety of legume and grains shops, roasted or raw, all kinds and shapes, from Asian nuts to American pecans, Brazilian cashew or Persian pistachios, just name it, the variety is amazing.
Levinski market is a rising star in the Tel-aviv culinary scenery, for many years it has been neglected and treated as a merchant area only, however, during the last few years the area blooming. Today you can find many trendy restaurants, bars and coffee shops in this area, which brings back the younger generations to the neighborhood and creates a unique fabric of day and night life.
Here are some of the best places to visit while touring the Levinski market
Coffee shops
There is a big variety of coffee shops in the Levinski area, in most cases you will not find the regular tidy, organized coffee shops like in center Tel-aviv, they will usually resemble more of a Mumbai coffee shop then the usual western type, a bit of hipster style, vegan awareness and a lot of soul.
One of our best places for coffee at Levinski is Tony and Esther Cafe which is a cool place in one of the small streets of Levinski which serve excellent coffee and delicious food, however, the best thing about this cafe is the atmosphere, tables are scattered on the sidewalk with lively music enjoying the sun.
Another spot worth a visit is Kaimak Cafe , it is a vegan friendly coffee shop with a variety of home cooked stews and casseroles as well as amazing desserts. The vibes are chilled and you can sit on the place’s bar overlooking the market while sipping your coffee.
Delicatessens at Levinski market
Whenever looking to explore local cuisine, spices, legume or grains, this is the place to go to. The Levinski shops will definitely surprise you with an abundant of flavors and unique ingredients that are nowhere to be found, a must spot for every gastronomy lover which want to spice out the kitchen variety.
Deli’s are a great place to experience unique local ingredients, however you will find that these shops also prepare excellent street food, it can be a good sandwich or a small tapas option, usually with some sort of alcoholic beverage, like a homemade Arak, Raki or a chilled beer to drink while munching on the food.
Make sure to check out Yom tov deli which had been serving homemade food in Levinski for ages and their delicious sandwich is known across the city for one of the best sandwiches, filled with all sort goodies from the shop. Boutique naknik is a great alternative for meat lovers, the place is roasting and smoking big chunks of meat, wrapped between two slices and bread, delicious.
Street food
Like every market, Levinski offers a wide variety of food options, falafel, hummus and Boureks being the top-rated street food alternatives in the area due to the Turkish and Bulgarian heritage of the original merchants. One of the best Bourekas can be found at Bourekas Panso, a place which keeps its Turkish tradition of making Bourekas in a variety of shapes and fillings, beware, this food is addictive!
If hummus is your passion, you will certainly have many options in this area ,Mabsuta is a cool trendy hummus shop located in a small dead-end street, not far from it you will find Garger Hazahav, which is a respected hummus restaurant with a higher variety of Israeli food options like falafel, salads and much more.
Levinski 41 is one of the most interesting spots to visit, the place’s sitting spots are on the back of a parked truck on the street. The place is known for its original delicious fruit extractions as well as for one of the best cups of coffee in the area.
