Lobby as LifestyLe. the New DaviD iNterCoNtiNeNtaL Lobby

Lobby a s Lifest yl e.
t he New Dav id
In t erCon tinen ta l
Lobby
Thomas Fehlbier must enjoy keeping busy. A young and charming
German-born hotelier with international experience, Thomas, who
trained within the InterContinental system and chain, joined the
David InterContinental Tel Aviv in 2009 to serve under General
Manager David Cohen. His role was defined at the time to include
reviewing all Food and Beverage (F&B) functions in the hotel,
heading a recruitment, training and senior service program designed
to instruct, motivate, maintain and reward quality staff, based on
InterContinental’s “best practice standards” the InterContinental way
and raising the level of service in the hotel’s F&B operations to that
of the chain’s standards in its finest European properties. This project
was one of many the hotel implemented these past few years to
maintain InterContinental standards and practices, activities that have
also included refurbishing it banquet and conference facilities, room
renovation and the reconfiguration of various types of luxurious
contemporary suites.
As General Manager David Cohen sees it: “It is not enough any longer
for us to say that we are good - even excellent - by Israeli standards.
The only things that matters to us are the finest European standards
of the InterContinental chain, which guarantees that we remain the
great hotel our guests love.”
Having worked diligently and extensively to bring the F&B service
standards up to par, Thomas, who received the title of David
InterContinental Tel Aviv Resident Manager in May 2010, then was
asked to oversee what was perhaps an even more daunting project,
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redesigning the entire third-floor lobby area and food outlets of the
hotel to reflect InterContinental chain-wide standards, while at the
same time implementing improvements that would meet the specific
needs of the hotel, as well as those of its guests, both local and
international.
Once charged with this task, one of the first decisions he took to
make sure that the product would be “top of the line” and to see it
through from vision to reality was to continue to work hand in hand all
through the project, with the London-based design consultancy firm
“Ara design” “and to follow its plans. (Ara is an international company
specializing in the hospitality industry, and it has been developing hotel
projects these last few years in cities as diverse as Amman, Baku,
Bangalore, Brussels, Istanbul and Warsaw).
The first stage of the project to redesign, reconfigure and upgrade the
lobby, the hotel’s “showcase floor,” began in the reception area, where
new carpeting and furniture were installed, and then work continued
throughout the entire third floor level, up to the area fronting the
outdoor swimming pool and including the Jaffa Court dining room.
The swimming pool area was equipped with new sun beds, all with
mattresses, and with new seasonal pool furniture, and by summer
2011 a triangular outdoor terrace with wood-deck flooring and
rattan-style furniture will be inaugurated across from the pool.
Back inside the lobby lounge, the bar area has been refurbished with
high bar stools, both semi-circular and L-shaped sofas, benches and
LED ceiling lighting and a new sitting area has been developed on the
right side (as you face the sea). "It has been outfitted with lounge-style
furniture and new black marble floor tiles, and designed to serve as
an extension of our regular lobby lounge,” Thomas explains. “but the
difference is that we’ll be able to serve hamburgers, club sandwiches
and other meat items in this section, since it will be serviced by the
kitchen of our fine dining restaurant, which is adjacent to it.”
The restaurant too was in line for a do-over, and it has been outfitted
with new carpeting, furniture and a lighting system featuring ceiling
LEDs. It will feature new menus too, based on “Israeli cuisine with
a Mediterranean touch,” to remain a leading kosher restaurant in Tel
Aviv and a hot spot for top-of-the-line local culinary delights. While
serving as a lunch and dinner option on weekends, it is popular Fridays
and Saturdays for private family functions.
Leading out from the back of the restaurant - but accessible from the
lobby as well - the new 60-seat “Executive Lounge” has been set up
to complement the hotel’s premium Club InterContinental on the
24th floor, which also features seating for about 60. When speaking
in the past of this development, when it was being planned, hotel
General Manager David Cohen referred to the new lobby facility as
“a business-class lounge - to borrow airline terminology - that will
operate along with our 24th-floor first-class product.”
In the Jaffa Court all-day dining room the total interior has been
changed, new tea and coffee corners and an “early-bird” coffee buffet
have been introduced for guests to enjoy and new synchronized
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colored LED lighting has been installed (and has also been placed in
various places in the Atrium Lobby). The outlet also features advanced
induction buffets imported from Germany, the first of their kind in a
hotel in Israel. Moreover, a new winter garden, situated outside the
Jaffa Court, is being developed and it will become operational by the
summer 2011 season. This new roofed facility, with seating for about
60 guests, will feature air conditioning and a wooden deck too: “With
the addition of the winter garden and the expansion of seating at the
Jaffa Court itself, we’ll be able to handle about 400 diners at a single
seating without the need to move the furniture in the Atrium lobby
and reconfigure the lobby for luncheon seating. This had always been
a challenge for us when we hosted conferences that included lunch
12
and there wasn’t sufficient seating room in the Jaffa Court itself,”
Thomas mentions. “Our primary motivation was meeting the needs
of our target audiences, and now there will always be room for private
and business meetings in our new lobby, 365 days a year, as well as
sufficient seating for meals in the Jaffa Court section, for participants
in seminars, conferences and the like. We carried out all of this work in
response to requests from the public for a ‘cozier lobby space meeting
InterContinental’s international standards, where people like to see
and be seen.’ With each passing year Tel Aviv is becoming a more
relevant city on the world tourism map, and we feel it is important that
a hotel such as ours meets the cosmopolitan travelers’ expectations
with a multi-functional product that reflects our chain’s standards.”
Even though the renovation and upgrading of suites has not
been the primary focus of the David InterContinental Tel
Aviv’s redesign project for 2011, it has turned its attention
to redesigning 10 junior suites with a contemporary look,
of appeal to its young, sophisticated international guests. "It
was important for us to get this right,” Thomas says, “so we
spent a lot of time deciding what these suites should look like.
Each of them - with bedroom and living room - features a
contemporary design with two TV sets, a convertible sofa and
furniture that affords the suite a sense of space and style.”
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INTERCONTINENTAL ® AMBASSADOR
EXCLUSIVE PRIVIL EGES AT INTERCONTINENTA L
PRIORITY CLUB ® AWARDS
Priority Club Awards is the largest hotel loyalty
program in the world. It is free to join, and members
can earn and redeem points at more than 4,000 hotels
worldwide. It has also been voted the “Best Hotel
Rewards Program in the World” quite a number of
times by readers of "Global Traveler" magazine.
Benefits include:
• Earn points or airline miles
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Redeem points for greater rewards:
• Hotel stays
• Brand-name merchandise
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• Candlewood Suites®
Join Priority Club Rewards at reception and begin
earning points today.
Or visit priorityclub.com
14
HOTEL S & RESORTS
Any guest can enjoy the contemporary elegance and first-class hospitality of
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, but only Ambassadors get to experience those special
privileges and unique benefits that add a whole new level of comfort and relaxation.
As an Ambassador, these are just some of the unique privileges and benefits you
receive at InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts worldwide:
Special Benefits for all Ambassador Club members
• Welcome letter at check-in and free daily newspaper
• Large mineral water, red house wine, seasonal fruit plate and box of
chocolates on arrival
• One-level upgrade (except for guests booking the Mediterranean/Jaffa Suite).
• 20,000 PCR bonus points for every 15 qualifying nights at an
InterContinental hotel
• Separate check-in desk
• Late 4pm check out
• One free Pay TV movie per stay
• Weekend night certificate upon purchase or renewal
• Guaranteed room availability 72 hours in advance
• Single rate for double occupancy
• Dedicated Ambassador Service Center phone number
Gold Ambassador
• One level room upgrade (except for guests booking the
Mediterranean/Jaffa Suite)
• 2000 PCR points/ 500 miles per qualifying stay and 10% bonus points
Platinum Ambassador
• One level room upgrade (except for guests booking the Mediterranean/Jaffa Suite).
• 2000 PCR points/ 500 miles per qualifying stay and 50% bonus points
Royal Ambassador
• Double room upgrade (except for guests booking the Mediterranean/
Jaffa Suite)
• Free mini-bar beverages
• 2000 PCR points/ 500 miles per qualifying stay & 100% bonus points
• Guaranteed room availability 24 hours in advance
• $100 renewal fee waived
• Join InterContinental Ambassador at reception, or visit:
intercontinental.com/ambassador
• Complimentary Internet access
The David
InterContinenta l’s
M a k e-A-Wish Month
Make-A-Wish Israel grants the wishes of children with lifethreatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience
with hope, strength and joy.
The staff of the David InterContinental Tel Aviv, in keeping with
the credo of the property’s international management company,
IHG, decided early in 2011 to mark Make-A-Wish Month at the
hotel and it has designed posters to be hung in the elevators, and
specially designed cards, to be placed in all guest rooms and handed
out to clients and partners to encourage them to participate in the
initiative by making a donation.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Israel (“Mishelet Lev”) is the
Israeli affiliate of an international foundation that was established
for the sole purpose of granting wishes to children suffering from
life-threatening illnesses. By granting these wishes, the foundation
enables the children and their families to take time out from the
most difficult time of their lives and experience laughter, joy and
excitement for even just a few hours or a few days, to give them the
strength to carry on.
Make-A-Wish began in Phoenix Arizona in 1980, when 7-year-old
Chris Grecious, who wanted to be a police officer, was sworn in by
a group of wonderful individuals that began the foundation together
with his mother Linda. Since then, over 180,000 wishes have been
granted worldwide, and branches of the foundation have been
established in over 30 countries. Mishelet Lev, the Israeli affiliate
of Make-A-Wish, was founded in 1996 and since its inception it
has been fulfilling the wishes of hundreds of children each year.
The foundation is supported by private donations, corporate
contributions, the adoption of wishes, in-kind donations and various
fundraisers throughout the year.
It has been said that: “The doctors provide the medicine however
Make-A-Wish comes in to provide the magic.”
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A Make-A-Wish fairy princess
Yonatan Halevy – “King for a Day”
The wishes are broken down into four categories: “I Wish to Meet”
- personalities such as professional basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal,
President Clinton and even Mickey Mouse; “I Wish To Have” - a
laptop, a puppy, a tree house in my back yard; “I Wish To Go” - to
visit a grandmother in Argentina, or to Paris, Rome or elsewhere,
and “I Wish To Be” - a famous singer for a day, a millionaire and even
a sworn-in police officer.
A special donation safe was placed at reception and another in
the Executive Lounge, where guests could donate money, with
both safes featuring a cover decorated with the foundation logo. In
addition, guests can choose to donate through their room charge or
restaurant bill, and every bill in the restaurants or by the pool comes
with a Make-A-Wish flyer. Employees underwent training to teach
them how best to introduce the program to guests.
Make-A-Wish Israel is a non-profit organization and all its activities
are carried out on a voluntary basis.
Children between the ages of 3-18 that suffer from life-threatening
illnesses are eligible for consideration. Those meeting the criteria
are interviewed, and the wonderful volunteers and staff of MakeA-Wish do everything in their power to make each child’s wish
become a reality.
Aside from sharing the David InterContinental’s social awareness
activities with its guests, building trust and loyalty to the hotel and
the brand and showcasing the hotel and its core values, the purpose
of this initiative is simply to make some children’s wishes come true.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is only able to share the power of a
wish when it receives the support of generous individual donors.
Once Make-A-Wish month at the David InterContinental comes
to a close, contributions to the organization will still be welcomed
and deeply appreciated.
The dates for “Make-A-Wish Month” were from May 11 to June
11, 2011, the foundation provided the hotel with special balloons
bearing the “Make a Wish” logo, as well as with flyers for it to place
in the rooms, at reception and in the restaurants. In addition, a short
movie describing Make-A-Wish was screened on TVs in the guest
rooms that day and throughout the month. Also, “Wish Coins”
featuring the likeness of Chris Grecious were distributed as gifts for
hotel guests that made a donation, no matter the sum.
“Wish coins” bearing the likeness of the first Make-A-Wish child,
Chris Grecious
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THE M A N Y FACES
OF TEL AVIV
By Nora Ajzen, David InterContinental Tel Aviv
Recently, I read an article on Tel Aviv in which the city was declared a
sure contender to be crowned Miami's Middle Eastern counterpart.
Not surprisingly, this finding reflects beautifully the familiar reaction
of ambivalence about Tel Aviv. Since its early beginnings, this
hyperactive, stylish Mediterranean city has been both mesmerizing
and infuriating visitors. I feel the urge to challenge such a view, or at
least elaborate on it, as I do not believe that an analogy to America’s
best and admittedly similarly free-spirited party town bears justice
to the Tel Aviv with which I, a tourist-turned-immigrant, have fallen
in love and which inspires many first-time visitors. There are many
faces to Tel Aviv. Miami is just one of those. Bubbly Tel Aviv is as cool
as New York, as upcoming as Berlin and Barcelona, with sunsets
and beaches like Ibiza and filled with creative and intellectual energy
reminiscent of Paris, it is a charming melting point where cultures
meet and evolve. Nevertheless, Tel Aviv is much more than the
sum of its parts and features an aura that makes it unique - the thrill
of a big city, which manages to retain its soul and personality and is
a reflection of the idealism that is promoted among its people. Tel
Aviv is alive, it is real.
However, this on its own does not set it apart, or make a break
in Tel Aviv a unique and unforgettable experience. My fascination
with this little stretch in the Middle East is not ideological. In spite
of all the glamour, thrill and cultural variety one can find in the
so-called metropolises of this world, Tel Aviv features an aura that
sets it apart; it is here that you can find the thrill of a big city, which
manages to retain its soul and personality with the idealism that is
promoted among its people. Tel Aviv is alive, it is real.
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Below is my guide to the genuine Tel Aviv experience, the firstrate "insider" stuff, listing many places with which only the locals
are familiar. Be prepared. I expect you’ll be left with an aftertaste of
tireless energy and a carpe diem attitude that is unheard of in other
cities of this world.
two weekly markets and lots of other events see page 25), and the
Florentin Quarter a short walk away (see page 40) should not be
missed too.
Tel Aviv is a world of its own. No other place in Israel (or in the
entire Middle East) has such a pleasure-seeking lifestyle and tolerant
mentality. As a fairly new immigrant myself, I can testify to the
excitement and authenticity of living in a young place still in the midst
of forming its future identity yet symbolic of modernity, freedom
and openness.
If we have some spare time for fashion shopping, aim for the Northern
part of Dizengoff Street, where you can find unique articles,
influenced largely from styles in New York City and London with
an Israeli touch (look out for Banot, Josef, A+ and Banker). Recently,
a new shopping area, Gan Hachashmal, has become the hippest
place in the city for original, cutting edge fashion by local designers. If
you are looking for more upscale internationally acclaimed designer
labels, the Ramat Aviv Mall or the renowned Kikar HaMedina are
your best bets. Incidentally, a young designers’ bazaar often takes
place Friday mornings on the lower level of the Dizengoff Center
Shopping Mall, and you may find some true bargains.
The best way to throw yourself into the local scene is to experience
Tel Aviv’s beaches, where you quickly realize that Israelis, a melting
pot of different nationalities, are stunningly attractive and full of
life. Topsy Beach (located in the New Port area – the “Namal”) is
certainly a hot spot among Tel Avivians. An insider tip: the nearby
religious beach is open to the general public on Saturdays (the Jewish
Sabbath) and has become a secret spot for the hippest and trendiest
people in town.
Don’t overlook Tel Aviv’s markets. Not only are real bargains, they
are a must-stop if you want to get to the city’s heart and soul, the
best way to get the feel of a city and become acquainted with it.
See, feel and smell real Mediterranean life, not the clean, packaged
tourist product. Each of Tel Aviv's markets is a world of its own,
offering different goods, and also reflecting the locals who live, sell
and buy there.
What Miami is to Art Deco; Tel Aviv is to 1930/40s Bauhaus heaven,
featuring the world’s largest concentration of Bauhaus-style buildings
(about four thousand). In fact, the city's “outstanding universal value”
led UNESCO to recognize it as a “World Heritage Site." Wandering
about the streets, especially along beautiful Rothschild Boulevard,
you can testify to the impressive preservation efforts, which have
successfully brought back prestige and glamour to once-beautiful
buildings and entire streets. If you are here on a Friday or Tuesday
morning, I recommend going for the guided tour with the Bauhaus
Center, which will point out typical buildings.
There are three other major areas that you must visit during your
stay in Tel Aviv. Jaffa, the city’s southern landmark, will give you a
glimpse of the Jewish-Arab coexistence and a taste of the ancient
character and modern spirit that still prevails in there. Culturally, Jaffa
has become a place where artists meet, live, work and set up shops,
making its streets a labyrinth of discovery, with restaurants, galleries,
theaters, restaurants, a flea market and an historic district. Visit
the old Jaffa Port and then climb up the stairs leading to Old Jaffa’s
alleys. Make a wish on the bridge while touching your zodiac sign and
looking at the sea. The Old Jaffa Port recently underwent a major
revamp, and what once was an industrial warehouse space has been
converted into an art project and restaurant/entertainment space.
Next on the list is Neve Zedek, Tel Aviv’s answer to New York City’s
Meatpacking District or London’s Notting Hill. The hip and lively
neighborhood, which historically was the first Jewish settlement
outside Jaffa’s town walls, today boasts plenty of great restaurants,
designer boutiques, ice-cream places and antiques shops. It definitely
is perfect for a shop-and-stop stroll, especially along its main
street Shalom Shabazi. While in the area, pop into Tazza D’Oro,
the charming neighborhood café, or head a few steps east to Jajo
Vino, one of Tel Aviv’s finest wine bars, with a laid-back, candle-lit
ambiance, a very pleasant on a Friday afternoon, when Israelis sip on
a glass of cava or some vino.
Hatachana, the recently restored old train station area adjacent to
Neve Tzedek, has turned into the new cultural and social meeting
point with many trendy shops, restaurants, arts shows & classes,
Since Israel is a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities,
Israeli cuisine is all about ethnic food, and there is no better way
to enjoy this diversity than by tasting it. Here are my choices for
some of the best restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in and
around the city:
If you like brunching, you must eat at the Montefiore Boutique
Hotel (03-5646100), which serves excellent brunches at reasonable
prices in a stylish setting. The Israeli breakfast it serves is exquisite.
Don’t miss out on the cheesecake – a truly heavenly delight.
For lunch I recommend Manta Ray (03-5174773), located on
the beach opposite the David Intercontinental Hotel. Featuring a
fabulous terrace where you can sip on a glass of champagne and
munch on fresh seafood and a wide variety of meze (appetizers)
while looking at the waves and wondering if life could be any more
beautiful, it is the ideal place for a tasty lunch by the beach. If you are
in the mood for something more vibrant, head to Shenkin Street,
popular for its hip, edgy character and great vibe. Have lunch at the
renowned Orna and Ella bistro (03-6204753), featuring a homelike
feeling of intimacy and top notch food, making this place the most
popular restaurant around. The signature sweet potato pancakes
with a creamy chive dipping sauce are to die for.
Pick a day and make sure to arrive before noontime at Abu Hassan
Ali Karavan (1 Ha’Dolphin Street, no telephone), widely regarded as
the best humus place in the whole country. The menu is limited, only
humus, masabacha (a humus dish) and pita-bread. The ambience is
extremely vibrant and friendly. Note that once the humus is finished,
the place closes down, so expect to wait quite a while until you
manage to get at seat. However, it is worth it. Sitting beside strangers
and savoring delicious humus with pita-bread is quite an experience,
as you are sure to discover.
Tel Aviv spoils you with the immensity of its dining options. If you
are aiming for a local taste with international vibe, The Container
(03-6836321; Old Jaffa Port) is the new and innovative concept
space on the Israeli scene. The Container resides in a hangar built
during British rule and offers an experience that combines a striking
ambiance with cutting edge culture, culinary excellence, music and
an elaborate events program for all to enjoy. If you want to rub
shoulders with local stars, the recently opened Tapas Ahad Ha’am
(03-5666966) or the Social Club (03-5601114), both in the
Rothschild Quarter, are the places to go - delightful mélanges of
atmosphere, style, music, great food, and the energy of an ongoing
“fiesta.” For a truly Mediterranean experience, head to HaBasta
(03-5169234) in Tel Aviv's Carmel Market. The usually crowded
place is reminiscent of Southern Europe, with a somewhat wellworn yet charming look and feel. With more than 250 wines and
plenty of tapas-sized meat and seafood dishes on offer, this is the
kind of hot spot for lovers of informal places, that don’t mind getting 21
into conversations with complete strangers. If you are passionate
about meat, you must try the nearby “Makom Shel Basar” (Hebrew
for “Place for Meat,” 03-5104020).
There are hundreds of bars and restaurants in Tel Aviv, yet finding
a bar that serves restaurant-quality dishes is not an easy task. Shila
restaurant (03-5221224), designed as a pub, is one of the best options
for those who appreciate Tel Aviv’s characteristic cozy, informal bar
atmosphere but who are yet not willing to forego a culinary treat.
The food at Shila is influenced by the Catalonian kitchen, and the
fusion with some Mediterranean flavors is something that tapas
lovers should definitely explore while staying in Tel Aviv.
There is no question. When you visit Tel Aviv, you must eat at
HaSalon (03-5660915). Open Wednesday and Thursday evenings
only, it is an upmarket, yet totally unrivaled place, proof that the
concept of "dinner as theater" is more than well mastered in Tel Aviv.
Located in an obscure industrial area on Tel Aviv’s eastern outskirts,
the restaurant, featuring a menu changed ever week by chef-owner
Eyal Shani, is as eloquent as it is praised for the heavenly taste of its
food, and presentation. Insider Tip: The entrecôte carpaccio refined
with herbs is a definite must when it is on the menu. Wait, see and
listen as it receives its finishing touches right at the table.
Did you know that Tel Aviv is now the world’s third largest sushi
market per capita, following New York and, not surprisingly, Tokyo?
If you are a sushi lover, you must eat at Moon (03-6291155). Despite
its stylish setting and continuous popularity, Moon keeps it simple: an
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unpretentious, sushi bar with a focus on food. Not to be missed is
the all-time favorite “Black Mamba Roll.” Get your chopsticks ready.
Tel Aviv has received the well-earned title as “The city that never
stops.” It is packed with bars of every conceivable sort, where Israelis,
generally not big drinkers by European or American standards, hang
out and imbibe.
Following the recent trend in New York and other metropolitan
cities, stag heads, pheasants or tigers in attack poses have been
moving from natural history museums into the world of fashion and
interior decorating. The trend, referred to as Taxidermy, has swept
through prominent clothing stores, bars, restaurants and hotels
around the world and has naturally also made its way to Israel.
Not for the faint-hearted but definitely the new “must drink in”
place in Tel Aviv, the new Taxidermy Bar (near the police station),
is decorated in dark colors and the peeling walls offer a collection
of stuffed animals, creating the dark and gloomy look of a bizarre
club – but one with great music. Also quite a unique Tel Aviv spot
is Nanuchka (03-5162254). This Georgian restaurant-bar offers
great ambiance, a constantly vivacious vibe, plenty of entertainment
and even a touch of poetry, since its red walls are covered by the
owner's favorite poems. A note of advice though: Don’t go there
for the food; it is the experience that makes this place unique. And
who knows, at some point you might even find yourself dancing on
the bar. Alternatively, head to nearby Rothschild 12 (03-5106430),
the new favorite spot in town. Featuring an unassuming exterior and
pure décor, it has become the in spot for Tel Aviv’s most gorgeous,
trendiest crowd. Another great bar you should try is the new Otto
76 bar, situated near the Brasserie restaurant (see below), opposite
Rabin Square. As it is the new hotspot in town, count on some waiting
time, but it is well worth it. During the summer, Susannah’s Rooftop
(Neve Tzedek) is a must for a guaranteed chilled atmosphere and
delicious cocktails. Try to get there before sunset to get a seat.
for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Israeli Opera.
Tel Aviv also boasts several impressive museums and an internationally
renowned university. For dance and theater don't miss the Suzanne
Dellal Center, home of the world famous Bat Sheva Dance Company,
and the Goldstar Zappa, which frequently hosts Israeli (and sometimes
foreign) artists and features a truly local ambience.
If you want to experience Tel Aviv’s club scene, renowned worldwide
for its vibrancy and cutting edge style, know that the general attitude
is that life is precious and there is an apparent urge to make the
most of life every day. If you are high on energy, end your night out
at Hakhatul VeHakelev ("The Cat and The Dog"), or the Penguin, a
dark, underground club boasting eclectic music, lots of alcohol, and
vibrant dance floor. Definitely one of the hottest places on the Tel
Aviv nightlife scene.
While Tel Aviv cannot boast a history similar to that of Paris or
London, it does have a brief yet very rich history of youthfulness,
creativity, war, and reinvention and certainly is the Middle East’s
most advanced and culturally vibrant metropolis. Pleasure-seeking
Tel Avivians are constantly inventing new ways to enjoy their city,
proving once again that “joie de vivre” is viable in a place that has
been fighting to retain a status of good sense, creativity and political
moderation in the midst of strongly rooted uproar and extremism.
If you find yourself hungry after a big night out, head to Brasserie
(03-6967111). Generally considered one of the best restaurants in
the country, the Brasserie offers pure pleasure 24/7. Packed every
hour during the day, it is the connoisseur's preferred meeting point
for people watching and late night dining. The burger served with
French fries is definitely worth a try.
Apart from the atmosphere, the sunshine, the beaches, the cafés, the
gourmet restaurants and growing entertainment scene, Tel Aviv is
also the country's cultural center. For the arts, the Habima National
Theater is fantastic, and fans of classical music should try to get tickets
23