How to Act Like a Tel Aviv-ian

The general character of the city of Tel Aviv is a mash-up of many Jewish cultures. Here are a few tips on how to act like your average Tel-Avivian and fit in within what is arguably one of the most unique cities in the world.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Money
• An appetite
• Patience
• A vehicle or bus fare
• Energy to walk a lot
• A cigarette addiction or a tolerance for cigarette smoke

Drink, smoke, be merry and don't forget your hookah!

1. Lounge in cafes: Tel Aviv has hundreds of indoor and outdoor cafes that resemble those in cities such as Milan and Paris. The coffee is modeled after authentic Italian roasts and is wonderful. The cafes in Tel Aviv attract local celebrities, intellectuals, playwrights and high school and university students, who lounge in them for hours at a time.In fact, it is so wonderful that when Starbucks opened several branches in Israel, the locals shunned the popular American franchise and remained loyal to their Israeli brands. Unlike Starbucks, cafes in Israel serve entire meals, mostly vegetarian and healthy. Supplement your cappuccino with a delicious red pepper and mushroom omelette, freshly-baked wheat bread and chopped fruit salad.
2. Go to a hookah bar: Israel and the rest of the Middle East are known for their hookah bars, where you can enjoy flavored smoke-fests with your friends over a stimulating conversation....or a pick-up session.
3. Visit the fantastic clubs and bars alongside the Tel Aviv coast. Tel Aviv-ians love to drink and dance. There are techno clubs, salsa clubs, authentic Irish pubs and American sports bars, where die hard fans can watch a baseball game over a beer and a plate of hummus, amid a view of hotties strutting around on the beach. Also, like cafes, many bars serve entire meals -- from burgers to sushi -- so bring your appetite!
4. Smoke or learn to tolerate smoking: Israelis, especially Tel Aviv-ians love their cigarettes and unlike cities such as New York and London, public smoking laws are ignored in Israel, especially in Tel Aviv. If you go to a club or a bar, you will most likely come out of it smelling like an ash tray. There is nothing to be done about this -- if you don't like it, don't go to these places, or stick to open-air ones near the beach.
5. Frequent hole-in-the wall falafel restaurants -- enjoy some of the best pita bread you'll ever taste, a variety of chopped salads and wonderful staples like fava beans in olive oil over a large plate of delicious home-made hummus.
6. Go to open-air markets: Native Tel Aviv-ians enjoy the outdoor shopping experience. Tel Aviv has a wonderful flea market called Nahalat Benjamin, various produce markets and an open-air fashion center called Shenkin. You can find everything from designer bag knock-offs to discount wedding dresses. Don't forget to haggle! True Tel Aviv-ians never pay full price.
7. If you plan on moving to Tel Aviv, buy a scooter or a Vespa! It is far less costly than a car, which are marked up 100 percent in Israel due to taxes, and it is the best way to beat stand-still traffic in Tel Aviv.

Tips & Warnings

• Walk! Israelis walk almost everywhere. You will see so much more if you get those legs pumping!