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The Carmel Market, also known in Israel as “Shuk HaCarmel“, is the city’s biggest marketplace, and a fascinating, enjoyable place to visit. It is basically one crowded narrow alley with long line of colorful stalls standing on either side, and where vendors proudly present their goods. Here you can find almost anything imaginable for the lowest prices in the city, from different kinds of bread and pastry to delicious olives, dried fruits and exotic spices.
The market is considered a great place to spend the day but my goal in this post is to show you that it is an even better place to spend the night!!! Over the last few years many very cool restaurants and bars have popped up all over the little streets and alleys surrounding the market and have turned this area in to a very trendy hangout.
Here are a few of my recommendations for a night out at the market:

The Basta Wine Bar
This homey wine bar can easily give you the feeling you are in the middle of Barcelona or Madrid this is thanks to the very Spain like atmosphere and delicatessens. The tapas menu changes daily but it will always include the freshest elements that can be found in the market. When I was there last week I enjoyed an amazing dish of sautéed calamari heads, sweet potatoes with Thaini and gorgonzola cheese, after that I went for some meat, a specially spiced home made tongue which I couldn’t stop eating…The excellent meal was complemented by the very impressive wine and cava selection (about 250 different types) that are almost all served by the glass! The energy in the air is very social so somehow I found myself talking to all of the “neighbors” in the surrounding tables. This is also a hot spot for celebrities, I spotted one actress, two designers and one multi talent! Ha Ha Ha. 4 Hasomer St., 03-5169234

Carmela Banahala
Carmela is one of Tlv’s finest restaurants, the food here is really top notch, true gourmet French Mediterranean cuisine. When you get there, try to find a spot on Carmela’s small balcony, with its painted ceramic tiles and pseudo-colonial white pillars it is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy the evening breeze. This is also good place to for big family celebrations or special occasion, the festive long table will be waiting for you and an extraordinary tasting meal of about 7 courses will be slowly and elegantly served. This is one recommended culinary experience. 46 Hatavor Street, 03-5161417HaMinzar
What can I tell you about this crazy, wired local bar? I think you have to see it for yourself in order to really understand. The untrained eye will find it hard to discover the charm of this little drinking hole, with its run down furniture and smoky stinky vibe. But there is some kind of magic to the joint, all the locals drinkers gather here, usually straight after work and until ridicules hours of the night and they just sit and drink, and then they drink some more. Anyone is welcome to have a seat, but don’t except to get any normal service, the staff here has a tendency to avoid people they don’t recognize. Anyway The Minzar (which means the Monastery) is certainly a Tlv phenomenon, worth checking out. 60 Allenby Street, 03-5173015.

Agadir Burger Bar
Although Agadir has become a famous chain of burger bars around Tlv, I personally still have a lot of respect for the original first branch on Nachalat Binyamin (right of the Carmel Market). In many ways this place started the real hamburger culture of Tlv. The burgers here are always great, the waitresses are hot, and there is an excellent selection of draft beers. What more can you ask for…Hasaluf Hateimani Bakery
If you’ve been parting all night, you can try and hit this bakery early in the morning. I Most of the pitas go to the nearby Yemenite restaurants, and only those who know of the spot or who happen to wander into the small alley and and smell the intoxicating aroma can enjoy the wonderful goods this small bakery produces. After this you can calmly go to bed on a full tummy. 23 Hayim Habashush Street