11 Quintessentially Israeli Experiences
1. Eat Shakshuka for breakfast
If you've never had this dish, you are in for a serious treat: two taboon-baked eggs in a simmering spiced tomato sauce, optionally featuring some feta cheese and served with tahini and homemade bread on the side. Many cafes will make you a vegan version if you prefer!
Move over, eggs benedict!
2. Be honked at a traffic light before it even turns green.
I told my cousin I flipped off a driver who did this to me, and he told me I was lucky the guy (let's be real here) didn't get out of his car and shout at me, or worse. YMMV.
3. Grab falafel with all the fixins for lunch!
Just say "with everything" and they'll take care of the rest. From amba to shug to drenching it in hummus and t'china (tahini), don't miss the authentic experience!
4. Tell a twenty-something year old Israeli you had a great time in the Negev.
Expect a groan. Seriously, try this on any of them. Israeli soldiers of all stripes train in the Negev, and boy are they glad never to set foot there again.
5. Try to do something on Shabbat and fail.
Options include: taking public transportation, walking into a restaurant for dinner in Tel Aviv without a reservation, or shopping anywhere.
6. Pet all of the adorable cats, everywhere.
One of the few things you can and absolutely should do on Shabbat.
7. Stroll through a Shuk (market)
There are great markets in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Akko, and many other places! Try Shuk HaCarmel in Tel Aviv or Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem. You'll find stall after stall heaping with fresh produce, spices, Mediterranean pastries, olives, and teas, as well as made-to-order food stalls where you can grab lunch.
8. Stop by an Aroma Cafe
Aroma is Israel's Starbucks, but it's so much better that when Starbucks tried to establish a presence in Israel, it totally flopped. There used to be an Aroma Cafe right near where I live in NYC, but it recently closed, so I was especially excited to get some Aroma coffee on my recent trip. Plus, they give you a tiny chocolate with your coffee!
9. Have an Israeli tell you the best <insert thing here> in the world is in Israel.
My relatives are Israeli. You can borrow them for this if you want.
10. Try Halva
For the very best (in the world!), head to Mahane Yehuda and beeline for Malachim Hahalva (the kings of Halva). If you haven't experienced #9 yet (and even if you have), the shop guy here will make sure you do.
These are only about half the available flavors.
11. Relax with a tisane
Israelis love their "tea," by which they mean the absolute freshest mint, ginger, lemon, or other herbs dunked straight into hot water. With no caffeine, fresh tisanes are tasty and relaxing...and much needed after being beeped at every stop light before it turns green all day!
