Star Escapes: Find out why Gal Gadot, Neil Patrick Harris and Rachel McAdams make a beeline to Tel Aviv when they’re looking for fun in the sun

July 08, 2019

By Suzanne Wintrob

Adapted from the June 17, 2019, issue of Hello! Canada (no. 665)

If energy is what you’re after, Tel Aviv the place to be! What started in 1909 as a sand dune on the outskirts of the ancient city of Jaffa is now Israel’s financial and technology hub boasting a 24-hour party vibe and the world’s largest concentration of 1930s Bauhaus architecture (hence its moniker The White City).

With its unique brand of sun-soaked fun and non-stop action, it’s no wonder How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris immediately agreed to serve as International Ambassador for Tel Aviv Pride (his first pride parade ever!).

“The outpouring of positivity was truly overwhelming,” posted Neil alongside a beachfront photo cuddling up to his husband, chef David Burtka.

A few weeks earlier, Madonna performed at the Eurovision Song Festival while, fittingly, Rachel McAdams and Will Ferrell were in town to shoot their upcoming Netflix film, Eurovision.

And Israeli actress Gal Gadot of Wonder Woman fame stops by whenever she’s visiting family.

Read on to see why this cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean Sea will have you at “Shalom.”

Photo: © iStock

<h2>EXPLORE</h2>
<p>Don your comfiest shoes and jostle the crowds in the Insta-worthy Carmel Market (pictured) to snap up souvenirs, aromatic spices and the juiciest pomegranates around. <p>Check out Nachalat Binyamin’s twice-weekly art fair as well as the boutiques and galleries of intriguing Neve Tzedek for unique jewelry, fashions and exquisite artwork by Israeli designers. Then head to the glorious seaside’s bustling beachfront for the ultimate in sunbathing, people-watching and alluring sunsets.
<p>Photo: © Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

TASTE

Tel Avivians love to socialize over food so follow the crowds to the city’s hotspots.

Dig in to a typical Israeli breakfast of eggs, za’atar-topped cheeses, chopped salad, dips and crusty bread, served everywhere including 24-hour Benedict on pedestrian-packed Rothschild Blvd.

At lunchtime, locals flock to Falafel Hakosem for mouth-watering hummus, falafel, lamb shawarma and shakshuka while discerning foodies head to trendy Sarona Market’s gourmet shops and eateries.

For dinner, chef Meir Adoni of Lumina in the luxurious Carlton Hotel pairs delectable sea bass, veal and lamb dishes with intriguing sauces while the rotating chef entrepreneurs at upscale L28 boast locally-sourced menus. Later, grab a nightcap at one of Dizengoff Street’s lively bars, where tables of exuberant patrons spill onto the sidewalk.

<h2>STAY</h2>
<p><strong><a href="/tags/0/chris-noth">Chris Noth</a></strong> (Mr. Big on <i><strong><a href="/tags/0/sex-and-the-city">Sex and the City</a></strong></i>) was among the first guests of <a href="https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tlvlc-the-jaffa-a-luxury-collection-hotel-tel-aviv/" target="blank">The Jaffa</a> (pictured), a 120-room hotel combining a renovated 19th-century, neo-Roman hospital and monastery with a new modern building.
<p>Overlooking the picturesque Jaffa port, the lofty ceilings, arched colonnades, stone walls and remnants of a 13th- century Crusader’s wall have guests literally walking through history.
<p>Business travellers opt for <a href="http://theverahotel.com/" target="blank">The Vera</a>, a 39-room hip boutique hotel in the city centre boasting yoga classes, organic skin-care products from a nearby kibbutz and a refreshing cocktail upon check-in.
<p>Photo: © Amit Geron/The Jaffa

<h2>INDULGE</h2>
<p>After a yoga session on the roof of City Hall, get stylish at Kikar Hamedina, a circular street brimming with designer labels from Prada to Gucci.
<p>Once primped, take in an enchanting opera or ballet at the striking <a href="http://www.israel-opera.co.il/eng/" target="blank">Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center</a> (or head to Gordon Beach on Saturday mornings for Israeli folk dancing!).
<p>Later, unwind at The Jaffa’s <a href="https://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/fitness-spa-services/details/tlvlc-the-jaffa-a-luxury-collection-hotel-tel-aviv/6499366/" target="blank">L. Raphael Spa</a> for an anti-aging Diamond Oxy-Peel infusing oxygen, omega 3, vitamins and pure lecithin to leave skin feeling firm and smooth.
<p>Photo: © KateGiryes

<h2>TRIP TIPS</h2>
<li>Bring a blanket or a surfboard and catch some rays – the city offers 318 days of sun and 14 km of beach!
<li>Electric scooters (pictured) rule the streets, making getting around fast and easy.
<li>Celebrity sightings! Pack a picnic and head to enormous Hayarkon Park – Tel Aviv’s largest green space – to commune with nature and then catch a show (<strong><a href="/tags/0/bon-jovi">Bon Jovi</a></strong> on July 25; <strong><a href="/tags/0/jennifer-lopez">Jennifer Lopez</a></strong> on Aug. 1)
<li>Looking for stimulating conversation? Talk up a bus or cab driver on politics, religion or history and you’re in for a wild ride!
<li>Furry fun fact: Tel Aviv has the highest number of dogs per capita, with one dog for every 17 residents and 70 public dog parks!
<p>Photo: © Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images