Killin’ it on King George: where to hang out along Tel Aviv’s bohemian street

Celebrity Chef Eyal Shani has redefined street food in Israel with Miznon, a pita-centered joint where culinary expertise meets incredible ingredients. The atmosphere is loud and lively: just order your food, sit back, enjoy the free pita and tahini nibbles, and wait until your name is called. Just about anything you can fit in a pita is on offer here, including a rich and meaty minute steak, chicken liver, steak and eggs, kebabs and shakshuka. Vegetarians can find a good meal here too, with a slow-cooked ratatouille and the simple deliciousness of a juicy head of cauliflower that oozes flavor through its simplicity. Don’t want to leave home? Order in - they deliver. Miznon has multiple locations in the center of Israel (1 HaNechoshet St and 21 Ibn Gvirol) and even one in Paris!

Located just off the central King George street, Gan Meir is the epitome of parks. The dog park at its King George exit attracts dog lovers and owners alike, while kids run through the grassy fields at all hours of the day.

Dizengoff Center opened as Tel Aviv’s first mall in 1983. It's a winding network of Israeli familiarities and imported influences. It’s easy to get lost in the tangled web of stores, but with the help of the “Easy Dizi” app, you’ll have no problem navigating through its easy-to-follow store directory and floor plan. The bottom floor hosts a weekly food bazaar and designers market every Friday.

Thanks to their creamy hummus dishes, sensational shawarma, and salads chopped to perfection, it's no surprise Hakosem’s always bustling with customers. You can literally taste the passion in every blissful bite, a passion shared by the chefs and the friendly wait staff. At the end of your meal, you’ll be busting at the seams with satisfaction just as the restaurant is busting at the seams with happy customers.

Located in downtown Tel Aviv on the bustling King George Street is Abu Dabi. This small hummus spot is perfectly located to drop in before, during, or after a night out at one of the many popular bars nearby, or to refuel during a shopping trip at Dizengoff Center. Abu Dabi has a relaxed atmosphere and friendly service, in addition to delicious hummus, fresh salads and homemade chips and falafel. The hummus is exquisite, the music is trendy and the location unbeatable. Known as the “reggae” hummus spot, you’ll leave Abu Dabi relaxed and full.  

Totems and tribal masks, a menu of creative cocktails, a lounge with a club atmosphere, and an all-ages-goes standard. Meet Voodoo, the versatile bar that took over one of the most sought-after locations in town. The venue is composed of two levels: the upper-level functions as a gastro bar with a food menu crafted by former Shila restaurant chefs Itamar Kalman and Hagai Bar Lev. Their culinary lineup includes chef dishes set to a friendly atmosphere in an open-air bar, with an emphasis on experimental and visual elements that parallel the venue's magical name. 

When it comes to pizza, Tel Aviv has a myriad of options for you to choose from. If you're looking for a pizza joint that has the local flair, then Shiroko Pizza is the place to go. Located just steps away from Gan Meir, Shiroko offers a quality slice and a local feel, which is the perfect combo when it comes to this comfort food classic. The small location is reminiscent of grabbing a slice in New York City, where you go for both the food and familiar faces. Why not take a stroll in the park and then sit back and enjoy some pizza at Shiroko next Friday afternoon?

Comics don’t usually bring to mind vegetables, unless you’re in the city center of Tel Aviv. Comics and Vegetables is an award winning comic book store on King George Street that attracts hordes of shoppers looking for comic books and genre-specific figurines. Winner of the 2011 Eisner Spirit Retail Award–the comic industry’s equivalent of the Oscar’s–the shop is packed with books and related apparel that will appeal to international comic enthusiasts spanning generations. 

Whether it is three in the morning or three in the afternoon, step into this bustling spot for some tasty cafe food. Beyond the design and size, The Streets King George draws its character from the eclectic crowd. On the one hand, the local central Tel Aviv audience, and on the other hand, a large amount of passersby wandering through the neighborhood make this place their temporary culinary escape. The magic occurs when each finds his or her place in the cozy and inviting environment. Pick a massive and juicy burgers, healthy and fresh muesli, seasoned chips, or Israeli kebabs and rice off the extensive menu and melt into one of the comfy couches hidden away upstairs. No visit to Tel Aviv is complete without a midnight munchies drop by.

What used to be the old Maxim Theater has now been transformed into a colorful underground club with a modest yet vibrant atmosphere. The club is known to attract a range of party-goers: from the extreme neon makeup-wearing clubbers, to curious out-of-towners. You can count on cutting edge music that sweeps across the musical room of deep house, progressive trance and techno.

The Bigudit is a true meeting between fashion trends and a good cause. It is a relatively small thrift store located on King George street, right after Gan Meir. Most of the clothes are secondhand  for the whole family, plus they have vintage items and a variety of old-fashion accessories from all eras as well as toys, shoes, kitchen equipment, books and CDs. The workers of the store are volunteers from the Women's International Zionist Organization and all proceeds go to helping children and women at risk.

Located in the heart of Tel Aviv, Kipod Tattoo is the perfect place for your next tattoo or piercing. With eight tattoo artists and two piercers available, Kipod offers a professional staff in a sanitary studio. Each tattooist specializes in a different style, making Kipod the perfect place for any tattoo design you have in mind. Among the staff is artist Michael Kozlenko, who has over 20 years of experience and has participated in many international conventions. Kozlenko specializes in cover-ups and loves Bio-Mechanic, Neo-Traditional and oriental tattoo styles. Alexander Yanitskiy is another senior artist at Kipod, who is known for his photo-realism tattoo work.

Denim Bar, also known as Denim Drinks First, packs a punch for a relatively small bar. The main goal of Denim is to bring the basics back to drinking. What does that mean? Well, Denim aims to steer clear of fancy and overdone cocktails and bring back the elegance of drinking a straight up whiskey (of course, they offer a wide array of spirits, in case whiskey is not up your alley). So cozy up with a gin and tonic and munch on some comfort food that includes mac and cheese, cornbread with bacon butter, and a variety of sandwiches.