Tel Aviv: enjoy a free spirit in the city that never sleeps

Meet Avner! Born and raised in the best city in the world: Tel Aviv. Here are his best tips on Tel Aviv beginning with a bit self introduction:

I love the beach, relaxing there and hanging around the city. I am a very friendly person; I travel the world a lot and love meeting interesting people from different cultures. When I host, I make sure that my guests are as comfortable as possible and I give them the best possible service. I'm happy to pass my knowledge of the city and Israel to my guests and give tips and ideas of things to do. I speak 7 languages which allows me to get along and understand more. 

Getting around

There are a lot of places to visit: The beach, Tel-Aviv's port and HaYarkon park. 
Dizengof St. and Ben-Yehuda St. are the main ways of getting around by public transportation. You can rent a bicycle (Tel-Ofan) or use the bus line #5 from Dizengof St/ #4 from Ben-Yehuda St. The fastest and cheapest way is to take the big yellow taxi from the same streets at the cost of a bus ticket. If you wish to use a taxi, the safest way is to order a cab from the "Get Taxi" App. That allows you to order a cab from your phone and even pay with a credit/debit card directly from the App! 

What makes Tel Aviv a favorite gay destination?

In today's world, the gay community is getting full expectance in some modern cities such as Tel Aviv while in other places around the globe gays are being persecuted. The freedom atmosphere in Tel Aviv is one of my favorite things in this wonderful city.  

Tel Aviv is a city in which thankfully - being gay is normal and part of the city's culture! No one will be bothered the sight of two men or women walking while holding hands or hugging. Beyond that, you will see in our beautiful parks gay couples accompanied by a baby carriage as part of the city's image. This is the city that everyone from all over the world wants to visit because of the public beaches and the amazing pleasant weather all year round.

In Tel Aviv there are lots of restaurants which offer amazing food of any kind or culture you can imagine. I love the Shawarma Pita with plenty of salads –it's the tastiest street food for me.

There's plenty of diverse activities in all possible areas for our community: cultural events like the "pink movie club" or theater for gays and also ballroom dancing and more!

We have Clubs for the mature community with special night events for all, especially for the Arabs members of the community in order to deepen the unique bond between all races and makes the amazing jigsaw which makes us unique. Tel Aviv is the city that never sleeps! Tel Aviv has everything and after each of my travels, I return to my hometown and love its amazing people and its freedom of spirit.
 

What is the best gay event that takes place in Tel Aviv?

I will say that the city's most interesting time for the gay community is the weekend! In fact, every Friday there is a large number of parties in a lot of places in the city and you can choose which one you want to go to depending on thie kind of vibe or ambience you're after. I'm always up to date where the parties are so I can tell my guests accordingly.

For the afterparty, some are very fond of the newly "City Sauna" that opened about a year ago. There's a party feel with DJs and a dance floor. Things continue there until the end of the weekend!!

What is your favorite gay establishment to grab a bite for lunch? a nice dinner?

You need to really walk through the city's restaurants to understand that there isn’t a single place for the gay community to eat, because the entire city is welcoming us with opens arms. For example, you can try the Benedict restaurant for breakfast, although it's open 24/7!

Best gay bar for a cheap beer?

The renewed Shpagat is open daily from 10AM and offers you a pleasant stay in the coffee house morning and noon style or a crowded atmosphere as a bar on nights. The entrance is free.

Which famous LGBTQ personality is from Tel Aviv?

One of the top 10 DJ in the world is Offer Nissim and when he throws a party, it becomes a big event for the whole city. We have also Ohad Haim – he's the presenter of the Pappa party line. We have also a lot of famous singers like Dana International  and Ivri Lider.

Ready to go dancing--what is the best gay dance club?

Ha'Oman – is one of the most famous clubs in Tel Aviv and there are two lines of gay parties: the FFF and Forever which take place over there. The Duplex is a great place for mature guys. 

Which gay bar offers the best happy hour on a Wednesday?

Every Wednesday, the Beef Fetish-Techno Night at the Jimmy Who club. Dreck Gay Nights holds its weekly event at the Ismi Salma Club. Resident DJ plays uplifting dance, pop, hiphop and house music. Entrance is free of charge.

Where to start a gay tour in Tel Aviv?

A few minutes walk from my apartment you can find the gay beach, Hilton Beach. It’s a good place to start your tour in Tel Aviv. There's a promenade which goes all the way to old Jaffa where people can jog or look at the sunset.

Best place to socialize with the local gay community?

The Shpagat is a great place for socializing because everyone there goes outside to smoke or drink so you can have a nice chat there. I usually sit with my boyfriend in the White Café that is located in the Ben Gurion Boulevard and we get to meet a lot of people there.

How gay-friendly is Tel Aviv?

It is definitely one of the most comfortable, most welcoming cities in the world.