Author: Hit The Road With Jack!!!
Paris: Food & Drink
Paris: Accommodations
Mexico City: Resources, Tours and Tips
Museums
Museo Soumaya – Carlos Slim built this museum and named it after his wife. Cool museum. It is free and if you only visit 3 museums in Mexico this should be 1. 2 is Frida & Diego Museum and the 3 its
Frida & Diego Museum – http://www.museofridakahlo.org.mx/en/ – great indoor outdoor museum celebrating the lives and relationship of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Buy your tickets online to avoid the long lines.
Museo Nacional de Anthropolgia Museum – http://www.mna.inah.gob.mx – this is a wonderful space that you could get lost in for hours and hours. Very well done history of the people in Mexico and latin america.
Other stuff
Vinicola Urbana – Winery in the heart of the city
Avenida Presidente Masaryk – is the Rodeo drive of Mexico City
Mercado Ciudadela – is an artisan market
Mexico City’s Top Spots for Street Art – https://www.afar.com/travel-tips/mexico-citys-top-spots-for-street-art
A Guide to the Coolest Mexico City Street Art – http://northernlauren.com/guide-mexico-city-street-art/
Sheraton hotel – the round about in front of the hotel has 30 x 5 foot and painted soccer/Futbal’s from teams around the world. If someone is really into soccer seeing the painted balls is really cool.
Xochimilco Canals – 3 to 4 hour activity but cool. Bring food and wine or buy it there for a ton more money
Chapultepec Castle – worth a look and the best view of the city from here
Transportation – Uber, EasyTaxi or Cabify
Food tour and cooking – http://eatlikealocal.com.mx
Casa Jacaranda – perfect place for cooking lessons
Tierra Garat – Mexico es cafe y chocolate – a Chocolate shop and cafe
Del Parque Cafe – for good coffee
Resources in English – http://cdmxtravel.com/en/
Mexico City: Accommodations
4 Seasons Hotel – beautiful upscale hotel. Some great places to eat and drink inside too.
Ignacia Guest House – small and quaint. Only 5 rooms.
Las Alcobas Hotel – little hotel but nice rooms and interior
San Angel inn – a Carmelite Monastery from 1692
El Patio 77 B&B – Eco friendly hotel in El Centro
Hotel Gran Ciudad de Mexico – Upscale old school charming hotel in El Centro
Reforma (zona rosa) – big night life….Genova street shopping – check out Little
Korea
Casa Prim Boutique – at the edge of Zona Rosa. Nice hotel with rooftop bar.
Chaya B & B – in Zona Rosa. Not elevator so it is a better bargain here.
Casa Decu – in Roma and one of the best hotels for the money in Mexico City
Hotel Carlota – in graffiti filled Juarez neighborhood
Condesa DF – great little bohemian hotel with a great rooftop bar
Mexico City: Food & Drink
FOOD
Pasillo De Humo – 2nd Floor – has a very local feeling. Great Mexican food and very reasonable and really good margaritas.
Parian Condesa Rest Comida Yucateca La Tradicion – is on the first floor below Pasillo De Humo and it has 8 food counters where you can grab 8 different types of food and then sit at a table either inside or outside. Seafood, Japanese, Mexican, Deli, Beef or a sampling of the many types of cuisines offerred. Very good and really reasonable. Pasillo D H takes reservations but the downstairs place is walk in only.
Pujol – one of the most expensive places in town. A very romantic but very pricey place full of Gringo’s. The meal will likely cost between $150 to $200 per person but we thought it was well worth it.
Azul Condesa – Really good Mexican food
Rosetta – a great place in a little mansion in Roma Norte. Good food and service and very reasonable too.
Quintonil – this place came highly recommended but we did not go. it is pricey.
Milan 44 – food hall and market for casual dining
Comedor Jacinta – new from Chef Edgar Nunez. Simple mexican.
San Angel Inn – great place to eat after seeing the Frida museum
Comedor de Los Milagros – food hall across from Mercado de Medellin
Dulce Patria – a great place to eat at Las Alcobas hotel
Polanquito in Polanco Many really good restaurants for all tastes
El Cardenal – traditional lunch place while visiting the Palacio de Bellas Artes
Maximo Bistrot – The epitome of living the maximum mediterranean gastronomic experience offered by Chef Lalo Garcia in a charming locale. A top, top local favorite!!!
Rosa Negra – trendy venue offering a wide variety of delicious food from Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and other Latin American countries. in Polanco.
Entremar (lunch only) – Few people are aware of this quiet sister venue of the famous Contramar, where the same exquisite menu is served and the service is more personalized.
Merotoro – Chef Jair Tellez provides an incredible gourmet experience of new aromas and flavors, opening new horizons for the already-rich Mexican gastronomy.
Havre 77 – Lalo Garcia fulfills his dream of offering his favorite French cuisine and an oyster bar in a lovely house redesigned to create an intimate ambience.
Contramar – in Condesa for seafood. One of the best seafood places in town.
Restaurant Nicos – the new sister place of Fonda Mayora. Both great places but the second one is more casual
Mercado N 89 Coyoacan – Main market near Frida K Museum. Best places to eat in the market: Quesadillas Lucha, La Cocina de mi Mama, Rica Barbacoa El Borrego De Oro, Tres Coyotes,El Jarden Del Pulpo
Panderia Rosetta – 2 great bakeries in Mexico City one in Juarez
Treinta Y Tres – A great little simple taco place. More of a lunch place.
Mercado De Medellin in Roma Sur – a food market
DRINK
Xaman – a cocktail bar with Mexico’s pre – hispanic roots
Hanky Panky – is a new speakeasy but you need a reservation
Cantina Fina – an outpost of Roma’s Fonda Fina – mexican pub
Miralto inside the Torre Latino americana – this place has the best view of Mexico City. If you have a drink at the bar the view is free or you can pay to just go to the observation deck.
La Opera – a Cantina from 1876
Gin Gin Roma – Good food plus late night cool bar and dance club. Mixed
Xaman Bar – in Juarez worth checking out if in the area
Cine Tonala – in Roma Sur. cool little bar.
MN Roy – a DJ and craft cocktails. Young crowd
Xampaneria – for mescal and small bites
Mexico City: Photos
Tel Aviv: Resources, Tours and Tips
Tour Guides and tour Companies:
Sulwis Suleiman – sulwis@gmail.com +972 54 582 3612 – he tours all over Israel including: TLV, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, West Bank, Jordan etc.
Adi Siri – adi.siri@hotmail.com – +972 50 668 4541 She gives local reasonably priced tours in Tel Aviv only
Jordan Tour Guide – aamreen100@gmail.com +962 77 25 38 649 or +962 79 890 8167 -he has been a guide for 20 plus years. He will help with everything once you cross the Jordanian Border. You fly into Eilat Airport in Israel then take a 10 minute taxi to the boarde, check in at 2 counters (papers then payment) and then walk across the boarder. Guide arranges the VISA that you will need to get into Jordan. Once you meet him he takes care of the rest including the Hotel in Jordan. It is best to stay one night in Jordan for you will see more, you won’t be rushed and all of the entry fees are then cheaper.
Places to eat – https://www.restaurants-in-israel.co.il/restaurant.aspx?id=23724
2 local Airlines – www.Arkia.com and Isair – http://www.iaa.gov.il/en-US/airports/bengurion/airlines/Pages/Israir.aspx
Welcomepickups.com – To reserve a car for your arrival. Usually from International airport to TLV is $50 to $75. They can also take you directly to Jerusalem for about double the TLV rate.
Gett is the app you must download for local taxi rides
Best Rental car place – https://rent.albar.co.il/en/rent-in-israel/ –
https://www.touristisrael.com/haifa/435/
Neveh Tzedek neighborhood is cool to walk around galleries and stores and coffee and ice cream and yogurt.
Rothschild blvd is nice to walk around. restaurants and bars. pretty lively.
Tour Guide – Maor : +972 52 221 4814
Masada – is 1.5 hours from Jerusalem.
Israel Side Trips from Tel Aviv
Haita – 1,5 from TLV – Womens Center for trade is key attraction
Kinneret – tons of nature preserves
Safed – one of the 4 holiest cities in israel – Sachne Natural Pools key attraction
Hurfeish – one of the Druze Villages in Galilea
Tel Aviv: Food & Drink
Dalida – http://www.dalidatlv.co.il – in Florentine part of Tel Aviv. Very local place with pretty good mediterranean food. The margarita’s and specialty cocktails are quite good. The cheese starter sounds a little off but it is very tasty and worth a try.
Cafe Puaa – https://www.rol.co.il/sites/puaa – in Jaffa – this is a very cool and local place in an alley on both sides. It is half inside and half outside. The furniture is very retro cool and chic. Feels like you are in a very cool 2nd hand shop. The food is very tasty and the service is quite good.
Abu Hasan – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abu-Hassan/396398840415380 – the best hole in the wall Hummus place in Jaffa. It is an easy bike ride from Tel Aviv and well worth it. Go first thing in the morning so you can get the hummus really, really fresh. Mid morning the locals arrive and you can wait up to 30 minutes for one of their dozen or so tables. The places has no real ambience just great food for breakfast or midday snack.
Santa Katarina – www.facebook.com/santakatarina2 – behind the Great Synagogue. This is a very simple and not overly fancy local place. The local contemporary, fresh, Mediterranean Israeli food with an Italian twist was very very good The fish was very fresh and the shrimp kabobs were one of the better dishes we had while traveling. The service could not have been better. If you want to eat more local and at a really good and reasonably priced place this spots for you.
Port Said – http://www.portsaid.mapforfood.com – This is a local place with a pretty large outside patio with shared tables. It is a first come first serve and it is usually pretty packed. A little nosier and lively than Santa Katarina. Both have really good local food and very good service. It is behind the Great Synagogue of TLV and 2 doors down from Santa Katarina.
Shishko – www.shishko.co.il/shishko-tlv Behind the Synagogue next to Port Said. Very local place. They serve contemporary fresh Israeli food with a Bulgarian twist. Nice interior space and a great bar to eat at if you do not want one of the tables both inside and out. This place is very lively and more about small plates and sharing. Kebabs, eggplant, beetroot salad and the beer are all things you must try. Servers were also very very friendly and efficient.
Shila – www.shishko.co.il/shishko-tlv – This was our best dining experience in Tel Aviv. The food was really great and the service was even better. 2 of us at the bar. the best place to sit. The chefs put on quite a show for you and will answer all of your questions about prep. The fish and seafood were some of the freshest and tastiest in all of Israel. The desserts were incredible and they have a pretty good wine and cocktail list. If you are going to Tel Aviv this is one gem you won’t want to miss. Book early because it is hard to get into. It was also one of the most expensive meals we had but worth every penny.
North Abraxass – https://www.facebook.com/northabraxass/ – a nice little place with inside, outside, up stairs and bar seating. Inside downstairs however plays pretty loud music. As long as it’s not 100 degrees ask for a seat outside. Food is served on a brown paper table cloth. A little odd but it did not bug us. The food was good but not incredible. Sour dough bread served with half of a raw onion in a bar with creme fresh was pretty good. The baked cauliflower was tender and good but lacked seasoning. The fish that we had was very fresh and tasty. All things considered this is a good restaurant but not great and fairly expensive too.
Mashya – www.mashya.co.il – great food with a simple atmosphere. An understated place with a fairly small dining room but pretty big bar for seating. Steamed egg yolk dish with potato and spinach was really good. The duck, fresh raw fish covered with black & white chips and the lamb neck were really really tasty. The wine and drink menu are quite good and reasonable. Service is very spotty. Sometimes they are all over you and then other times it is hard to get anyone to help you.
Night Kitchen – http://www.nightkitchen.co.il – unique local place that is very popular and crowded. Can seem more like a bar with food at times. The food is fresh and fairly inventive. They have an option called Dinner with friends where they bring out a tasting shared menu for you and your friends. It is absolutely delicious and a ton of food.
Benedict – www.benedict.co.il – my favorite is on Rothschild blvd but this is a chain. Great little breakfast spot with pretty traditional breakfast food and it is open 24 hours. It is right in the heart of the happening part of town.
Jaffe Flea Market – www.visit-tel-aviv.com/en/jaffa-flea-market/ – great market in the old town Jaffa south of Tel Aviv.
Other places worth stopping for a drink or food near Jaffa Flea market include: Abulafia – pastries and local sweets, Malabia – a traditional sweet, Naknikia Shekazot – famous for hotdogs, Dr Shakshuka – local place with the local food of the same name. Usually for breakfast. Albi – is a fun greek bar. The Old Lady – Cute rustic indoor outdoor space with good pizza and beer. Very low -key and local
Sarona Market – http://www.saronamarket.co.il/en – Great fairly new indoor market serving mostly middle priced to high end food and drinks.
Some of my favorites in the market include: Captain Curry, Meat Bar Burger, Arais – a meet lovers dream and Fishop.
Fishop – http://www.saronamarket.co.il/en/חנויות-ודוכנים/fishop – This is a great seafood and fish place in the Sarona market. Pull a seat up to the bar an order some fresh fish. We had the seafood platter which did not disappoint and some fish dish that they recommended that was equally as tasty. They have great beer on tap and a nice wine selection. The service is friendly and fast.
Carmel Market – www.en.shuktlv.co.il/category/carmel-market – great market in the middle of the city with fresh produce and some very local and reasonably priced places to eat and drink. The 5 places below are some of my favorite.
Shmuel – http://www.facebook.com/shmuel.carmelmarket – great kebab counter place. very casual.
Bar Ochel – http://www.facebook.com/carmelmeatbar?fref=ts – gret little place to stop for beer and local israeli food.
M25 – http://www.m25meat.co.il – a great little meat place down one of the markets alleys. Has indoor seating and seating in back of an open air patio. You can eat in or take out from their butcher.
Shaksuka -name is only in Hebrew and there is no english name. it is on Simat Hacarmel 41. this is one of the best shaksuka places in town. It is a little hard to find but well worth it. It is 50 ft closer to the market in the same alley as M25. It is open on two sides and looks like a square bar with mostly bar stool seating. Try the Shaksuka because that is why you are here. Plus the Souvlaki and Tzaziki are really tasty. (Pic at end on right side)
Oh Mama – http://www.ohmama.co.il/ – this place has a ton of prepared food for take away. It is fairly large and reasonably priced and good. One location is in the edge of the Carmel Market across from a good wine shop.
Cafe Amalia – simple salad and chicken cafe next to Carmel market
Nakash Juices – great little fresh juice place in the market. Fresh and reasonable.
Al Hamayim for a drink and a snack beachside.
La Mer – http://lamerbeach.co.il/?lang=en – Big beach restaurant with many tourists but the perfect place to stop on the beach for a fun cocktail and watch the people go by. The Hilton Hotel is a little further north and a great place to also eat on the beach and watch the people stroll by. Great place to ride a bike too.
http://www.tel – aviv.gov.il – great for market info and also basic info about Tel Aviv.
Bars, Clubs and Treats
Imperial Cocktail Bar – inside imperial hotel Anita – http://www.anita-gelato.com – best gelato in town. It is on the famous Shabaz Street. The perfect place for gelato. The street is also well known for it’s shopping, art galleries and eateries. Anita also has a frozen Yogurt shop 100 yards away on the same street. Cat and the dog – dancing night club
Bell Boy Bar – Berdichevsky 14 – 1920’s style speak easy
Botanika – high end Scandinavian Bar in high end beach hotel
French 57 – Brenner 2 – New Orleans
Library Bar at the Norman Hotel Golda – Ice Cream Gazebbo – www.gazebbo.co.il/gazebbo – This is an amazing beach bar but it is pretty young and clubby. Dizzi Frisdhon – Sundays are wine nights The Prince Balcony Bar – great rooftop bar (Bottom middle picture) Shpagat – is local gay bar Spice Bar – Dizendorf 17 – cool bar with a cool set of many different glassware Poli Hotel Rooftop Bar – younger, hip fashionable crowd. Great view from the rooftop. Papua Cafe – An outside coffee & pastry shop in the heart of Tel Aviv. Sit on barrels and benches and enjoy some incredible java. 24 Rothschild Speakeasy – great place to eat and listen to music.
Tel Aviv: Accommodations
The Norman – www.thenorman.com – 1920’s mansion – one of the best hotels in Israel. rooftop pool and lounge. plus a nice spa. And great location.
Alexander Tel Aviv – www.alexander.co.il/luxry-hotel – beautiful modern hotel next to the beach in Tel Aviv. they have a wonderful location and a beautiful rooftop restaurant.
Poli House By Brown Hotels* – https://brownhotels.com/poli – Hip little hotel in the heart of Tel Aviv. 10 minute walk to the beach or grab a free bike at the hotel and ride to the beach. this has a cool Rooftop bar and pool. the rooms are really small and fairly expensive. this hotel is in a great location too. it is next to the Carmel (HaCarmel) Market. we did not lay at the pool with the hipsters. this is the place to be in Tel Aviv. if you are 25 to 40. see hotel pictures below.
Hotel Montefiore –www.hotelmontefiore.co.il – a very small and beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of TLV. really quaint with an award winning restaurant on site too.
Ultra Hotel* – http://www.atlas.co.il/shalom-hotel-tel-aviv – 29 rooms hotel that is pretty trendy but basic. great cocktail lounge. 1 Block from the beach.
Vera Hotel – http://theverahotel.com – a really cool boutique hotel with only 39 rooms. with a spa and sundeck on the roof. mid priced too.
Jaffa Market House – http://www.atlas.co.il/market-house-hotel-tel-aviv-israel – a great little hotel on the heart of Jaffa. excellent breakfast and happy hour. this is a more reasonable place vs The Setai. they are across the street from each other.
The Setai Tel Aviv – http://www.thesetaihotel.co.il – One of the nicest Hotels in the heart of Jaffa. next to the beach, great pool and really nice hotel.
Shalom Hotel * – http://www.atlas.co.il/shalom-hotel-tel-aviv – a cool hotel near the beach. great rooftop bar.
Orchid Hotel* Tel Aviv – http://www.orchidhotels.co.il/?orchid_tel_aviv=orchid-tel-aviv&lang=en – pretty big hotel with 200 rooms. great services including: Spa, Business center, Pool and Gym. the hotel is at the beach too.
The Brown Beach Boutique Hotel* – http://www.brownhotels.com/beach – great hotel just one block from the beach. the hotel has a small spa and a little bar plus a nice space for breakfast. the rooms are fairly large and clean but miss on little details like paint on light switches and missing grout in bathroom. overall the rooms were pretty clean. rooms 308, 408 and 508 have balconies and views of the water. use a hotel bike to ride for miles up and down the coast. great value.
* join the hotels frequent guest program and receive a discount if you book direct.
Hit The Road With Jack 