Israel celebrates 60 years of statehood this year, and throngs of visitors are making their way there to be part of its history. Making the flight between Palm Springs and Tel Aviv a winning proposition is Continental Airlines with its two-stop service (change of planes in Houston and Newark).
Arrival in Tel Aviv within 24 hours and checking into the five-star rated David InterContinental Hotel in time for dinner at its fine dining restaurant, Aubergine, was like checking in via a magic carpet ride. The restaurant’s Austrian-trained chef has a flair for fresh flavors, starting with the restaurant’s signature bread (just the right amount of sesame seeds) accompanied by four dips, including a divine hummus. This 150-room hotel, features the Club Continental on the 24th floor with private check in and check out. A cup of cappuccino with the lavish Israeli breakfast buffet overlooking the Mediterranean easily takes one’s mind off jet lag. “Neve Tzedek,” Tel Aviv’s version of New York’s Soho, is a short walk away, as is the colorful Carmel Market with a great deal of unpredictable “tchokes” from knock-offs of chunky French costume jewelry to textured scarves in every color of the rainbow. Back at the InterContinental, the engaging general manager, David E. Cohen, busily greets celebrities, wedding parties and loyal hotel guests. The photogenic Cohen can be seen shaking hands with VIPS, such as former President Bill Clinton, among others, in a terrific display of photographs in the Club.
It’s entirely understandable why guests flock here; the service is so well choreographed you don’t want to leave.
Not wasting a precious minute, after dinner we taxied to Tel Aviv’s hip port, once a forgotten industrial zone, to party at Whiskey a Go Go until 3 a.m.
The history of Israel can be found at the Palmach Museum, an experiential museum conveying the legacy via stories of individuals and groups. The audience, seated on simulated rocks, listened in rapt attention. Palmach is an acronym for Pelugot Hamahatz, which means striking force. The 90-minute presentation sets straight what Palmach’s legendary heroic “team spirit” did to hasten the founding of Israel. There was not a dry eye in the house. Guide Ilan Shchori is also editor and chief of the Israel Tourist Guide Magazine. Between Shchori and the head concierge at the InterCon, Ronen Alkelay, we never got lost, even when navigating cobblestone streets where signs appeared in places we could never predict.
Food is a plus in Tel Aviv. A great place for a midnight snack can be found at Ramat Hagolan, where they serve a trio of Samba Sliders, burgers of “ground entrecote.” Across town is Sushi Samba, where one can find an unlikely blend of Brazilian and Japanese specialties. Owner Tunisian-born Shimon Bokovza’s life reads like a map of the world, starting with his love of Brazilian culture and his high regard for the sushi experience. His spin on fusion can be tasted at his restaurants not only in Tel Aviv but also New York, Miami, Chicago and Las Vegas.
For dinner, there is Messa, which Condé Nast rated one of the 80 best in the world.
Tel Aviv has many trend-setting restaurants, such as Carmella Bistro and the Bauhaus scene on Rothschild Boulevard; and other wonderful places to stay such as a boutique hotel called the Nina Café Suites Hotel.
Take a brisk walk to view the mesmerizing Mediterranean and the city’s beach scene on a perfect Tel Aviv morning before collapsing at the “healing center,” Coola (the Hebrew translation is “all of you”), for a much-needed Swedish Holistic Massage. The therapist was from North Hollywood and the manicurist was fresh from Uzbekistan. Coola occupies an energy-charged space, overlooking the Mediterranean where you can communicate freely, have a cup of herbal tea and contemplate all this amazing country has accomplished in 60 years.