Levinsky Market Food Tour
Levinsky Market, tasted the right way
Discover the heart and soul of Tel Aviv’s Levinsky Market, a vibrant culinary street founded in the 1920s by immigrants from Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, and later Iran. What began as a busy trading street has transformed into a flavorful pedestrian walkway filled with bakeries, spice shops, delis, cafés, and some of the most unique sweets, snacks, and pastries in Tel Aviv.
Levinsky Market is a true cultural melting pot. In one moment, you’ll try cheese-stuffed apricots from an 85-year-old Turkish deli; in the next, a modern pastry from one of the coolest bakeries in Tel Aviv. It’s this mix of old-world flavors and new-school creativity that makes Levinsky unlike anywhere else in Israel.
Together, we explore Levinsky’s eateries, bakeries, food stalls, and spice shops while talking about the story of Israel through its food — and the impact immigrant communities have had on this neighborhood from its earliest days until today.
And my promise to you:
You won’t leave hungry.
It’s not a tasting tour — it’s a food tour.
You’ll be eating. A lot.
This experience is 100% family-friendly and perfect for travelers who want to understand Tel Aviv through its most flavorful and historic food street.
What will you eat on the Levinsky Market food tour?
On my Levinsky Market food tour, you’ll taste an incredible mix of traditional and modern dishes, such as:
- Balkan bourekas fresh from the oven
- Greek olives and deli specialties
- Gazoz
- Cheese-filled apricots from an 85-year-old Turkish shop
- Small-batch pickles and spice blends
- Handmade halva
- Modern pastries from cutting-edge bakeries
- Seasonal surprises — Levinsky changes daily, and so do the bites
How long is the Levinsky Market food tour?
Approximately 2.5 hours.
We walk, we sit, we eat, we talk — and then we eat some more.
What is there in Levinsky besides food?
Not only will you taste some of the best food in Tel Aviv on our Levinsky Market tour, you’ll also:
- Learn how immigrant communities from Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Iran shaped the market
- Discover the stories behind the Balkan and Persian culinary traditions that define Levinsky today
- Meet the shopkeepers, bakers, spice merchants, and deli owners I’m proud to call friends
- You get the full picture — history, culture, people, and of course… a LOT of food.
What makes this Levinsky Market food tour different
This isn’t a scripted group tour — it’s a personal experience built around real relationships, deep food knowledge, and the story of a market that continues to evolve every single day. I’ve spent years getting to know the vendors, researching the market’s history, and following the neighborhood’s changing food scene. When you join me, you’re not just sampling bites — you’re getting the inside perspective on one of Tel Aviv’s most flavorful streets.
What makes Levinsky Market truly special is the way old-world flavors and modern Tel Aviv energy blend together on one small street. This market isn’t just a collection of shops — it’s a living neighborhood shaped by generations of spice merchants, pastry makers, café owners, and immigrant families who brought their traditions with them.
You’ll hear how Greek and Turkish traders introduced their cheeses, olives, and pastries; how Iranian families added their teas, herbs, and sweets; and how today’s young chefs and bakers are building on those flavors with creative new ideas. As we walk, you’ll see how the market has transformed from a practical trading street into a vibrant culinary corridor.
The pedestrian-friendly layout gives Levinsky its relaxed charm — people sit outside with coffee, share bites from nearby delis, chat with shopkeepers, and wander from one tasting to the next. It’s a neighborhood that feels intimate, approachable, and full of personality. This tour is not only about the food itself, but about understanding how each bite connects to the larger story of Tel Aviv.
You’ll hear how spices came through Mediterranean ports, why certain pastries survived across generations, and how different Jewish diasporas left their mark on the city’s evolving cuisine.
And because this is a fully private tour, you’ll have plenty of time to ask questions, linger, explore, and truly experience the rhythm of the market. By the end, you’ll have tasted both the classic dishes that define Levinsky and the new flavors that keep it exciting. You’ll meet the people who make the market feel like a community — the vendors who know me, the bakers who share their creations proudly, and the spice merchants who tell stories with every blend.
It’s a delicious, generous, and immersive way to get to know Tel Aviv through its food, its people, and its history.
- ✓ 2.5 hours guided through Levinsky Market
- ✓ All food and drink included
- ✓ Market history, vendor stories, and culinary context from a pastry chef and Jewish food history scholar
What to Eat at Levinsky Market
Levinsky is Tel Aviv’s most sensory market — here are the foods you shouldn’t miss:
Halva
MIDDLE EASTERN
Stone-ground sesame halva in dozens of varieties — plain, marble, pistachio, chocolate. Levinsky’s shops are among the last in Israel to make it the traditional way.
Bourekas
BULGARIAN
Flaky pastry filled with cheese or potato, baked fresh each morning. The Bulgarian Jewish community brought this tradition when they settled around Levinsky decades ago.
Majdoul Dates Stuffed with Kaymak
TURKISH
Made by a third generation deli straight from Istanbul
Malabi
MIDDLE EASTERN
Silky chilled pudding scented with rose water and topped with pomegranate syrup and crushed pistachios. One of Tel Aviv’s great street desserts.
Gondi
PERSIAN
Delicate dumplings made from ground chicken and chickpea flour, simmered in a fragrant golden broth. The soul of Persian-Jewish home cooking.
Kubbeh Hamousta
IRAQI · KURDISH
Semolina dumplings in a sour, celery-laced lemon broth. A Tel Aviv institution, born in the Iraqi Jewish kitchens that line this neighbourhood.
Spices
PERSIAN · MIDDLE EASTERN
Saffron, dried limes, barberries, sumac, and baharat sold loose from open sacks. Levinsky Street is Tel Aviv’s spice district — and the smells prove it.
Sambousak
IRAQI
Crispy fried pastries stuffed with spiced meat or chickpeas. A staple of the market’s Iraqi Jewish vendors and one of the most satisfying bites in the market.
Is Levinsky Market Kosher?
Every stop in Levinsky Market is kosher, though not all with certificates. Unlike Mahane Yehuda, which is fully kosher, Levinsky’s diverse vendor community includes both certified kosher establishments and non-kosher ones.
If keeping kosher is important to you, don’t worry, you won’t miss out on any of the market’s best flavors.
Levinsky Market Hours & Best Time to Visit
Levinsky Market is open Sunday through Friday. Most shops open by 8:00 a.m. and close by late afternoon (around 5:00–6:00 p.m.), though hours vary by vendor. The market is closed on Shabbat (Saturday).
Best time for a food tour: Weekday mornings between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. The market is fully stocked, bakeries are turning out fresh goods, and you’ll avoid the Friday rush.
Friday mornings are lively but crowded, as locals do their pre-Shabbat shopping. Worth experiencing for the energy, but expect busier stalls.
How to Get to Levinsky Market
Levinsky Market is in south-central Tel Aviv, between the Florentin and Neve Sha’anan neighborhoods. The market runs along Levinsky Street, a pedestrianized stretch lined with spice shops, bakeries, and cafes.
By light rail: The nearest Red Line stop is HaHagana, about a 5-minute walk south of the market.
By bus: Several bus lines stop along HaAliya Street, which runs parallel to Levinsky. Lines 16, 83, and 239 all pass nearby.
On foot: Levinsky Market is about a 15-minute walk south from Rothschild Boulevard, or 10 minutes east from Florentin.
Meeting point for tours: I’ll share the exact meeting location when you book. It’s easy to find and right at the heart of the market.
Tips for Visiting Levinsky Market
Come hungry. The market is best experienced on an empty stomach. There’s a lot to taste.
Wear comfortable shoes. The market is pedestrianized but the streets are uneven in spots.
Don’t be shy. Vendors love sharing their food and stories. If something looks interesting, ask about it. That’s how the best market discoveries happen.
Take your time. Levinsky isn’t a place to rush through. Linger at the spice shops, watch the bakers work, and soak in the atmosphere.
Ready to taste Tel Aviv's best food?
Fully private · 2.5 hours · All tastings included · Available Sunday through Friday