GLBT Travelers - Tel Aviv Pride - June 2011?

is anybody heading to Tel Aviv for the gay pride in June? I see there are quite many tickets (at least from Europe) at a very fair price.

When in June is Tel Aviv pride? We'll be on a cruise that stops in Tel Aviv for 2 days in the later part of June.

2011 Pride in Tel Aviv is on Friday June 10.

http://www.gaytlvguide.com/the-guide/pride-parade

We're there about 10 days later :(

Yep, my bf and I are going. First time to TLV...can't wait.

I will likely go as well. Anyone in for a mini-Do?

I'll be there too.

wish I was there but I'll be there in 2 weeks and back in July, can't make it in June :(

TLV Pride is awesome.

oh, great, so im not going to be there all alone ;)

what r u going to do in there except for the pride? im hitting the North of Israel from early June.

oh, great, so im not going to be there all alone ;)

what r u going to do in there except for the pride? im hitting the North of Israel from early June.

I am going to spend at least 6 days in Tel Aviv, then check out the Dead Sea and possibly Eilat. I visited Haifa and Jerusalem last time with a group of FTers (straight) and think those places are well worth a visit for anyone who haven't been there. For me, the primary purpose is just Tel Aviv, its party, nightlife and people. The side trips are just added bonus and to be able to say I have been to the Dead Sea. Tel Aviv is very gay friendly and in general, men there tend to be more laid back and adventurous at the same time. The only issue is not all of them actually speak English so communication can be problematic.

wish I was there but I'll be there in 2 weeks and back in July, can't make it in June :(

TLV Pride is awesome.

Any recommendations during/around the TLV pride? Is the crowd mostly local Israeli/Jews or mixed with lots of European tourists?

I'm going to be there for pride! I'll be in Tel Aviv from the 9 - 14 June. Visiting some other parts of Israel before that.

Any recommendations during/around the TLV pride? Is the crowd mostly local Israeli/Jews or mixed with lots of European tourists?

It's mixed, but heavy on the local :) Tel Aviv is all about beach + food + going out. Definitely make an effort to go to some of the newer foodie restaurants if that's your thing.

I'll be there. Flying BA F from JFK via LHR on the 8th (arriving on the 9th). I'm also doing a weekend in fire island beforehand, so that week will probably be the gayest thing ever.

Did the bar "Minus 1" close down? Does anyone know?
Any other similarly-fun suggestions?

I didn't see anything going on at the -1 when I was there, just got back sunday.

The ZIZI on Carlibach was good when we went.
EVITA is still big.

The best place to check on upcoming parties is on atraf (www.atraf.co.il)

I often just like to walk around the city, which has its own type of beauty...

The city donated a building for the Gay and Lesbian center, which is in Gan Meir between King George and Tcherikovsky, worth checking out since the park and the area/building are quite nice and there's a good cafe there.

Some food recommendations:

Asif (v. gay friendly restaurant, with great food)
Felafel Hakosem (which is the best in my opinion)
The Salon (which is an amazing experience, but VERY expensive http://matkonation.com/en/recommendations/restaurant-review-the-salon-eyal-shani/), if you want something similar he has a 2nd restaurant called North Abraxas, but for both you need reservations, and don't go before 9p on either one.

Rustico - Italian, very good
Coffee Bar - French/Med - excellent restaurant, a bit off the beaten path but great, not to be confused with espresso bar which is also excellent but not a full restaurant.

Benedict - all day breakfast
Moses - late night post bar burgers
HaPizza - great extremely fresh pizza
Abu Adham (Carlibach) - druze style hummus
I don't know the name, but there's a great schnitzel place on hayarkon just south of the US embassy.


There will most certainly be a large influx of euro-gays for pride festivities.

If its not booked up already, the Hotel Brown is brand new and very nice, relatively inexpensive and close to the best part of town (NOT on the beach).Montefiore is also excellent, nearby but it'll run ~$400 a night.

I didn't see anything going on at the -1 when
The Salon (which is an amazing experience, but VERY expensive http://matkonation.com/en/recommendations/restaurant-review-the-salon-eyal-shani/), if you want something similar he has a 2nd restaurant called North Abraxas, but for both you need reservations, and don't go before 9p on either one.


I ate at North Abraxas (Abraxas Safon in hebrew) twice in three days in December when i was there. it was unbelievable. gonna do salon this time around.

I ate at North Abraxas (Abraxas Safon in hebrew) twice in three days in December when i was there. it was unbelievable. gonna do salon this time around.
Salon is even better. Best place is to sit at bar facing the kitchen, specify that when you reserve..

Anyone been to The Blue Pill? Or Beef?

Thanks for the restaurant tips. Really looking forward to trying some these out.

We're starting to get excited about it. We will be in Athens and Mykonos the week before (which also happens to be Athens Pride - we didn't plan it that way...oh what a gay trip this will be lol).

Does anyone have any suggestions about particular parts of the city to see and what to do? As other have mentioned, we are mostly going to explore the culture, people, food and the overall TLV city vibe, but we want to be a bit touristy as well, since we've both never been to TLV.

Of course, I've done all my reading up on the city, just looking for any personal insights anyone might have.

Well, personally, my favorite parts of the city to hang out around are Rothschild blvd, lillienblum (1 street south) and Echad HaAm (1 street north). Several blocks south on Hertzl and you get to the Florentin area, which is not "picturesque" but its interesting and lots of good places to go out at night. Neve Tzedek is also beautiful, and, heading south (But right before Jaffa) is the Old Train station (HaTachana) which has recently been renovated into quite a beautiful and cool area, near there are the Maine Colony homes which also have been restored and have some interesting and unusual history.

Another interesting part to see (not really touristy) are the old templar houses which have been shifted around to expand Kaplan St. (near the IDF HQ), that will be a beautiful area but they are currently restoring the templar houses.

definitely check out Gan Meir and have a drink at the cafe there at the LGBT center.

Most of my time in TLV is spent eating,hanging out in coffee shops, visiting friends and walking around and eating.

I second entropy and add a few:
Gan Haatzmaut is a garden that sits on a cliff over the gay Hilton beach, just north of the Hilton hotel. It used to be a gay cruising area and still is but to a lesser extent since it has recently been renovated. Nice views of the sunset, Jaffa and the north on a good day.

About 5-10 minutes walk north of Hilton Beach begins another big area of restaurants, a new farmers market and shops that are also open during the weekends in an area called the new harbor. They are spread along a nice wooden deck all the way to Ridding power station. Be warned that this area is family galore.

The best ice-cream in TLV is Vaniglia, with several branches over the city including Bazel st, Yermiyahu and Even Gvirol.

A nice juice bar seats on Ben Guryon- Dizingof junction called Tamara.

Tens of Thousands expected to join y'all...
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/thousands-of-israelis-expected-to-take-to-the-streets-for-tel-aviv-gay-pride-parade-1.366867

I'm so envious.

Anyone been to The Blue Pill? Or Beef?

Beef's great, great looking jockish guys.

A quick video from the parade and such...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2JFmoWW7BY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

wish i were there.

Thinking of going (not for Pride, obviously).

Is the Sheraton a good place to stay/conveniently located, etc.?

Any other updated thoughts? Thank you.

Sheraton is OK. (depends what you want out of it..) its on the beach, and near the gay (hilton) beach.

A better bet (for the city and nightlife) is the Brown. (www.browntlv.com).