Forget about New York, Miami and Cape Town. Tel Aviv is the hottest gay destination in the world right now. Other LGBT-friendly places typically have their own gayborhoods. But with Tel Aviv it’s different – the whole place feels like a gay-friendly city.
You can express yourself, indulge yourself and well, just be yourself in Tel Aviv. The easy-going attitude means you can walk hand-in-hand, share a romantic dinner or try to pick up a waiter or waitress no problem!
Add to that its beautiful beaches, cosmopolitan cafes, chilled out seaside vibe and pulsating nightlife…it’s no wonder GayCities.com declared it the world’s best gay travel destination.
Here’s our take on the best of Tel Aviv’s free and proud gay scene.
Evita
The city’s oldest gay bar, Evita, is an LGBT institution. There’s a different theme every night of the week. Don’t bother heading here before 11pm! Tel Aviv’s bars don’t open until 10pm, and the fit and well-heeled don’t head out until well after then.
Hilton Beach
The beaches…oh the beaches! They say Tel Aviv has something like 10 miles of gorgeous golden sands, but it’s the stretch known as Hilton Beach beneath the hotel of the same name where you’ll want to lay down your towel. Hard bodies and speedos abound here! It’s where Tel Aviv’s hottest strut their stuff.
Meir Garden
Meir Garden has become the heart of the LGBT community’s activity. The kickoff point for the annual Pride March and location of the city’s Gay Center, the park serves as an official meeting place for neighborhood locals.
Clubbing
As you’d expect from a city that’s got both an LGBT-friendly culture and a penchant for nightlife, there are plenty of gay-friendly parties and club nights. Check out this handy calendar for the latest happenings in the city.
Sauna
Sauna City is located in the commercial center of Tel Aviv, right in the heart of the city. Elegantly decorated in a classic Middle Eastern style, it’s the largest and hippest gay sauna in the Middle East. Sure the standards of service are great, but the biggest draw is its notoriously attractive clientele.
For more a little background on attitudes to gays and lesbians in Tel Aviv and Israel as a whole, take a peek at Out Traveler’s feature on the city.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: Atomische • Tom Giebel)
