Upside-down coffees, cafes, and discounts
It still feels funny to order an upside-down coffee (cafe hafuch) when you want a capuccino, but I do it anyway because it’s usually the cheapest and yummiest choice on the menu. The funniest thing about coffee shops is people always go there to relax and chill. Meanwhile, I have half a cup of coffee and I’m wired, running around the shop with my arms flailing, and can’t sleep the whole night. Putting my low tolerance for coffee aside, I can spot a cute coffee shop when I see one. Please leave a comment adding any additional coffee shops in the Jerusalem area. See the discount section to save a few shek. Here are my favorites:
1. Cafe Kalo
Location: Baka, near 33 Derech Beit Lechem
Description: very low key and off the beaten path. Funky furniture too.
Random: I met the artist that created their menu while I was in Sinai.
2. Tmol Shilshom
Location: Nahalat Shiva, City Center, in an alleyway off of Yoel Salomon St.
T:02- 623-2758
Description: This not-so-hidden-anymore coffee shop is so quaint and cute with books all around. It has become increasingly popular with everyone telling their friends about their ‘secret’ coffee shop. If you go at peak times, you may wan to make a reservation. They also have delicious food, my favorite being the pumpkin ravioli.
Random: The artist that created the menu for Cafe Kalo also did the menu for Tmol Shilshom
3. 1868 – Cafe
Location: Baka, at the beginning of Derech Beit Lehem, across from the gas station.
T: 02-622-2312
Descriptoin: Maybe this is supposed to be a restaurant, but I like going there as a coffee shop. I ordered the 2 croissant deal with fresh fruit and cream with a white hot chocolate. I was in heaven. My stomach is grumbling thinking about it. For a fancy place, it really wasn’t so expensive.
Random: My friend’s friend works there and we didn’t realize till we arrived and he spoiled us with wine and other drinks.
4. Cafe B’gina
Location: Baka, 74 Beit Lechem
T: 02-672-0825
Description: It is beautiful in the summer, eating outside, surrounded by flowers.
5. Simone
Location: 49 Derech Hebron
T: 02-672-9950
Description: Cute, small French cafe. Derech Hevron – not so cute, but the cafe is worth exploring and the people that run the place are very friendly.
6. Faza (sad update: Faza is out of business)
Location: Corner of Palmach Street and Mivtza Kadesh Street.
T: 02-561-7191
Description: Internet Cafe with 2 computers and wireless. Good music – they played a Tracy Chaplain cd when I was there. Random: I saw a promotional video being made there so I wonder if I’m in the background of some video somewhere.
Discounts:
- Eluna: New updates all the time with new restaurants and new coupons. The coupons are for 10% off, and includes almost all the kosher restaurants in Jerusalem. Worth 2 seconds to print up before heading out.
- Rest.co.il (Hebrew): Use the search feature on the right sidebar to narrow down your search. Random coupons like free glass of wine or dessert or 10% off.
The Falafel Game
Apparently just because your blog is called the big felafel, doesn’t mean that you’ll be good at the Falafel King game. To play, click here. I am so impressed with this game – I have a newfound respect for the guys over at Melech Hafalafel.
Can dreams come true with the sip of an ice coffee?
In Israel temperatures stay hot well into what most consider fall season. In fact even during rainy season one will find themselves in short sleeves and sandals sans umbrella. This means you must maintain the summer attitude and taste throughout most of the year.
The best way to stay fresh in hot weather is a delicious ice coffee. Whether it is a craving, getting together with friends or on the run- the ice coffee is the ultimate companion. And the most important characteristic of your new found soul mate should be — how much it will cost you.
After extensive research throughout the most popular cafes and roadside kiosks- the winner of the cheap but absolutely scrumptious ice coffee goes to Continue reading this entry »
How Does the Shuk Work?
Everyone is always talking about Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehuda outdoor market place- better know as the shuk. If you are not in the know I will bring you up to speed. Imagine a really long outdoor hallway paved with cement, high green roof tops, coated with screaming merchants selling everything from the basic fruits to spices that your nose didn’t know exist. Then there are the musicians, tzedakah seekers and Chabadniks handing out Shabbat candles, all weaving in and out of the cafes that continue to pop-up.
The shuk is literally a coupon book come to life with no official price tags on anything. If you are one of those people that loves to tell their friends and family about your latest bargain then this is the market for you.
Tips to shopping success: Continue reading this entry »
Start you morning off with a bang of a breakfast!
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But important doesn’t have to be expensive. Below is your chance to find out where to get the healthy-fill-you-up breakfast or do it yourself at home.
Everyone knows a healthy breakfast is one that gives you the energy for the day and the supplements to keep you going. Coffee Shop, one of Israel’s most popular restaurant chains, understands that and has created a meal that is yummy, healthy and filling. For NIS 39 Continue reading this entry »
Get Fresh with a Fresh Wipe
Who knew one wipe had so many uses? Remember that movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding? The father in that movie was convinced that Windex was the do-it-all gadget. It was a funny concept, but there was some truth to it. There must be that one thing that can do it all- and of course there is- it is the fresh wipe.
The fresh wipe is really supposed to be used on babies during a diaper change. While the fresh wipe does a great job at keeping everything sanitary, you can take this tool a step further and not only clean the child but clean yourself off too. Don’t stop there; use a fresh wipe to clean the area.
When you are done with the baby, yourself and the area, use a fresh wipe to Continue reading this entry »
Israeli Lines
I feel a hole in my body. I am not sure where it begins and if it ends. It is not like the other holes in a body- it connects no where and serves no purpose. It is more of a black hole and with it brings sadness I am not accustomed to.
These days I am more than just depressed. I have melancholy fingers and blue eyes. I am nothing nowadays. I am waiting for life to begin again. It is as though someone has put me on pause and just left me here. When did living stop and dying begin? Continue reading this entry »
A new format for peace talks
Condoleezza Rice, Abu Mazen and Ehud Olmert continue to talk about their three-way peace talks, but Arabs and Israelis are finding their own way to communicate- Internet porn. While Arab states claim Israel is their enemy they have no problem searching for Israeli women in the army or Mossad to heat things up. Talk about a peace process with action! Read more at Ynet
How to spend the day in Jaffa/Yaffo/Yaffa for under 40 shekels
You know the day is going to be unusual when you go to the Jerusalem train station, expecting to take, you know, a train, and you wind up on a bus. The train station ordered a bus to take passengers to Tel Aviv because the train was currently unreliable because of technical problems. Maybe they thought we wouldn’t notice. I didn’t care which mode of transportation it was, as long as it didn’t require the ritual of pushing and shoving to get on, and didn’t contain arsim, the little 12 year old boys with spiked, dyed hair and tight jeans who scream in your face, crank up their mp3 players and try to make your life miserable. Another bonus was not having to end up at the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station- the most horrible, worst designed, confusing, did I mention horrible? building I have ever entered in my life. Best yet, the bus driver didn’t check our tickets because of their fadicha (screw up) which meant we scored a free train ride home.
The main attraction of Yaffo is the Shuk HaPishpushim, the flea market. Every Friday the merchants take out their crap, er, beautiful antiques, and hope for a shekel or two from tourists. The market was filled with every single thing in the world I would never need. And all in one place! Take for example, this item below. What is it? We asked the people selling it. They looked at us blankly and said they didn’t know. Does it work? no. There you have it. Official crap. The owners even agree. But I have to admit, it was really amusing, wandering around the streets with that special Israeli scent of body odor, looking for a treasure among the discarded like everyone else.
Yaffo/Yaffa/Jaffa is located on the southern most part of Tel Aviv’s beach. I recommend taking the Number 10 bus from the train station or 46 (I believe) from the central bus station. We took the opportunity to eat our packed lunch (saved $$) on a bench overlooking the beach.
Total cost:
Bus to Jerusalem train station (roundtrip): 8.80 sh
Train ride (one way – student) 17.10 sh
Bus to Yaffo (roundtrip) – 10.20 sh
Total price: 36.10 shekels
Some more photos:
English book stores and sales in Jerusalem – used and new books
Here is a list of bookstores that have a selection of new or used english books. Please leave me a comment with any more details about these bookstores.
*Updated thanks to responses from the Yahoo group IsraelBooks, and commentators.
*I put stars next to my favorites
1. Sefer VeSefel*
Location: City Center | On Yavetz St. which goes from Yaffo to the stairs on Ben Hillel St.In an alley off of Jaffa St. near the Bat Ayin clothing store.
Tel: 02-6248237
Description: Mostly used books, but a few new,especially brand new bestsellers. They will buy your books, I got 15 shekels credit from The Jew in the Lotus. Also, they do up to 65% buyback for books you buy from them.
2. (Don’t know the name but its an antique / rare books place) – City Center. Between Gazith shoes and Big Apple Pizza.
3. Stein Books
Location: City Center | Address: King George across from the new Avi Chai building and the Mirage danceclub.
4. Moffit (?)
Location: Nachlaot | On the side of Binyan Clal off of Jaffa St. across from the Shuk. They possibly have another branch in the lower level of Binyan Clal right at the southern entrance on Rechov Yaffo.
Description: Almost entirely used books.
5. Siman Kriah (also known as BookMark)
Location: Bak’a | 1 Esther Hamalka St., corner 33 Bethlehem Rd; between Derech Hevron and Derekh Bet Lehem;
Tel: 02-673-1934
Description: Specializes in Children’s books and books for youth in English and in Hebrew.
6. Stein Books (same name, I know)
Location: City Center | King George across from the Sheraton Hotel
7. World of Magazines
Location: Talpiot | Achim Yisrael Mall, HaTnufa St. (3rd floor)
Tel: 02-502-3661
8. The Book Gallery
Location: City Center | 6 Schatz street, now a pedestrian-only street
Tel: 02-623-1087
9. Gur Aryeh
Location: Nahalat Shiva, City Center | middle of Yoel Salomon St.
10. Dani Books*
Location: City Center | 54 Yafo St. corner of Yafo and Even Yisrael
Tel: 02-6248293
11. Olam Qatan
Location: German Colony | 52 Emek Refaim
Tel: 02-563-7507
Description: holistic, mystical, religious, scientific, english, used and new
12. Intellect Books
Location: City Center | Rehov Yaffo, past Selina icecream shop and Shanty clothing store if youre going toward the old city.
Description: used books. hebrew, english, german, russian, just about any language and topic. you can also sell your books.
Book Sales, Book websites
- New Yahoo group: IsraelBooks
- AngloBooks – website to trade English books with others in Israel
- Books 4 Now– used books in Israel. Order 4 books, get free delivery
- Janglo – usually lists the latest book sales. Over the past year I’ve gone to book sales at AACI, Amit, Merkaz Hamagshimim, closing book stores, and people’s moving sales.
The Big Felafel 