Levinsky Market, tucked behind the Carmel Market in south Tel Aviv, is where the flavors of the Jewish diaspora come together in a single street. While the Carmel Market sells fruits, vegetables, and everyday goods, Levinsky is the spice market, the specialty market, the place where Iranian Jews sell saffron and dried limes, Bukharan Jews sell flatbreads and pickled vegetables, Turkish Jews sell halva and lokum, and everyone sells olives, nuts, dried fruits, and teas from every corner of the Middle East.
Flavors of the Diaspora
The market’s character reflects the waves of immigration that built Tel Aviv. Each shop tells a story of origin: Persian groceries with barrels of dried herbs and rose water, Balkan stores with kajmak and ajvar, Yemenite spice shops with hawayij and zhug, and Indian-Jewish traders with curry blends and chutneys. Walking through Levinsky is a sensory education in the diversity of Jewish cuisine — and a reminder that the Jewish people came to Israel from 70 countries, each bringing a kitchen.
Street Food and New Energy
In recent years, Levinsky has become a street food destination. Small bars and eateries have opened among the traditional shops, serving craft beer alongside burekas, fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice next to boutique chocolate, and artisan coffee steps from century-old spice stalls. The blend of old and new, traditional market and hipster food scene, is quintessentially Tel Aviv.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Levinsky Market is best visited alongside the Carmel Market for the full Tel Aviv food experience. Hoshen Tours leads tasting walks through both markets, connecting flavor to immigration and cuisine to history.