Nachalat Binyamin is a pedestrian street running parallel to Shuk HaCarmel, the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv. Nachalat Binyamin is lined with Bauhaus and art-deco buildings with picturesque balconies, flower boxes, and decorative architectural elements. Housed within these beautiful buildings are unique one-off stores and cafes. Although the street alone is worth visiting for the café culture and architectural beauty, the real attraction that draws in crowds is the Nachalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Fair.
The street comes to life on Tuesdays and Fridays when it hosts an outdoor arts and crafts market. The fair was established in 1988 and is the oldest and largest market of this kind in Israel. With over 200 artists presenting their creations at the market, there is a committee that approves each artist in order to maintain a high standard of work.
Another of the committee’s criteria for acceptance is that the artists must have made the product themselves and the artist must be the person selling the goods behind the stall during the fair. Visitors to the market are supporting local artists by buying here and they get to interact with the artists and talk about the arts and crafts. Everything on sale is handmade and one-of-a-kind.
The items include crafted jewelry, ornaments, trinkets, hand-made dolls and toys, ceramics, handbags, photographs, wire crafts, art made from recycled items, silver items, glassware, wood carvings, home-made soap, embroidery, paper sculptures, stained glass, dried flowers, leatherwork, paintings, artistically designed household items and much more.
Pro Tip: There is plenty of parking close to Carmel Market and Nachalat Benyamin if you approach from the bottom end of the market closest to the sea. There is a large public car park where you pay by the hour at Ahuzat HaHof Carmel-Kalisher Street, corner of HaCarmel Street. Alternatively, some buses stop at the top of the market along Allenby Street.
Once you have experienced the buzz of Nachalat Binyamin’s pedestrian street you can venture further into the neighborhood and see the, often less glamorous, but just as picturesque areas of Nachalat Binyamin neighborhood.
Pro Tip: Follow one of the lanes on the northern side of the pedestrian mall (on your right if you’re coming from Allenby) and you’ll reach Carmel Market. From there you can keep going into another historic neighborhood - Kerem HaTeimanim.
About a century ago this was a working-class residential area with modest homes. It all began in about 1911 when a group of craftsmen and tradesmen banded together and tried to raise money to build themselves a neighborhood. Thanks to an article by a journalist called Binyamin, accusing the Jewish National Fund and the banks of favoring the rich and not lending to the common working-class people, the group got their funding.
They used it to buy a strip of land along the dunes where they built their community, and named the main dirt road after the journalist - The Estate of Binyamin or Nahalat Binyamin. The first few homes were completed in 1914, and the street was paved a few years later.
In the 1980s the neighborhood underwent gentrification and restoration of the historic buildings, including the transformation of the main street into a pedestrian mall.
The pedestrian street of Nachalat Binyamin started at Magen David Square where Sheinkin Street, King George Street, HaCarmel Street (the Carmel Market), and Allenby Street meet. Adjacent to the Carmel Market entrance is the entrance to Nachalat Binyamin, and this is the best place to start your visit.
Pro Tip: You’ll be doing a lot of shopping so the nearest ATMs are at Allenby Street 65 (Bank Hapoalim) and Allenby 76 (Bank Discount).
Although the section of Nachalat Binyamin near Allenby Street is the most famous stretch, Nahlat Binyamin actually runs all the way to Shalma Road, crossing Derech Jaffa, Lilienblum Street, and Rothschild Boulevard (to name just a few).
Pro Tip: Public toilets can be found at the upper end of the market on Allenby Street in the pedestrian underpass.
Nachalat Binyamin has some of the finest examples of Bauhaus architecture in the city. There are several architectural styles including outstanding art-deco buildings and eclectic buildings from the 1930s. Among the architectural gems is Palm Tree House at #8 Nachalat Binyamin, and across the road at #5 is another house by the same architect, Tabachnik.
The building at #11 Nachalat Binyamin is one of the neighborhood’s oldest homes which stands adjacent to the Levy House built in 1926 and is famed for its row of biblical-themed ceramic tiles. Look across the street at #12 to see beautiful rounded balconies and a carved wooden door.
Don’t miss a peek at the Nordau Hotel on the corner of Nachalat Binyamin and Gruzenberg Street. Stand at the junction of Rambam Street and Nachalat Binyamin to see several outstanding historic buildings including the House of Jugs (1927) and the Joseph Berlin House (1931).
You’ll come across street art throughout Tel Aviv, but Nachalat Binyamin is particularly rich in colorfully painted graffiti art. Israel’s leading mural artist, Rami Meiri has adorned the buildings of Nachalat Binyamin with scenes from everyday life. One of the best is at #18.
Eating in one of the street cafes along the Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian street is one of the best reasons to visit this area! The atmosphere is magical and the food is fantastic. Take your pick from The Prince, Yonita, Goshen, Kaful or one of the other enticing eateries.
Pro Tip: Enjoy a traditional Israeli breakfast at one of these sidewalk restaurants.
Buskers often perform along the pedestrian street of Nachalat Binyamin, but particularly you’ll find them there on market days. Special events and exhibitions are also held here including circus shows, live musical performances, and the occasional art exhibition.
Join Us
Keep in Touch
Login / Register
Contact Us
Show On Map
Certificate of Excellence
Guaranteed Departure
Low Prices Guaranteed
24/7 Support
