Basel Street is a side street in the old north of Tel Aviv. It leads from Dizengoff Street to Ibn Gvirol Street and is only 650 meters long. It is named after the city of Basel where the First Zionist Congress was held – the “Basel Congress“.
In the center of the street is a commercial-public compound known as the “Basel compound” (“Mitham Basel” in Hebrew). In this complex is the “Builders ‘Square” and around it a number of buildings, including the Magen David Adom station, a large doctors’ clinic, the “Merom Basel” residential tower, and a commemorative sign for builders-contractors who took part in the establishment of Tel Aviv. The complex developed and on its southern sides (Basel Street) and the eastern side (Ashtori Haprachi Street) cafes and bakeries, restaurants, and unique shops were opened. The many cafes and design shops in the complex have given it an image over the years as a stronghold of the “Yuppies” and “northerners” of Tel Aviv.
However, when referring to Basel street, the general focus is at the midpoint, the area between Sokolov Street & Yehoshua Ben Nun Street. It’s hard to imagine that this petite, chic neighborhood exists between the established residential buildings and tall towers partly hidden by gorgeous greenery. This sweet lovely area is a pleasure to walk in and do some window shopping. It is recommended to visit one of the many bakeries for some fresh baked goods, a deli for cold cuts, and top it off with some flowers in one of the shops. You can drink a cup of coffee or have a leisurely casual lunch in one of the many cafes and eateries situated in the little side streets off Basel square.
Once the haunt of the terribly trendy crowd, this area in Tel Aviv has now become popular by the locals, with everything they need conveniently placed in a quiet one-kilometer radius. Fridays and Saturdays are favorites of non-residents and out-of-towners, with queues that are forming outside the restaurants and busy designer boutiques, hair salons, and pedicure parlors everywhere. This is definitely where the action is, a weekday hangout for the unhurried and where a little leg work is quite satisfying!
For more shopping in Tel Aviv, see: