From downtown Haifa through the Carmel Center and all the way to the Ahuza neighborhood, these are the neighborhoods in Haifa that you really must know. Wondering what it is like living in Haifa? keep on reading.
It has wild beaches, great pubs, an inspiring cultural scene, and special charm: Haifa is a mix of freedom, bohemia, cosmopolitan atmosphere, and European fragrances that have given it a special status. Along with its lovely corners, the special atmosphere, and the old institutions, the city does not stop for a moment and continues to develop all the time. Its neighborhoods, accordingly, are changing and coming to life: so here are 5 cool and developing neighborhoods in the city that you really should get to know.
1. Downtown Haifa
The glory of downtown Haifa was forever documented in a song by Jonathan Geffen and David Broza, but in recent years the downtown area has become a cool and vibrant cultural stronghold, with quite a bit of character. The Turkish market complex in the area comes to life, offering a cool hipster atmosphere, authentic buildings and plenty of activities, art fairs, cool jazz ensembles, and great food. In the port area, which flourished during the British Mandate period, you can feel the renewal process of the entire city, which stems from quite a bit of investment, and offers leisure and entertainment areas, with quite a few small pubs with a great local atmosphere.
In the downtown area, you will also find the “Gate 3 Art Gallery”, which is a platform for displaying and selling plastic art designed to provide a stage for artistic activity in the city and neighborhoods with a fascinating history alongside exciting coexistence. The area is also bustling with great pubs, which will not leave you thirsty: you can visit “Iza Bar” which offers beers at floor prices, and “Elis” which also combines live performances. The area is close to the port campus and the Haifa academic center and is largely crowded with a young and multicultural atmosphere.
Cool, have we already said?
2. Carmel Center
The good and old area of the city. Surprisingly and excitingly, it seems that the years are only doing it well and the old Carmel Center continues to maintain its radiance but at the same time does not stop regenerating. If we talked about old institutions, here you can visit the lovely “Gal’s Bakery” which opened in 2003, served only coffee and became a legend, and in the evening go through “Slick” which offers a glorious beer collection, relaxed and informal atmosphere, and cool jam sessions.
Here you will also find the Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art which hosts excellent films, rotating exhibitions, and fascinating lectures. If you are considering living in Haifa, the neighborhoods of Moriah, Carmelia, and the Carmel Center are considered the more “decent” parts of the city, with high-quality residents, a quiet atmosphere, and just a pleasure to live in.
3. Hadar
If the center of the Carmel is the “decent” area of the city, then Hadar is the tougher area. The Hadar neighborhood is rougher, and what it goes through is a bit reminiscent of what happened in the Florentin neighborhood in Tel Aviv – knowledgeable people predict a bright future for it just like that of the South Tel Aviv equivalent.
The neighborhood has a glorious and fascinating past and has a unique design that combines stunning Bauhaus style. Here you will find the renewed Talpiot market, you can pop in for excellent coffee at “Cafe Masada” and in general you can be sure that Masada Street will meet your every need. Also worth a visit is B:side which offers coffee alongside a special atmosphere with dozens of real vinyl records of yesteryear.
By the way, housing prices here are also a bit old-fashioned, so there is a young migration to the neighborhood, of students looking for an atmosphere alongside cheaper real estate prices.
4. Neve Sha’anan
This neighborhood is very close to the Technion, so keep in mind that its average overall level of intelligence is quite impressive. The proximity to the Technion attracts quite a few students to the area, but the area also offers excellent public transport links, so if you need to get off elsewhere, you can get there comfortably and easily.
The famous “Shani Conditury” has been operating in the neighborhood for years, the first branch opened in 1964 on Independence Road, where you can enjoy a nostalgic milkshake and a cake full of mythological whipped cream, and if you are looking for a cute place to drink you will probably come to Shannan Bar, which offers a cool nightlife scene.
5. Ahuza
Ahuza neighborhood is also known as a “good old-fashioned” neighborhood and this old neighborhood continues to be a great option for living in Haifa even today. The high demand also affects its prices, but the value is a pleasant, high-quality, and safe residential area, with proximity to the city center and the commercial centers on the one hand and to nature and the landscape on the other.
The neighborhood’s famous commercial center is “Horev Center”, which you may know from the radio traffic reports, but in addition to starring on the radio, it also offers a variety of solutions for every need. In the area, you will find plenty of cute restaurants and cafes, and within a short drive you will reach the “Grand Canyon” mall, the Check Post area, the Lev Hamifratz Mall, Hutsot Hamifratz – in short, you get it.
And if you feel you need some nature after all the city and commercial areas, Nahal Ahuza is right nearby and offers a little visit into beautiful and unbelievable nature, right out of the city.
Living In Haifa
Haifa is Israel’s third-largest city. Some call it ‘Israel’s San Francisco’, as it is built in tiers extending from the Mediterranean up the north slope of Mount Carmel. The city’s most iconic sites are the immaculately landscaped terraces of the Bahá’í Gardens and, at their heart, the gold-domed Shrine of the Báb. At the foot of the gardens lies the German Colony, with shops, galleries, and restaurants in 19th-century buildings.
On the slopes of Mount Carmel are the new campuses of the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion; founded 1912 and opened 1924) and the University of Haifa (1964). The city has a large maritime museum (1954) and has many fine parks and gardens.
Read Further: Tel Aviv vs Haifa: Where should you live?