Rothschild Boulevard is one of the most iconic (and expensive) streets in Tel Aviv. Located in the heart of the White City, Rothschild Boulevard is a commercial center that houses many financial institutions, a cultural center, with the main theater and concert hall of Tel Aviv, a culinary center, with tons of top restaurants, and a leisure center. It features a wide, tree-lined central strip with pedestrian and bike lanes, which makes it popular with dog walkers, bikers, and people who enjoy a coffee break at the amazing coffee kiosks found in the center of the street.
Rothschild Boulevard is one of the oldest streets in Tel Aviv. The original name, Rehov HaAm, means “the street of the people”. Its new name reflects the generosity of Baron Edmond de Rothschild of the famous banking dynasty, who donated the funds to develop it.
Rothschild Boulevard runs from the neighborhood of Neve Tzedek in the south, northwards through the White City of Tel Aviv. While many of the buildings on Rothschild Boulevard have rich histories, the most important one is the Independence Hall (Originally Mayor Dizengoff’s house), where Israel’s Declaration of Independence was signed in 1948. It is fairly central along the street, was restored to resemble its appearance at the time of the declaration, and is opened to the public and houses exhibits on the signing of the declaration and the history of Tel Aviv-Yafo. At the northern end of Rothschild Boulevard is the Habima square, home to some of the most important cultural institutions in the country.
Each side of the street towers with beautiful buildings built in the Bauhaus or International style, forming part of the White City of Tel Aviv, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. While ageless, many of these have undergone extensive restoration and now house the offices of financial institutions, Hi-Tech companies, and many restaurants and cafes. Along the street, some of the tallest skyscrapers in Tel Aviv have been built – which creates a beautiful contrast with the traditional renovated ones.
Along the center of the boulevard are gardens, shaded by beautiful trees, with walking and bike paths, and a number of kiosks or street food shops. Walking along this storied street is a beautiful experience. We recommend you stop along the way to observe the architecture or refresh yourself with a coffee or meal at one of the many restaurants the street houses.
