Once known as a quiet, tree-lined suburb best identified with Oved’s beloved sabich stand, Givatayim has rapidly reinvented itself as a nightlife center driven by young renters priced out of Tel Aviv.
In recent years, the city has filled with new bars and cafés, especially along its main Katzenelson Street, creating what many locals now describe as an independent entertainment scene just minutes from Israel’s cultural capital.
Local business owners say the shift began when students and young professionals, unable to keep up with Tel Aviv’s soaring rent prices, moved into Givatayim’s dense stock of older rental buildings. Restaurateurs followed, attracted by steady demand and relatively light competition.
“The pace in Givatayim is still slow, but the streets came alive,” said chef-restaurateur Ben Ring, who grew up in the city. “Where there used to be a small grocery store, there’s now a bar with a chalkboard menu and a glass of wine for 40 shekels.”
Ring said Katzenelson Street is now the center of gravity, even though many buildings there were constructed in the 1950s to 1970s and offer little commercial space. That limits the ability to open full-scale restaurants.
“It’s almost impossible to find a property big enough for a restaurant,” he said. “That’s why you see more bars and cafés. Spaces for large kitchens just don’t exist.”
Oved’s famous sabich stand remains a point of pride, still drawing loyal crowds who regard it as part of the city’s identity.
Among the new venues is Botte, a wine bar opened by Omri Itzhak, a wine educator and consultant. Itzhak said he chose Givatayim over Tel Aviv or the north because of the neighborhood’s growing energy.
“People come from Tel Aviv and say the vibe feels similar,” he said. “To me, that’s a compliment. We’re trying to offer a high-level experience without hunting for parking. There’s paid street parking and a municipal lot nearby.”
Givatayim’s modern nightlife traces back to Nelson, the city’s first bar, opened by the Avidan brothers about 15 years ago. They later launched a pub called Signature, the kosher wine bar Reception and other spots, though Nelson continues to operate under different ownership.
“Fifteen years ago, there wasn’t a single bar in Givatayim,” said Raz Avidan. “We took a shaky café and turned it into Nelson. People didn’t know what hit them.” He said today’s boom is the realization of what he and his brothers envisioned years ago.
As younger residents arrived and the municipality supported new businesses, he said, more venues opened. “Something changed here. The crowd got younger. The city learned how to enjoy nightlife.”
Although Givatayim spans only a few main streets, Avidan expects more openings even as he warns that the area may be nearing saturation. “There are a lot of bars for two main streets,” he said.
Today’s venues lean toward intimate, unpretentious spaces that emphasize community — the feeling of sitting in a friend’s living room, with someone knowledgeable about wine behind the counter.
Notable spots include:
Botte — A new wine bar offering Italian food, muted orange walls and a window counter. Katzenelson 57
Juno — A branch of the veteran Milan Square wine bar in Tel Aviv, serving Italian bistro dishes and wine by the glass. Shenkin 33
TipaMara — A cocktail bar up the street from Oved’s sabich. Katzenelson 112
Ella & Tamar — A deli by day and romantic wine bar by night. Shenkin 49
Loti Wine Bar — More than 100 Israeli and international wines poured by the glass with snacks. Katzenelson 114
Reception — A kosher wine bar run by the Avidan brothers. Weizmann 29
Signature — Another Avidan bar with cocktails and atmosphere. Katzenelson 113
Vinny Wine Bar — A neighborhood spot with cocktails, pizza and focaccia. Katzenelson 40
Zut Alors — A large cocktail bar that also serves draft beer and hummus. Katzenelson 67