Allenby Area

A one-time workshops’ hub, with artisans and craftsmen toiling from dawn till dusk, Sheinken has for years now been a symbol of the so called “Tel Aviv bubble” and a hallmark of the city’s outgoing and open lifestyle. It has become quite meaningful in Israeli culture in general and Tel Aviv in particular, mainly for the many artists who moved here in search of not merely cheap rent but also the right ambience, turning this sleepy and lackluster street into the vibrant spot it is now.

After the artists came the cafés, restaurants and designer shops. But the Sheinken hype has not served the street well, what with the real estate prices going up and the chain stores wanting a piece of the Friday shopping bonanza, the yuppies have, in a way, taken over from the bohemians.

But it is still nice and pleasant, and the architecture is beautiful, and there are still designer spots selling unique shoes, coats and the like. It’s a one- way street with narrow sidewalks and shops from end to end, and on Fridays you can ses street performers, including clowns, as well as ultra orthodox Jews entreating passers-by to perform the mitsva of Tfilin, rapping one’s arm with a leather strap and placing a cube on one’s forehead while praying.