EL AL | Atmosphere

See the Sights I Eat, Travel, Enjoy

Lunch in a sketch | The Sketch café and gelateria The Sketch café, right by the stadium, is designed like the pages of a comic book, with every square inch of its walls, ceiling, and furniture – bathroom included – having been sketched on with markers, according to the digital design of illustrator Tamir Alahinay. The design of the entrance floor, where the gelateria is located, has an Italian theme, while the gallery floor an airport one, with four seats even made to resemble business class plane seats. But Sketch isn’t just about the charming design gimmick, it’s also a fantastic place to eat, with an Italian menu that offers pizzas, (including a surprising knafeh pizza), pastas, salads, and more. Everything is homemade, including the gelato, and based on quality ingredients. Kosher but open on Saturdays. @sketch_haifa

The Kedem Hotel I Photos: Simplex 360

Food, art, and everything in between | Talpiot Market Talpiot Market is located inside a historic structure built in 1940. Its distinctive Bauhaus design and cultural significance have placed it on the list of buildings set for conservation. Entirely covered with glass bricks, its main hall is surrounded by galleries flooded with natural light, and as far as the eye can see there are colorful market stalls bursting with fresh produce. Outside, along Sirkin st. and Luntz st., there are street food stalls selling every kind of food imaginable, from the simplest to the most refined. Don’t miss a visit to Sirkin st. n°21, where among other exciting things, you’ll find a fantastic little tacos place on the lower floor, a vintage

The Kedem Hotel A pampering spa break We spent our first night at the Kedem Hotel in nearby Tirat HaCarmel, a twenty minutes’ drive from Haifa. Like many other hotels across Israel, Kedem hosted war evacuees over many months, before returning to once again welcoming guests and travelers (who must be at least 16). A veritable oasis of peace and tranquility, Kedem is also a wellness center with a heated covered pool, a spa, a sauna (wet and dry), a Turkish hammam, a gym, and 61 large, elegantly designed rooms. The spa offers a rich selection of treatments as well as yoga and meditation classes, detox workshops, and more - entrance to the spa and the booking of treatments is open to non-hotel guests as well. In the summer, the pool opens onto the spectacular landscape, and there are fantastic hiking trails like the Oranit caves and Ein Kedem spring to explore nearby. kedemhotel.com

SKETCH I Photos: Micha Brikman

16 ATMOSPHERE MARCH 2025