Cafe' Scene: Shiraleh - Espresso Art Bar

Location is always an important aspect of a business, and Shiraleh's address in the Florentin Quarter is definitely a plus.

By VIVA SARAH PRESS
espresso coffee 88 (photo credit: )
espresso coffee 88
(photo credit: )
Shiraleh - Espresso Art Bar Sun-Thurs, 9am-00:30; Fri and holidays, 9am-one hour before Shabbat/; Sat. end of Shabbat-00:30. 18 Yedidya Frenkel Tel Aviv 03.681.2010 Kosher A friend of a friend was stunned when he heard I had never been to Shiraleh. First of all, my being a vegetarian should have put Shiraleh on my hit list long ago, and second, everyone who's anyone (or so he says) knows that this artsy spot in the Florentin neighborhood of Tel Aviv is a celebrated place. And so, last Saturday night, three friends and I finally visited this modish coffee shop. I was won over from my first step inside. It is not by chance that Shiraleh refers to itself as an "espresso art bar." This place is all about layout and design. For a start, the walls are decorated with rotating art exhibits. There are four seating areas: out front on the porch (summer only); inside at dark wooden tables and chairs situated under a stylish chandelier; in a second indoor room which includes a small cushioned alcove, seats at the bar and a handful of high, narrow tables; and finally, at the back of the coffee shop, in a garden area with three tables and one couch set up around a tree. Shiraleh boasts a vegetarian menu with fish options. The dishes here come in interesting mixes including patties made from spinach and beet leaves, minced mushroom burgers and chunky sesame tehina, among other options. Rations are ample but not oversized. The one shortcoming of this place is its snail's pace service. While a relaxed atmosphere is always a good thing, there's a limit to how laissez-faire things should be. We waited nearly 40 minutes between ordering and receiving our meals. Location is always an important aspect of a business, and Shiraleh's address in the Florentin Quarter is definitely a plus. After a filling meal, the four of us decided to get a breath of fresh air and stroll around this gentrified neighborhood. From the buildings to the shops to the people hanging out, this area offers a refreshing look at Tel Aviv.