Things to do in Eilat
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Underwater Observatory Marine Park
For as much aquatic action as you can handle without getting wet, head to the Underwater Observatory Marine Park , south of Coral Beach. Aside from standard aquarium features such as shark tanks, turtles and stingray pools there are highlights like the magical glassed-in observatory, 4.25m below the water's surface, through which you can view the usually rich Red Sea marine life.
In case the fish outside fail to put in an appearance there are plenty of captive specimens in the accompanying aquarium. There's even a pitch-black room for viewing phosphorescent fish. Kids will get a thrill out of the petting pool and the regular feedings that take place between 11:00 and 15:…
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Eddie's Hide-A-Way
For more than 30 years Eddie has been hiding in the back streets of Eilat making really good steaks and turning out inventive dishes such as delicate Shanghai fish with spicy soy paste. Vegetarians are not excluded, with an excellent meat-free lasagne on the menu as well as soups, and a mouth-watering stuffed mushroom dish. The intimate dining room is great for romantic dinners, the sort of place you can easily sit over a bottle or two of wine. The entrance to the restaurant is on Elot Ave.
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Last Refuge
If you're planning on a seafood dinner while you're in Eilat, locals and returning Israelis have been wholeheartedly recommending this cosy but kitsch fish restaurant for over 20 years. Try the catch of the day grilled over the charcoals or the spicy crab speciality, or tuck into seafood soups a Bostonian would be impressed with. Order ahead for specials such as lobster; in fact, ring ahead anyway, especially if you want a table on a Friday night.
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La Cucina
Eat with the angels at this elegant Italian restaurant under the Royal Beach hotel with its heavenly murals, mood lighting, smooth suede furniture and bougainvillea-draped terrace. Decoration aside, the food is very good, with highlights being the wonderfully thin pizzas and fresh pasta dishes. Deserts such as lemongrass consommé with passionfruit are a refreshing change and certainly worth saving room for.
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Unplugged
Next door to the Underground Pub, this place has a main bar plus a popular outdoor tented area that attracts rowdy young things pretending to be drunk, and sleazy soldiers who commandeer the picnic tables with impressive MTV rip-off dance moves. While it would be an OK place to puff on a water pipe and relax on the couches, the music is so loud it makes chatting with friends a distinct impossibility.
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Three Monkeys Pub
The beating heart of Eilat's nightlife can be found at this wannabe English pub, which has 12 types of beer on tap (whether they can pour them is another question) and enough fruity cocktails to keep the sunburnt punters happy. Sit out on the sand under the fairy-lit palm trees, until you are drunk enough to think that the live cover band is good enough for a boogie.
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Israel Yam Boat Cruise
A popular excursion from the main hotel area is the Israel Yam Boat Cruise, on a glass-bottomed boat that cruises between the Egyptian and Jordanian borders, before heading to the Coral Beach Nature Reserve. It lasts two hours and operates at least three times daily. The underwater scenery is fairly spectacular and there's an accompanying English-language commentary.
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Regata
Unless you want to deal with a snarling maître d' and an hour-long wait, don't even consider turning up to this colourful Italian trattoria on the weekends without a booking. During the rest of the week it's a popular place for wood-oven pizzas, big bowls of pasta and plates of fish that you can eat outside or in the inviting multi-level dining room.
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Shibolim
Shibolim serves up the sort of breakfast you'll dream about for days to come. This rustic bakery makes a variety of interesting breads and pastries, a few of which will turn up on your plate along with home-made jams, tasty salad and dips. Coffee comes with a sample of their biscuits and the service is as sweet as the yummy range of cakes.
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Co-op Supermarket
A number of small restaurants, cafés and shwarma stands can be found in the New Tourist Centre, opposite the IMAX theatre, as well as the food court inside the Red Canyon Mall. If a sandwich is sufficient - and it probably will be given Eilat's appetite-busting temperatures - try the Co-op Supermarket, or the one in the Shalom Centre.
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Ginger Asian Kitchen and Bar
A slick restaurant with black leather banquets and a wraparound bar, this is where the beautiful people come to nosh on late-night Japanese gyoza dumplings and sip Asian-infused cocktails. Food crisscrosses the Far East, from Thai curries to Indonesian noodle dishes and seafood tempura.
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Snuba
Snuba is a guided underwater adventure for beginners who have no proficiency with tanks but would love to see some of the aquatic sights. Guides take snuba divers to the Caves reef, considered one of the best coral reefs in Eilat. The cost includes two hours of snorkel rental after the activity.
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Coral Beach Nature Reserve
With over 100 types of stony coral and 650 species of fish, the Coral Beach Nature Reserve is a utopia for snorkellers. A wooden bridge leads from the shore to the beginning of the reef (which is over a kilometre in length), where you can follow several underwater trails marked by buoys.
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Village
After a big Friday night, the action gets started early with a beach party gearing up around 11:00 on Saturdays. It's cheesy but lots of fun, with a sandy dance floor, a DJ playing Israeli rap and staff hosing everyone down just in case they get too hot, hot, hot.
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Spring Onion
This is a popular two-storey dairy and vegetarian place beside the lagoon bridge in the hotel area. In addition to a great Israeli breakfast, you'll find fruit shakes, salads, pizza and fish dishes. The huge portions should tide you over for most of the day.
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Underground Pub
A travellers' favourite, pub grub, easy music and nightly live entertainment including a popular Wednesday-night karaoke party. Cheap beer fuels a lively crowd. There are several outdoor pool tables and live sports on the big screen inside.
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Desert Eco Tours
A good choice for wilderness tours is the reputable Desert Eco Tours, which does half-day to multi-day jeep, camel and hiking tours in the Negev, Sinai (St Katherine's Monastery) and southwestern Jordan. Prices don't include border taxes.
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Siam Divers
The friendly Siam Divers is one of the best value, with the PADI open water going for US$200. For certified divers there are two guided dives a day. There are live-aboards such as the three-day Sinai experience for US$370.
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Platinum
Located in King Solomon Hotel, this has been the most popular club in town for the last few years. Monday is Hebrew music only, Thursday is reserved for 25-and-overs, and on Friday the club hosts a gay party.
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IMAX Theatre
For a family-friendly activity, or if the temperatures reach unbearable heights, take cool respite in the pyramid-shaped IMAX theatre.
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Kisuski
At Kisuski you can rent all the water toys you hadn't thought of such as jet skis, jet boats, pedal boats, ski tubes and bananas.
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Steimatzky
Has branches in the bus station and on the ground floor of the Shalom Centre. Sells Lonely Planet guides to Jordan and Egypt.
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King's City
It took four years and US$40 million to build this biblical theme park. King's City is an opulent showcase for the stories of King Solomon and Queen Sheba among other monarchs. The attractions are high-tech and interactive featuring mazes, kaleidescopes, 3D films and a heart-thumping water ride. There are no less than six fast-food outlets on hand if all those Bible stories are making you hungry.
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Dolphin Reef
Have you heard the one about the woman who married a dolphin? No, it's not a bad joke - it really happened at the Dolphin Reef, where visitors can observe dolphin training, feed the dolphins and even snorkel or dive with them in their 'natural habitat'. At the thatched-roof bar here you can drink cocktails on the sand and enjoy great sunsets over the Gulf of Eilat.
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