227 Best Restaurants in Israel

The decor of this meat-lovers' haven is informal: beer kegs piled in a corner; walls covered with photos of glowing restaurant reviews; and a mural of the customers painted by an art student in 1989. The Romanian family-run business has been around since 1962; today Reuven and his son Shlomi do the excellent cooking. To start, savor chopped liver, jellied calf's foot, gefilte fish, and oxtail soup. Then go to work on delectable pork spareribs, goose, or beef pastrami, which they smoke themselves. As befits a place whose name means "beer spring," an impressive selection of imported beers is on tap. In summer, diners sit outside and enjoy live music. 

Try the unbeatable Arab pastries at this bakeshop. The place serves wonderful bourma (cylindrical pastries filled with whole pistachio nuts), cashew baklava, and great halvah. Don't confuse this spot with Mahroum Bakery: look for the Arab pastries, not gooey Western cakes.

A Jewish--Arab couple offers fresh food made using ingredients straight from their garden at this eatery in a picturesque location a few miles west of Jerusalem. Yakub Barhum built the outdoor deck and pergola overhead, and Michal Baranes, the chef, dreamed up the menu of changing dishes. The fig salad is a celebration of the summer's juicy abundance, and the Layali Beirut dessert is a semolina cake with cream and rosewater. 

Marinado started as a cattle ranch and is still a butcher and gourmet food shop. It is the only restaurant in Israel that produces its own meat, wine, and olive oil. The restaurant specializes in beef and has a large indoor seating area and breezy outdoor dining with lovely views of the Kinneret. The restaurant also has several branches in and near Tel Aviv, although this is its flagship location.

Professional photographer turned baker Adi Peretz shares his passion for doughs by churning out daily batches of savory breads, sweet brioches, and classics like iced carrot cake with walnuts and raisins. Pack your coffee and breads to go or eat a delicious egg-filled croissant sandwich before heading to one of the neighboring wineries.

Chocolate lovers should run, not walk, to this eatery for a mouthwatering, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory experience. Beneath pipes of imaginary chocolate crisscrossing the ceiling, children of all ages can order the likes of chocolate pizza—topped with chocolate chips, of course—or chocolate fondue for dipping toasted marshmallows and fruit like melon, dates, and bananas. There's even chocolate soup! For a souvenir, take home some hand-stenciled pralines in artfully designed tins. And yes, there are non-chocolate options, including pastas and salads. Service is famously iffy but who cares when you can gorge yourself on chocolate?

Go easy on the appetizers here, as you'll want to save room for this sleek, modern kosher eatery's savory meat dishes. Those in the know recommend the generous veal entrecôte and the lamb chops in a flavorful sauce of caramel, oranges, mint, and ginger. Avoid the creamy desserts, which don't contain real dairy. The extensive wine list is a pleasure, however.

Just off Route 40, at a gas station south of the entrance to Ben-Gurion's Desert Home in Kibbutz Sde Boker, this small café is open around the clock and offers tasty cappuccino, espresso, muffins, and sandwiches.

Israel has the highest population of vegans per capita, so it's impressive that Meshek Barzilay started blazing the plant-based trail long before farm-to-table eating became trendy. Tucked away on a quiet, secluded street in Neve Tzedek, the restaurant serves only locally sourced, organic, plant-based ingredients. The original restaurant was founded in 2002 by Merav Barzilay in the small agricultural community of Moshav Yarkona. A few years later, she opened Meshek Barzilay in central Tel Aviv. The produce may not come from her own backyard any more but Barzilay continues to source directly from a meticulously selected group of Israeli farms and producers who deliver daily. Best-selling dishes include the mushroom, tofu, and lentil veggie burger and the beetroot gnocchi.

Chef Aviv Moshe serves traditional dishes like the shredded-wheat-like pastry called kadaif, but his method of preparation is in a class of its own. This Mediterranean–Middle Eastern haute cuisine is enlivened with French and Italian touches. White is the dominant color in the lavish dining room, with marble floors and tented ceiling lamps on which video art is projected. A long, white central table with stylish high-back chairs is the room's centerpiece, perfect for mingling with fellow diners while the attentive staff serves such dishes as seared red tuna over an eggplant-and-goat-cheese roll with pomegranate dressing or sea bass with shallot ravioli. Make sure you save room for dessert as pastry chef Adi Sibrower's spectacular creations will blow your mind. Adjacent to the restaurant is the bar, a much more chaotic affair done up in stark black. Don't miss '80s night on Wednesday, when a winning combination of DJs playing retro tunes, good food, and strong drinks ensure an unforgettable night.

This lively neighborhood restaurant and bar hits the spot with refreshing margaritas and authentic, tasty Mexican fare. Kick things off with the refreshing Peruvian Tiradito with spicy yellow pepper salsa before ordering barbacoa tacos and green enchiladas. The restaurant is the brainchild of Ziv Erlich, an Israeli who grew up in Mexico and fell in love with the cuisine. He opened the restaurant with his wife Ester in 2008, and a few years later chef Roni Pazhar was brought on board. The result? A fun, boisterous bar that's also a very respectable Mexican restaurant in the middle of Tel Aviv. Happy hour starts every day at 5 pm, a good time to try the Bloody Maria, chili martini, or classic margarita. Try the churros—sweet tubes of fried dough—if you have room for dessert.

In a gas station (and next door to the restaurant Agenda), this place is perfect for beachgoers craving sushi. The name means "port" in Japanese, and Minato does a brisk takeout business, serving sashimi and nigiri as well as a variety of tempura dishes. You can also eat in at the long sushi bar and watch the chefs' knives flash in front of you. Try the temaki, a cone of seaweed filled with rice, vegetables, and the fish of your choice.

This pan-Asian gem on the top floor of the Castra mall is a bit hard to find, but worth the effort. Five kitchens (Japan, India, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand) offer flavorful dining options in unusual juxtaposition. Relax with inspired cocktails or a Thai beer before dinner. Standout options are the Bombay butter chicken and red Thai curry. End the evening on a sweet note with a coffee-infused Saigon crème brûlée. The kitchen operates on a you-get-it-when-it's-ready concept, so your food will arrive at different times. Give your order one course at a time to keep the table paced together.

This bar and grill is part retro lounge, part bistro. Best known for its burgers, the place has an extensive menu that includes everything from shish kebabs to calamari and quesadillas. It's good for the whole family, with children's dishes and, for the adults, an interesting selection of cocktails. The ribs in molasses are a real treat, as is the chicken Caesar salad. Drop by after midnight, when late-night specials add to the mix.

The local spirit at play in this restaurant's name—a combination of moshav and kibbutz, two types of Israeli agricultural communities—also shapes the menu at Moshbutz. This eatery's farm-fresh philosophy is integral, as the chef sources all of the ingredients from Golan Heights. The abundant wine and beer menu offer a chance to taste options from the surrounding vineyards and microbreweries. Choose the rump carpaccio and liver pâté for starters, but save room for the aged beef and lamb. Sit in the nicely converted cow shed and enjoy a glass of Muscat dessert wine or port from a nearby vineyard while enjoying a spectacular sunset over the Sea of Galilee.

Every inch of wall, ceiling, and bar real estate is plastered with the scarves of worldwide soccer teams at this beloved, well-established eatery on Route 31 at the entrance to Arad. Although there are plenty of options for non-meat eaters (veggie burgers, lentil stew, eggplant and cauliflower dishes), most people come for the burgers, which are served with spicy potato wedges and go well with one of the many available Israeli and imported beers. The atmosphere is cozy and warm, the waitstaff is cheery, and the big-screen TV is always tuned to a soccer match.

Just inside the Jaffa Gate, Nafoura offers a tranquil courtyard for alfresco lunchtime dining. Your table might even lean against the Old City wall. The pleasant if unremarkable interior is a comfortable refuge in inclement weather. Start with the traditional array of salads, enough for two people to share. Focus on the excellent local dishes (hummus, eggplant salad, tahini, and so on). Ask for the kibbeh, delicacies of cracked wheat and ground beef, or the Armenian sausage. From the typical selection of entrées, try the lamb cutlets or the grilled sea bream.

People from near and far seek out this casual eatery for its excellent kebabs, made from ground beef and lamb, along with plenty of parsley. Opened in 1936, the family-owned restaurant also offers a large menu of grilled meats, salads, and desserts made in its nearby bakery. Vegetarians will enjoy stuffed peppers, onions, and eggplants. Large windows surround the tables in the circular dining room.

Inside Moshav Beit Nekofa outside Abu Gosh, this large modern restaurant is a great place for a leisurely lunch or indulgent dinner after a day of hiking on nearby trails or exploring archaeological ruins. The main dining area includes an open kitchen, plenty of high windows, and pots full of orchids. There is also seating on a patio surrounded by vine-covered stone walls. The menu features rice, noodle, and sushi dishes, and the fresh ginger lemonade pairs nicely with everything. A full bar also offers local beer and wine, as well as cocktails. Reservations are recommended, especially at lunch.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the city, this small, elegant bistro specializes in fine cuts of expertly prepared meat. It's purported to be the only place in Israel where you can enjoy a real porterhouse steak. And for dessert? That depends on the time of year. Tangy strawberry-vanilla pie is a winter specialty, while fig-vanilla pie is a summer favorite. The building is historic, yet the interior is contemporary, with Mediterranean tile floors in geometric patterns.

As the name suggests, this popular eatery is geared toward the city's night owls, open every night until midnight. Using local ingredients and highlighting modern takes on traditional Israeli cuisine, the menu items are meant to be shared like tapas. Tomato carpaccio with za'atar leaves, calamari, and gnocchi with oyster mushrooms and roasted cherry tomatoes are a few of the best-selling menu items. For dessert there's a lollipop-shape crème brûlée wrapped around tonka-bean puree and drizzled with fruit syrup.

Part of a workshop space for local artists, this landmark café has a fun and funky atmosphere. The menu is rich with sandwiches filled with delectable ingredients like avocado, feta cheese, or grilled vegetables, and they all come with side salads drizzled with a delightful basil dressing. If a sandwich isn't your style, try a quiche or a pasta dish. There's a slew of vegan-friendly dishes as well. At night, Jerusalem's hipsters come to drink beer or arak while discussing politics. A belowstairs performance space offers weekly spoken word events, musical performances, and lectures.

People come from all over the Carmel for a meal in this Druze restaurant at the northern edge of Isfiya (it's on the left; look for the tables outside under the trees). The Middle Eastern fare here is excellent, especially the homemade hummus with pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice, as well as the well-seasoned kebabs on skewers. Those with a sweet tooth should sample the sahlab (a warm, custardlike pudding of crushed orchid bulb with thickened milk and sugar).

For one of the best meals in the city, take your place at one of the tables spilling out onto the sidewalk or alongside the small, chic bar. The menu changes daily, depending on what Eyal Shani, its celebrity chef, finds to be the freshest produce or catch of the day. A couple of delectable dishes are often featured, including lamb shawarma marinated overnight in wine grapes from the Judean Hills, and cold shrimp with green onions and tomatoes served in piping-hot homemade pita. If you arrive without reservations, you may be able to find room at the bar.

Chef Rima Olivera's 30 years of experience in the world's best kitchens and her principles of cooking set this eatery apart from the rest in the Tel Aviv food scene. The menu changes constantly based on the choicest seasonal ingredients, including those that are locally grown and those that are hand-picked from abroad. An open kitchen at this tastefully designed location lets you watch the charismatic chef in action. Every dish that comes out of her kitchen is packed with perfectly balanced flavors and cooked to perfection. Taste the gently seasoned zucchini salad with truffle oil for starters. Also recommended is the Vietnamese-style sea bream and the grilled beef fillet with black pepper and porcini “crème brûlée.” Be sure to end the meal with a palate-cleansing shot of green-tea milk with jasmine cream before dessert.

This farm-to-table café situated in the Hansen House complex in the German Colony neighborhood offers fresh salads, goat cheeses, and baked vegetable dishes served in a cozy setting of vintage tables and chairs. The other Offaime locations are in the Israel Museum and Beit Hakerem.

This distinguished Japanese restaurant is consistently ranked among the best in a city with no shortage of sushi. The expansive bar is the restaurant's centerpiece, and the surrounding tables are filled with all sorts of locals, from extended families enjoying an early meal to young people who arrive in clusters later in the evening. Onami presents a large variety of tastefully presented Japanese dishes, including agedashi tofu (fried and served with a sweet soy sauce), that can be combined with sushi or sashimi.

Whether you're at the Elma Arts Complex for a performance or simply for the spectacular views of the Mediterranean, Oratorio satisfies with fine dining in a magnificent setting. The modern dining room provides gallery space for interesting, thought-provoking art from Israel and around the world. Try the oven-roasted sea bass with tomato salsa, or any of the excellent grilled fish or meats; the produce is locally sourced. Pair your meal with excellent wine from area vineyards.

Locals swear by this deli's inexpensive sandwiches, which come piled high with smoked meats, exotic cheeses, or pickled herring. Meat and dairy are prepared in separate kitchens, so you have an unusually wide range of choices for a non-certified kosher eatery, and it offers vegan-friendly options as well. It's also a great place to pick up a fresh pastry, a bottle of wine, or a block of cheese, which you can enjoy at one of the deli's few street-side tables. They'll pack a picnic as well.

In the souk, duck into this café and enjoy a coffee, some hummus, or a kebab in the courtyard of the 16th-century Khan al-Faranj, or Franks' Inn. Note the 18th-century Franciscan monastery and tower to your left.