2 Best Restaurants in Florentine, Tel Aviv

All of Tel Aviv is raving about Opa, a vegan hot spot in Florentin that has garnered a kind of universal approval that few—if any—vegan restaurants have achieved before. Although the entire menu is plant-based, the food is so delicious, so fresh, and so packed with flavor, that it appeals to vegans and nonvegans alike. Even the (otherwise notoriously unappetizing) vegan desserts get the thumbs up! What sets Opa apart from many of its competitors is the absence of meat substitutes on its menu; Chef Shirel Berger instead focuses on colorful, organic, seasonal vegetables instead of tired dishes of mushy tofu, seitan, or jackfruit. For the full Opa experience, try the tasting menu: one of every dish on the menu, to share between two.

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.