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Expertly hidden inside one of Tel Aviv's loveliest boutique hotels, The Drisco, George and John has a friendly atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The menu is modern Israeli—that is, Mediterranean with a Middle Eastern twist. Expect innovative dishes that are not only beautifully presented, but also cooked to perfection, such as the lime- and jalapeno-infused amberjack sashimi with Israeli caviar, and egg noodles with blue crab. The wine list is extensive and features some unusual choices, so don't be afraid to ask the excellent sommelier for a recommendation.
6 Auerbach St., 6811910, Israel
Known For
- Creative dishes like egg noodles with blue crab
- Extensive wine list
- Outstanding service
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The restaurant at this boutique hotel serves modern brasserie fare, throwing in a few unexpected Asian twists along the way. The seasonal menu changes regularly but you can always find impressive Mediterranean--Asian fusion dishes like sea bream fillet with lemongrass cream. The impeccable service, well-prepared food, and interesting wine list compare very favorably with the city's top restaurants. The dining room is in a lovingly restored home on Montefiore Street in the heart of historic Tel Aviv. White walls, potted plants, slatted wooden blinds, and the silver-plated sugar servers selected by co-owner Ruthie Brouda evoke old-world colonial days.
36 Montefiore St., 61883, Israel
Known For
- One of the best meals in Tel Aviv
- Old-world atmosphere
- The place to see and be seen
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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A Tel Aviv institution, this lively restaurant wows with spectacular beach views and both indoor and outdoor dining options. Busy from breakfast to dinner, Manta Ray appeals to everyone from families to couples looking for romance, and attracts a loyal clientele. The imaginative appetizers vary from day to day, but staples include the Balkan bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and sea salt, the to-die-for eggplant dip, and the sautéed shrimp with gnocchi, spinach, and crab sauce. The baked sea bream with rosemary and olive oil is simple Mediterranean fare at its best, especially with a spicy chili and pepper sauce on the side. Breakfast is popular here too—especially the spicy shakshuka. Nowhere in Tel Aviv will you get a better meal, especially not one combined with killer views of the Mediterranean and outstanding service.
2 Nahum Goldmann St., 68012, Israel
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Unrivaled beachside location
- Lovely selection of mezes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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This shop serves what is often called the country's best hummus, which is not an easy task with so many places serving this addictive chickpea dish. For something quite different, order the masabacha with chunks of chickpeas served in warm hummus, or the hummus ful, made from Egyptian fava beans. Get here early and expect to wait in line, because once the pot is empty the restaurant closes (usually around 2:30 pm).
1 Dolphin St., 68034, Israel
Known For
- The best hummus in Israel
- One of the oldest Palestinian restaurants in Tel Aviv
- Very informal and always busy
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat.
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This small corner café, a neighborhood favorite, is where you can catch a glimpse of the beauty of European café culture. Coffee is the main event, over which you can linger for hours along with your newspaper, computer, or friends from the neighborhood. Because it's in the heart of the upscale Basel area, patrons include celebrities that live nearby. The menu includes sandwiches and salads, pastas, and schnitzel.
37 Basel St., 62744, Israel
Known For
- Upscale atmosphere
- Tel Aviv classic
- Breakfast and coffee
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Celebrating the love that Israelis have for breakfast, this restaurant with simple and sunny decor features many variations on the morning meal, served around the clock, seven days a week. Choose the classic Israeli breakfast with all the trimmings; the Mexican egg scramble; the "Calimera" Greek breakfast, heavily laden with garlicky tzatziki and a healthy serving of spice; or several different styles of eggs Benedict. French toast and pancakes satisfy anyone's sweet tooth. Despite the unusual name, it's worth tasting the signature "egg balls," cooked omelet style, formed into a dumpling shape, and served with a choice of sauces such as spinach and cream.
29 Rothschild Blvd., 66882, Israel
Known For
- All-day breakfast
- International dishes
- The best eggs Benedict in town
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A varied but simple menu—including steak, salads, sandwiches, and pasta—makes this a good place to recharge after a day at the beach or a nice spot to relax with a glass of wine at sunset. The highlight of this café is not the food but the indoor or outdoor seating with fabulous Mediterranean views. It's open 24/7.
83 Hayarkon St., 63432, Israel
Known For
- Patio with seaviews
- Sunset hangout
- Breakfast
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The aromas emanating from this street-corner bakery and café make it well worth the visit. Choose from the savory or sweet section of French-style baked goods, made throughout the day by chefs trained in Paris. A plentiful Israeli breakfast is upgraded with house-made jams, French butter, and a diverse bread basket filled with sourdoughs, brioches, and sweet croissants. This place is obviously not for the gluten averse.
128 Ben Yehuda St., 6340143, Israel
Known For
- Israeli breakfast
- Freshly baked French-style pastries
- Breakfast until 5 pm
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri. night
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Doubling as an art-and-music haven for locals, this inviting neighborhood café will make you feel as if you're in someone's fun and relaxing living room. The service is personal, the patrons are friendly (you will most likely end up in a conversation with many of them), and the extensive menu has options for everyone. The in-house baked goods including homemade bagels, and the ever-changing array of muffins makes for a light breakfast or afternoon snack. The salads and sandwiches are made fresh, so you can choose any toppings you like.
73 Ben Yehuda St., 63000, Israel
Known For
- Friendly, international crowd
- All-day breakfast
- Plenty of vegan and gluten-free options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. No dinner
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A Tel Aviv classic that has stood the test of time, Coffee Bar is neither a coffee shop nor a bar—in fact, it is a rather elegant bistro. The service is excellent, the menu is fresh and contemporary, and the design is on point. It's no surprise, as the restaurant is run by R2M, the hospitality group behind the likes of Hotel Montefiore, Rothschild 12, and Delicatessen. And while Coffee Bar may have been around long before the Tel Aviv food scene became hip (it opened more than two decades ago in the industrial, edgy Yad Harutzim district), it remains as popular as ever, so make sure you book in advance.
13 Yad Harutzim St., 67778, Israel
Known For
- Popularity with locals
- Contemporary Mediterranean food
- Industrial, slightly gritty neighborhood
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Inside a beautifully restored historic building, this bistro has a rarefied atmosphere and an on-the-premises bakery that turns out a luscious array of French-style pastries. The breakfast menu highlights some of the baked delights, including smoked-salmon croissants and the indulgent French toast sandwich with fruit, ricotta cheese, and maple syrup. An enclosed patio, with its wrought-iron tables and chairs, is a lovely place to enjoy a late-afternoon coffee among a mixed crowd of businesspeople, surfers, and families. The executive lunch is a good value while the dinner menu offers more extensive (and significantly higher-priced) fish and meat options.
10 Shabazi St., 65144, Israel
Known For
- Superb baked goods
- A well-heeled crowd
- Delightful patio
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In the midst of the buzzing Nachalat Binyamin Art Fair, the secret garden at Jonesy Gardener is an oasis of calm. To escape the madness, sit on Jonesy's green leafy patio, where you can enjoy a great cup of coffee or try local specialties like shakshuka or sabich. It's a great spot to grab breakfast or rest after visiting the hectic Carmel Market.
Nahalat Binyamin St. 3, 6516103, Israel
Known For
- Charming interior patio
- Breakfast and lunch
- Great coffee
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri. night and Sat.
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After winning the television show "Israel’s Next Restaurant" with his restaurant Mileage, Chef Idan Boshari opened this new offering to Tel Aviv’s gastronomic scene. Inspired by the fabric of the city and stimulated by the proximity of the sea and the local and seasonal nature of the neighboring Carmel Market, the menu changes in response to the availability and quality of the local produce. Try the Amberjack Sashimi with its unusual combination of ingredients that combine to make a perfect bite and complement it with the Gazoz-inspired cocktail with black pepper and zaatar. There’s also a focus on social responsibility, as the restaurant works closely with youth at risk. With an exciting, high-energy vibe, this is a great location to get a sense of the bustle of life in Tel Aviv.
Known For
- Locally inspired menu
- Seasonal and regularly changing dishes
- Exciting cocktail menu
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At this cozy neighborhood bistro, the portions are generous, the prices extremely reasonable, and the atmosphere a friendly hubbub of clattering dishes and animated conversations. The thick menu is filled with hearty salads and pastas, as well as the signature paninis. In the warmer months, there are creative daily specials like tasty risotto. During the winter, there's a daily selection of a dozen different soups. The all-day happy hour will keep your mouth and wallet smiling.
73 Frishman St., 64352, Israel
Known For
- Popular local hangout
- Laid-back vibes
- Great panini and hearty soup in winter
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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?
45 Rothschild Blvd., Israel
Known For
- Chocolatey treats galore
- Appealing to chocolate lovers of all ages
- Service is hit-and-miss
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri. afternoon
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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.
6 Ahad Ha'Am St., 6514206, Israel
Known For
- Local, organic, seasonal vegan food
- Veggie burger and beetroot gnocchi
- Leafy patio in charming Neve Tzedek
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In the heart of the Jaffa Flea Market, Puaa's lumpy sofas and slightly battered tables and chairs make for a kick-your-shoes-off atmosphere—and some patrons oblige. It's a popular gathering place for thirtysomething Tel Avivians, as well as young families. All the cakes, cookies, and croissants are baked fresh on the premises. There's a good selection of vegetarian dishes, including the Middle Eastern favorite majadarah (rice with lentils), served with salad and yogurt, as well as some meat and fish options.
8 Rabbi Yohanan St., 61000, Israel
Known For
- Laid-back living room feel
- Excellent vegetarian selection
- Popular outdoor patio that attracts a young crowd
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat.
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This laid-back bar is in the middle of the action next to Jaffa's busy flea market. It draws easygoing locals and tourists of all ages, who come for the tasty, affordable food and drinks and the lively outdoor patio. The menu is mainly local, with some Asian dishes thrown in; the service is efficient and upbeat; and the furniture looks like it's been randomly lifted right out of the flea market. Shaffa Bar doesn't take itself too seriously and neither do its guests, which is probably what makes this place so irresistible.
2 Nakhman St., 6813803, Israel
Known For
- Totally unpretentious
- Affordable food
- Plenty of outdoor seating on the patio
