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Part of the ultra-chic Renoma boutique hotel, Bar 51 has become one of the hottest spots on the Tel Aviv food scene since opening in 2019. Everything here is on trend, from the hip, laid-back staff to the postindustrial design and the small plates of creative, contemporary Mediterranean cuisine made for sharing. Snag one of the coveted seats at the bar and watch the kitchen team work their magic as you tuck into showstopping dishes such as the zucchini pappardelle with blue crab, or the signature lemon-infused roasted kohlrabi. Let the sommelier create a wine pairing to go with the dishes of your choice and it'll be a winner.
59 Hayarkon St., 6343287, Israel
Known For
- Signature lemon-infused roasted kohlrabi
- Bar seating to watch the kitchen at work
- Wine pairings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Thurs.
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Helmed by one of Israel's most highly regarded veteran chefs, Ran Shmueli, Claro is one of those spots that has it all. The farm-to-table Mediterranean menu changes daily, featuring only the freshest seasonal, locally sourced produce, and the building, originally constructed by the German Templers in 1886, makes the experience unforgettable. The rustic yet sophisticated ambience complements the beautiful dishes, a perfect balance of classic Mediterranean cuisine and innovative Israeli flavors.
23 HaArba'a St., 6107450, Israel
Known For
- Modern Israeli cuisine
- Breathtaking historic setting
- Outstanding service
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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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This tiny restaurant and wine bar, just a clutch of round tables on an alley just off Carmel Market, draws its inspiration from the market's fresh offerings (the name is Hebrew for "market stall"). The choices change daily, and the kitchen is well-known for dishing out organ meats you might not see much back home. For the less adventurous, the seafood and pork options are sure to be fresh and aesthetically appealing. Try also the white pizza with black truffles when in season. The paella with bacon, sausage, shrimp, and mussels is about as non-kosher as it gets for a place whose chef refers to the nearby market as the "Holy of Holies."
4 HaShomer St., 65601, Israel
Known For
- Creative Israeli cuisine
- Market-fresh produce
- Informal sidewalk tables
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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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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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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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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Set in a historic building on one of the prettiest streets in Old Jaffa, Beit Kandinof is both contemporary art center and restaurant. Home to five galleries with ever-changing exhibitions from Tel Aviv's dynamic modern art scene, Beit Kandinof also houses artists of its own: chefs Yogev Yaros and Shami Golomb, masterminds behind an impressive menu that combines Mediterranean cuisine with Arabic Jaffa touches. The selection varies with the seasons, but best-selling staples include the spicy fava bean hummus and the slow-cooked lamb spare ribs. For dessert, try a to-die-for local specialty known as malabi, which is like an Israeli take on the Italian panna cotta, except even more delicious.
14 HaTsorfim St., 68039, Israel
Known For
- Changing menu and art exhibits
- Slow-cooked lamb spare ribs
- Malabi for dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.–Thurs.
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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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Tel Aviv may be home to more than its fair share of Japanese eateries, but this outpost of a world-renowned Japanese brand stands out not only for its quality, but also for its impeccable service and stunning setting. The menu is a blend of traditional Izakaya and modern European cuisine, paired with sake, wine, or an impressive selection of cocktails. Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, few spots in Tel Aviv attract a more discerning crowd of gastronomes. Dinings is on the third floor of one of Israel's most exclusive hotels, The Norman.
23–25 Nachmani St., 6579441, Israel
Known For
- Excellent Japanese cuisine
- Enviable setting in The Norman hotel
- Superb service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.–Thurs.
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This Jaffa institution has been serving shakshuka, a mouthwatering Israeli breakfast specialty, for decades, but it soared to fame in 2018 after appearing on the Tel Aviv episode of "Somebody Feed Phil." The show tells the story of how the "Doctor" did time in prison, where he perfected the art of cooking shakshuka for the other inmates. A free man again, he opened a restaurant in Jaffa, gave it his prison nickname, and the rest is history. The spot attracts more than its fair share of tourists but the shakshuka is as good as it gets, making it well worth a visit. You can order your shakshuka hot or mild, in one of several versions, including traditional, vegan, with mushrooms, with eggplant or with merguez sausage.
Known For
- Best shakshuka in Tel Aviv
- Varieties including merguez sausage
- Service can be iffy but the food is worth it
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Fri., no lunch Sat.
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Passed down from father to son, this local landmark has been serving some of the best falafel for more than 50 years. For a few shekels, you'll get a pita filled with plentiful, perfectly prepared falafel balls, fried potatoes (called "chips" here), and just the right amount of salad. Sit on the outdoor bench or stand and enjoy this classic Israeli street food done right.
4 Tchernichovsky St., 63291, Israel
Known For
- Classic street food joint
- Some of the best falafel in town
- Busy and very informal
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat.
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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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With an unbeatable view of the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Old City on the other, this Greek-influenced eatery will add a romantic touch to your visit to Jaffa. Sip ouzo or arak (a locally produced anise-flavored liqueur) alongside fresh-baked kalamata olive bread and colorful small dishes like grilled artichokes over lentils or fish kabobs with cilantro-mint salad. The small dining space is set in an old stone building on the water, so be sure to request one of the few tables by the window to watch the special sunset view.
10 Kedumim Sq., 68037, Israel
Known For
- Ideal spot to enjoy the Tel Aviv sunset
- Killer sea views
- Greek flavors
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Mon.–Thurs., Reservations essential
