Destination Guidebook for Tel Aviv, Israel
|
|
| |
| Dining Overview | Top  |
Tel Aviv's restaurants offer the widest variety of culinary experiences in Israel, and many of its establishments are by far the country's best. The city's restaurants are open round the clock, or at least until the last diner leaves.
A number of fine restaurants are located in central Tel Aviv, near shady Rothschild Boulevard. Other trendy restaurants can be found in the Old Tel Aviv Port entertainment area on Nahalat Binyamin Street and in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood. Restaurants offering simple menus at reasonable prices can be found on most of the city's main thoroughfares and inside Tel Aviv's shopping malls.
Although there is no shortage of fast-food stands in Tel Aviv offering items such as hamburgers and pizza, the national food is most definitely falafel. In general, falafel stands offer a healthier and tastier meal than the nearby McDonald's, and at a more reasonable price. Consisting of a fried chickpea batter rolled into balls, falafel is best enjoyed wrapped in fresh pita bread and accompanied by chopped vegetables and tahini. For a change of pace, try falafel in the larger Iraqi bread, known as laffa.
Restaurants in the city may offer different menus at different hours of the day. Even the most expensive eateries feature a business lunch at a reduced price. These lunches typically include an appetizer, a main dish and a dessert, with a small selection of choices. The quality of a single restaurant may be inconsistent depending on which menu it is using. Some restaurants close for a midday break, and others remain open all day.
On the whole, Tel Aviv's restaurants do not follow the Jewish dietary laws, and therefore are not considered kosher. Even so, the city does have a number of fine kosher establishments, and many of the fast-food stands on street corners and in the marketplace are kosher. All kosher restaurants close for the Jewish Sabbath—from Friday just before sundown until Saturday evening—and for Jewish holidays. The dining rooms in the major hotels are also kosher; on the Sabbath, they serve food with certain restrictions on preparation.
Most established restaurants and cafes have security guards posted at their entrances. A security surcharge, usually 1 NIS-2 NIS per person, may be added to the bill. Expect to pay within these general guidelines, based on the cost of a dinner for one, not including drinks or tip: $ = less than 60 NIS; $$ = 60 NIS-100 NIS; $$$ = 101 NIS-200 NIS; and $$$$ = more than 200 NIS. | Local & Regional | Top |
Though there are many contenders for the title, the best hummus restaurant in Tel Aviv is easily Abu El-Abed. A simple workers' restaurant, it's located quite a distance from the tourist sites in the Old City of Jaffa. But getting to the restaurant is worth the effort because the hummus and other common Middle Eastern dishes are served fresh and at their best. The restaurant also offers steaks, shishlik (Jewish kebabs), fish and stuffed vegetables. Finish the meal with a small glass of strong Turkish coffee. Daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations not accepted. $. No credit cards. 92 Yefet St., Jaffa, Tel Aviv. Phone 681-4665. On the third floor of the noisy Azrieli Shopping Mall, Eyal Shani, one of Israel's most famous chefs, has created an oasis of Mediterranean serenity. A set dinner starts with oven-baked focaccia perfectly seasoned with olive oil and rosemary. Two diners can enjoy a platter of Middle Eastern "butcher" treats, including kebabs. At lunchtime, the Bruno Bar offers tasty, golden chicken wings and a juicy, grilled hamburger with onion rings that put the mall's fast-food joints to shame. Kosher. Sunday-Thursday for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. Azrieli Center, Tel Aviv. Phone 609-3030. Named for the nearby Carmel Market, Carmela Benahala is located on a side street at the end of the Nahalat Binyamin pedestrian mall. It is inside a beautifully restored building from Tel Aviv's early days. Chef Daniel Zach regularly circulates among the diners to ensure that their culinary experiences are top-notch. The shared "tasters' meals" and the breakfasts are especially good. Daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. 46 HaTavor St., Tel Aviv. Phone 516-1417. This elegant restaurant is located in a historic Ottoman-era villa, which was Tel Aviv's first hotel and is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The excellent and creative Levantine cuisine by chef Meir Adoni is served in noble surroundings with original tile floors, delicate wall stenciling, glass-enclosed dining rooms and a walnut bar. Try sea-bass with pasta, mushrooms, asparagus, and a truffle and porchini mousse, or a heavenly lamb osso buco. The menu changes with the seasons. Open Sunday-Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for lunch only. $$$. Most major credit cards. 4 Heychal Hatalmud St., Tel Aviv. Phone 510-7001. http://www.catit.co.il. The dish shakshuka hails from Libya and is a casserole of tomatoes, garlic, poached eggs and spices cooked over a high heat. It has become very popular all over Israel and no one does it better than this place, which is located in a converted warehouse dating back to Ottoman times. Also try Tripoli-style couscous and chraime, a spicy Moroccan fish and vegetable stew. Lemonade is served to drink. Sunday-Thursday for lunch and dinner. $$. Most major credit cards. 3 Beit Eshel St., Jaffa, Tel Aviv. Phone 518-6560. With the beautiful view of the Mediterranean and the Tel Aviv beachfront, dining at Etzel Pini Bahatzer is a wonderful experience. The food is excellent, too. The restaurant offers a mixture of Mediterranean dishes, with influences from Persian, Tunisian and Moroccan cuisines. There is a wide selection of seafood, as well. Daily 9 am-1 am. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. 6 Nachum Goldman St., Jaffa, Tel Aviv. Phone 682-2111. A great falafel place near the Dizengoff Center; it's always packed. If you walk by you will almost be forced to try a sample. Try sabich, a pita bread filled with fried aubergine, a hard boiled egg, boiled potato, onion, parsley, salad, amba (mango pickle) and topped off with tahini. Open Sunday-Thursday for lunch and dinner. $$. Most major credit cards. 1 Shlomo Hamelech St. (just off King George Street), Tel Aviv. Phone 525-2033. Gina is considered one of Tel Aviv's top falafel stands, and the proof is in the lunchtime crowds. The pita bread is fresh, and the hot falafel balls are slightly greenish because of the parsley added to the mix. Be sure to try the tahini. Sunday-Thursday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations not accepted. $. No credit cards. 22 Shocken St., Tel Aviv. Phone 683-1123. After a long day of touring, a perfect place to unwind is in this laid-back restaurant located at the foot of the Old City of Jaffa. Noa is one of three restaurants operated by chef Nir Tzuk (famous for his television cooking show), and it's considered the "sassy sister" of Tzuk's upscale Cordelia, seated just around the corner. The food is tasty, and there are plenty of sparkling cocktails and low-priced wines served at the bar. Try the Barbunia fish served with cream sauce, peppers and shrimp on a bed of white rice. Daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. Simtat HaZchoochit, Jaffa, Tel Aviv. Phone 518-4668. In a small alleyway next to Jaffa's famous Clock Tower is a small wine bar that also serves as a restaurant. The atmosphere is cavelike, but rows of candles light up the darkness. The menu offers seafood, such as fresh oysters and mussels, and a selection of beef (great steaks and a delicious veal tartar with truffles) and salad dishes. Superb wine list. Daily for lunch and dinner (until late). Brunch on Friday and Saturday for 85 NIS. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. 2 Yoezer Ish Habira St., Jaffa, Tel Aviv. Phone 683-9115. This is one of Tel Aviv's most elegant and enjoyable restaurants as well as a philanthropic institution. The staff at Lilith is composed mainly of young Israelis working their way up from difficult childhoods. Lilith's profits are reportedly donated to various charities. The kosher cuisine offered by chef Omer Ben Gal is refreshing and innovative; try the grilled red tuna served with green-vegetable ratatouille, or go for the juicy lamb spare ribs with black lentils. The wild-berry pavlova is great for dessert. Sunday-Thursday for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. 3 Dafna St., Asia House, Tel Aviv. Phone 609-1331. Mika's kitchen is a fusion of American cuisine with a Japanese chef, a culinary pioneer. Many of its courses are typical Western fare, but they're offered elegantly and successfully with an Asian touch. For an appetizer, try the fillet of Spanish mackerel a la plancha with wakame salad. For the main course, the entrecote with slow-roasted potatoes, garlic and rosemary is recommended. Daily from noon until the last diner leaves. Reservations recommended. $$. Most major credit cards. 27 Montefiore St., Tel Aviv. Phone 528-3255. One of the recommended items on the menu at the Moses Salon Restaurant is the Moses' Art Burger, which reportedly is a third-generation recipe from chef Avi Konforty's mother-in-law. Moses' Grandmother's Chocolate Cake is another favorite from an inherited recipe. Monday-Saturday noon-4 am, Sunday until 1 am. Reservations recommended. $$. Most major credit cards. 35 Sderot Rothschild, Tel Aviv. Phone 566-4949. Elegantly designed, Sakura offers authentic Japanese cuisine and sushi adapted to the Mediterranean kitchen. Chef Boaz Tzairi is considered an authority on Japanese cooking in Israel, and he regularly teaches culinary classes for small groups. Sakura's dishes include carpaccio and jumbo shrimp tempura with almonds. Daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$. Most major credit cards. 79 King George St., Tel Aviv. Phone 621-2900. http://www.sakura.co.il. Authentic kosher Thai food is offered in the lower level of the Astor Hotel, which overlooks the Tel Aviv Promenade. Start with a plate of mixed appetizers and try the duck in mango sauce for a main course. Sunday-Thursday for late lunch and dinner, Friday until the start of Sabbath, Saturday night after Sabbath until midnight. Reservations recommended. $$. Most major credit cards. 105 Yarkon St., Tel Aviv. Phone 523-8913. This Japanese restaurant and sushi bar has three locations in Tel Aviv, with the branch inside the Hilton Tel Aviv serving kosher cuisine. The restaurant on Yordei Hasira Street, just outside the Old Tel Aviv Port entertainment area, serves a full, nonkosher hot and cold Japanese menu, including a wide selection of freshly caught Mediterranean fish and teppanyaki on the griddle table. Try the rice balls wrapped in raw fish and filled with mushrooms, ginger and tahini. Daily for lunch and dinner (until late). Reservations recommended. Dress is formal. $$$. Most major credit cards. 5 Yordei Hasira (corner of Dizengoff Street), Tel Aviv. Phone 544-3864. http://www.yakimono.co.il. One of Tel Aviv's most upscale, gourmet restaurants also happens to be one of the city's only glatt-kosher establishments. The nondescript entrance on a busy Jaffa street leads you up two flights of stairs to a spacious dining room. The service is elegant and the meals are pricey. Chef Christian Zardez presides over the tasty French cuisine. The fillet of beef on a bed of sauteed gnocchi is recommended. Sunday-Thursday for lunch and dinner, Saturday night after the Sabbath. Reservations required. $$$. Most major credit cards. 30 Sderot Yerushalayim, Jaffa, Tel Aviv. Phone 683-4453. http://www.alhambra.co.il. This elegant gourmet restaurant sits in a beautifully restored building from the 1930s. At lunchtime, business meals are available, offering wild rice with portobello mushrooms and asparagus as a starter and lamb kebabs cooked with Egyptian ful beans and red lentils for the main course. In the evening, a wide variety of seafood and fish is offered, including bass served on potato gnocchi and beef in a Roquefort-cheese and grilled-eggplant cream. Save room for the tasty desserts. Daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. 36 Montefiore St., Tel Aviv. Phone 566-7770. A gourmet kosher restaurant with French and Mediterranean accents. The decor is as elegant as the cuisine. Try the beef on a bed of mashed potatoes and stir-fried vegetables. Sunday-Thursday for lunch and dinner. Closed Friday and Saturday. Reservations required. $$$$. Most major credit cards. 115 Yarkon St. (inside the Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel), Tel Aviv. Phone 521-1111. Located in a classic 1930s Bauhaus, it is considered one of the hippest restaurants in Tel Aviv. Orca offers French dishes tastefully fused with chef Eran Shroitman's creative neo-Levantine cuisine. Recommended dishes include a carpaccio of coquilles St. Jacques, with pistachio crumble and truffle oil, and vodka-infused oyster shots. The large crab and goat cheese ravioli are also delightful. It can get a little loud, though, and the surroundings have the look of a dining hall. Affordable business lunch. Great wine cellar—one of the best in Tel Aviv. Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner (until late). Reservations recommended. Dress is more formal. $$$. Most major credit cards. 57 Nahalat Binyamin St., Tel Aviv. Phone 566-5505. The menu offered by chef Rafi Cohen, who made his name at Jerusalem's King David Hotel, is always interesting and innovative, with a Moroccan twist. His bistro is constantly full of happy diners. For lunch, try the veal cheek confit with black lentils and winter-root vegetables. The focaccias are also wonderful. The fish of the day, with Jerusalem artichoke chreimeh and garlic confit, is a great choice for dinner. Reduced-calorie versions are also available for many menu items. The elegant decor and the sea view help make dining at Raphael a unique, albeit sometimes inconsistent, culinary experience. Check out the bar, which wouldn't be out of place in a Moroccan casbah—Raphael serves great cocktails. Daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. 87 Yarkon St. (on the lower level of the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel), Tel Aviv. Phone 522-6464. Pronto is not only Tel Aviv's best Italian restaurant but also one of the finest restaurants in the city. A wonderful place for an elegant meal, Pronto offers a menu peppered with fine Italian dishes, including linguini paglia e fieno and risotto coi funghi. There are also a number of fish, meat and vegetarian courses available as well as an excellent selection of Italian wines. Daily for lunch and dinner (until late). Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. 26 Nachmani St., Tel Aviv. Phone 566-0915. http://www.pronto.co.il. Chef Avi Konforty's Mexican cuisine is creative, innovative, a bit expensive and, most importantly, very tasty. Be careful with the nachos as they could fill you up before the meal gets started. Recommended dishes include the tortillas with chicken and guacamole, and the beef fillet served Santa Fe style. Sunday-Friday for dinner (until late), Saturday from noon. Reservations required. $$. Most major credit cards. 6 Kremenetzki St., Tel Aviv. Phone 561-3232. | Middle Eastern | Top  |
This kosher Iraqi-Kurdish restaurant is a sister establishment to Jerusalem's Imma restaurant. It's located inside a lovely villa built in 1920 that originally served as a hotel. Some of the seating is outside in the courtyard, but the atmosphere inside, with its original floors and high ceilings, is special as well. Especially recommended are the mini kibbes, kibbe soup and traditional stuffed vegetables. Sunday-Thursday for lunch and dinner, Friday until just before the Sabbath, closed on Saturday. Reservations recommended. $$. Most major credit cards. 4 Hechal HaTalmud St., Tel Aviv. Phone 510-7002. | Cafes & Tearooms | Top |
Arcaffe set a new standard for gourmet coffee drinking in Israel, and its chain of cafes has managed to beat the competition, which at one time included Starbucks. The chain has locations all over Israel, and has begun to expand internationally. At its Rothschild address, it's possible to relax at a sidewalk table and people-watch along one of Tel Aviv's most popular walkways. The cafe offers a wide variety of hot and cold beverages and tasty pastries, croissants and cakes. Daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner (until late). Reservations not accepted. $. Most major credit cards. 31 Rothschild Blvd., Tel Aviv. Phone 566-0259. http://www.arcaffe.co.il. Bookworm is a serene academic bookstore and cafe across the street from Rabin Square. It's a great place for readers to enjoy books over cups of coffee. The atmosphere is simple, and the cafe offers a small selection of salads, quiches, soups and toasted sandwiches. Don't miss the pastries. The cafe is not officially kosher, but nothing unkosher is served. Daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Friday until 5 pm. Reservations not accepted. $. Most major credit cards. 9 Rabin Square, Tel Aviv. Phone 529-8490. http://www.bookworm.co.il. Located on quiet Basel Street, Cafe Basel offers a selection of salads, sandwiches, quiches and other main courses. No English menus are available, but the friendly servers will translate the day's specials. Daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations not accepted. $. Most major credit cards. 42 Basel St., Tel Aviv. Phone 546-1875. Enjoy the beauty of the Tel Aviv beachfront promenade without getting sand in your shoes at this pleasant cafe. The decor is attractive and reminiscent of a seafaring vessel. The food is simple, with friendly, efficient service. Especially recommended are the breakfasts—platters of food are served endlessly to your table for a set price. Daily 24 hours. Reservations recommended on weekends. $. Most major credit cards. 83 Yarkon St. (at London Square), Tel Aviv. Phone 510-3353. This pleasant cafe offers more than just hot beverages. For lunch you can try the hot roast-beef sandwich, grilled with olive oil and thyme. Or enjoy the veal rissoles, marinated in Dijon mustard and rosemary. But the cafe is most famous for its chicken, pork and veal schnitzels. The cafe is well worth the stroll over from Rothschild Boulevard, just one block away. Daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$. Most major credit cards. 43 Ehad Ha'am St., Tel Aviv. Phone 566-3018. No reservations are accepted at this popular cafe, located inside a beautiful Bauhaus, and you can expect to wait in line outside until a table becomes available. International celebrities love this place. The cafe offers a wide range of salads and homemade pastas all day. Try the goose-breast hamburger with fries and make sure to leave room for the fabulous desserts. Sunday-Friday for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Saturday for lunch and dinner. $$. Most major credit cards. 33 Sheinkin St., Tel Aviv. Phone 620-4753. Manta Ray is the ultimate dining-on-the-sea experience, with an open-air pavilion that offers unobstructed views of the nearby Old City of Jaffa. The tables on the porch are so close to the shoreline that sometimes diners will get wet when the sea is rough. No matter the season, chef Golan Gurfinkel serves mouthwatering seafood delicacies at reasonable prices. Start with the meze, a platter for everyone at the table to share. For the main course, try the roasted scallops and shrimp, served with mushrooms and roasted-tomato vinaigrette. There are plenty of other meat selections, too, and sumptuous breakfasts are served until noon. Daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. Southern beachfront promenade (near the Etzel Museum), Tel Aviv. Phone 517-4773. http://www.mantaray.co.il. This gourmet seafood restaurant is appropriately subtitled Sea Food Center (its name means "opposite the sea"). An oyster bar and a large lobster case greet you as you step into the restaurant. Chef Yoram Nizzan is in charge of the city's most talked-about and perhaps most expensive dining locale. Try the pan-fried Israeli shrimp in olive oil, lemon juice and a vinaigrette sauce. If you want to splurge, go for grilled langoustine and lobster dishes. Probably the best restaurant in Israrel. Business lunches (at NIS 150) are more affordable. Sunday-Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for lunch only. Reservations required. $$$$. Most major credit cards. Old Tel Aviv Port, Tel Aviv. Phone 546-9920. http://www.mulyam.com. | Steak Houses | Top |
Although extremely popular for its "Royal Breakfasts," which are served well into the afternoon hours, the real dining at this seafront restaurant begins when the grills heat up. First courses include goose-liver terrine and beef tartare; the steaks are terrific and the selection of fish and seafood specialties is quite satisfying. Getting a table overlooking the Mediterranean is nearly impossible, unless reservations are made a week in advance. Daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$$. Most major credit cards. Hanger 25, Old Tel Aviv Port, Tel Aviv. Phone 605-7777. The Meat Bar lives up to its name as a meat-lover's paradise. Choose from a mouthwatering selection of steaks along with plenty of beer varieties to go with your meal. Don't miss the beef carpaccio and the spare ribs. There's a fixed menu for lunch. Daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended. $$. Most major credit cards. 52 Chen Blvd., Tel Aviv. Phone 695-6276. This lovely grill bar has a menu that blends gourmet and simple meat dishes. Servers send orders to the kitchen directly from their palmtop computers, so your waiting time for a steak is minimal. Business lunches are available. Kosher. Sunday-Thursday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner after Sabbath. Closed Friday. Reservations recommended. $$. Most major credit cards. 2 Weizmann St., Tel Aviv. Phone 693-2002. http://www.meatos.co.il.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Editor's Choice of Luxury, Deluxe, and Value priced hotels in Tel Aviv, Israel:
|
