Today’s Israeli cuisine is so much more than the quintessential hummus and falafel, though you can’t visit without sampling both. In the last few years, Israel’s food scene has been red hot, with its chefs and restaurants attracting international attention. Here is the ultimate list of where to eat, culled from our well-traveled friend's notes, travel agents suggestions and word of mouth. From casual spots to upscale dining, from a hole in the wall local haunt to beachside dining this is where you want to eat now.
TEL AVIV
Abraxas North (aka Tzpon Lilinblum 40, Rothchild Qtr, Tel 972 54 678 6560 Abraxis) Aviv
New Israeli cuisine
*Top pick
Abu Hassan (aka Ali- 1 Dolphin St (on the hill), Jaffa 972 3 682 0387 Karavan) 14-18 Shitai Israel Street, Jaffa
Hummus
Basta HaShomer St 4, Tel Aviv-Yafo 972 3 516 9234 Casual wine bar in Carmel
Market
Café Noir Ehad Haam 43, Tel Aviv 972 53 8094721 Hip bistro, good for lunch
Cantina - High-end, trendy, Italian w/ Middle Eastern influences – on a balcony
Claro - Farm-to-table Mediterranean, sleek/modern design
The Rothschild, Rothschild Blvd 71, Tel Aviv
HaArba’a St 23, Tel Aviv-Yafo
972 3 620 5051
972 3 601 7777
Dalida Zevulun St 7, Tel Aviv 972 3 536 9627 Casual, trendy, Middle
Eastern, next to Levinski
market
Gina Falafel 126 Menachem Begin Road, Tel 972 3 561 0317 Down & dirty roadside falafel Aviv
HaBasta 4 HaShomer St (in Carmel Market), 972 3 516 9234 Tapas Tel Aviv
HaSalon 8 Ma-avar Yabok Street, Tel Aviv 972 52 703 5888 Must be large group 67440
Open Wed/Thurs, chef Eyal Shani, central open kitchen, dazzling presentation
Herbert Samuel 8 Koyfman, Tel Aviv 972 3 516 6516 Elegant, in Alma hotel, beach (short walk from David Int’l Hotel)
views
Herzliya Marina 10 Hashunit St, Herzliya 46555 972 9 971 9777 Marina in hi-tech district,
great place for drinks
Jajo TLV 27 Rav Aluf David Elazar, Tel Aviv 972 3 522 5822 Extravagant wine bar
Liliyot Dafna St 2, Tel Aviv 972 3 609 1331 Modern, kosher Israeli cuisine
Lumina by Meir Adoni Carlton Tel Aviv, 10 Eliezer Peri St 972 3 5201 1828 Modern kosher Israeli bistro
on sea front: Jewish kitchen,
Mizlala - Classic brasserie dishes
M25 30 Simtat HaCarmel, Tel Aviv 972 3 517 3086 Casual grill in Carmel Market
Makom Shel Basar 64 Shabazi St, Neve Tzedek, Tel 972 57 944 4023 Great steaks Aviv
Manta Ray - Fish/seafood on Alma beach, great for lunch
Margaret Tayar 4 Retsif Ha-Aliyah Shenei St, Tel 972 3 682 4741 Fish restaurant in Old Jaffa Aviv
for lunch, hip rundown family
style
Maiar Alma Hotel Tel Aviv 972 3 901 6752 New Moroccan, high-end, Yavne St 23, Tel Aviv
trendy
Montefiore Hotel 36 Montefiore St, Tel Aviv 972 3 564 6100 Italian
Nithan Thai Rehov Ha’arbaa 21, Tel Aviv 972 77 9977066 Fun, upbeat gourmet Thai
Norman Tel Aviv Hotel Nachmani St 23-25, Tel Aviv 972 3 543 5555 Restaurant or sushi bar on the
roof
Old Man & The Sea Kedem Street 83, Jaffa 972 3 544 8820 Great lunch, big mezze spread,
down & dirty
Orna & Ella 33 Shenkin, Tel Aviv 972 3 620 4753 Contemporary, great for lunch
Ouzeria Matalon St 44, Tel Aviv 972 3 533 0899 Trendy, Greek mezze, ouzo
Popina - Mediterranean/fish, modern restaurant in classic old building
Ehad Haam 3 Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv
972 53 809 6579
Refael 87 Hayarkon St, Tel Aviv 972 3 522 6464 French/Mediterrarean
Romano Derech Jaffa 9, Tel Aviv 972 54 317 7051 Eyal Shani hot spot in historic
bldg, menu changes frequently
Sardinia Kedumim Square, Jaffa, Tel Aviv 972 3 683 2211 Italian trattoria
Shila Ben Yehuda 182, Tel Aviv 972 3 522 1224 High-end, trendy, family-run
gastropub, fresh seafood
Taizu 23 Menahem Begin Rd, Lewinstein 972 3 522 5005 Asian fusion Tower, Tel Aviv
Topolopompo Fire Kitchen HaSolelim 14, Tel Aviv 972 3 691 0691 Avi Conforti’s sister resto to
Zepra
Toto Berkovich 4, Tel Aviv 972 3 693 5151 Elegant Italian
Turkiz Roznblum Street 6, Tel Aviv 972 53 809 4849 Fish/seafood on beach
Vicky Cristina at Hatahana - Vicky is tapas, Cristina is wine bar
Hip, outside patio, Spanish ambiance
Hatahana, 1 Koifmann St, Tel Aviv
98 Yigal Alon St, Electra Tower, Tel Aviv
972 3 736 7272
972 3 624 9249
Zepra 96 Yigal Alon, Tel Aviv 972 3 624 0044 Asian fusion
JERUSALEM
1868 King David 10, Jerusalem 972 2 622 2312 High-end kosher meat resto,
19th century building, elegant/
romantic/traditional
Adom (at old train station) First Station, David Remez 4, 972 2 624 6242 Fusion seafood/French/ Jerusalem
Mediterranean
Top pick
Arcadia/Chef Ezra Kedem Agripas 10, Jerusalem 972 2 6249138 Elite, unique Israeli cuisine
Top pick
Cavalier Ben Sira St 1, Jerusalem 972 2 624 2945 French/Continental
Eucalyptus 7 Horkanos Street, Jerusalem 972 2 623 2864 Kosher, chef uses ingredients
avail in biblical times
Hasadna: The Workshop Hebron Road 28, Jerusalem 972 2 567 2265 In JVP media district near old
railway, contemporary, great
meat & seafood
TOP PICK
Idi’s (Ashdod) 6 Bosem St, Ashdod Port 972 8 852 4313 Seafood , tasting menu, go w/
Idi’s reco’s for the day,
informal, reservations req’d
Mona Restaurant Shmu’el ha-Nagid St 12, Jerusalem 972 2 622 2283 Modern Israeli cuisine inside
Artists’ House, stone hall,
great atmosphere & bar, top pick
Machneyuda 10 Beit Yaakov St, Jerusalem 972 2 533 3442 Same owner as Mona, at the
edge of namesake market,
rustic, fresh and seasonal – top pick
Terra Restaurant & Bar 3 Ben Shitah St, Jerusalem 972 2 632 5001 Hideaway, elegant and
inventive Mediterranean
OTHER
Bazelet HaGolan Winery (Golan Heights) Boutique winery. Lunch/ tasting. Owner Yoav Levy
Moshav Kidmat Zvi, Golan Heights Israel
972 4 696 4242
Halil Restaurant (Ramla) Kehilat Detroit St 6, Ramla 72216 972 8 922 2284 Best hummus
Idi’s (Ashdod)
Seafood , tasting menu, go w/ Idi’s reco’s for the day, informal, reservations req’d
Madja (Abu Ghosh)
Good place to stop for lunch on your way in or out of Jerusalem
6 Bosem St, Ashdod Port
Ein Rafa (same exit as Abu Ghosh but on other side of highway) – just outside of Jerusalem
972 8 852 4313
972 02 5797108
SECURITY
Noam Schiller MAX Security 972 3 619 6297 noam.schiller@max-
security.com
TOUR GUIDE
Toby Abrams Cell: 972 54 659 9577
tobyabrams1@gmail.com
“Market” or “Crusader” tour