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