Below is the incomplete and contemporary guide to exploring Israel. Enclosed are some favorite restaurants, dishes, accommodations, local apps, suggestions, and stellar recommendations.
A stall at Sarona Market
Tel Aviv Food Spots
Top 10 - from coffee to dinner (and in no particular order):
- Bottarga - If you want a meal that belongs in a living room where your taste buds can dance but also want to check out the shuk then try Bottarga. Heads up the music can get very (very) loud. [lunch/dinner][Rabbi Akiva St 20]
- Abie- Tel Aviv’s culinary brothers bringing sea-to-table food to your table. This is my go-to spot, and I try to eat here every time I find myself in the city. Abie shares its courtyard with a grocery store chain. This spot has a changing menu to highlight seasonal ingredients, and a fantastic playlist, but more than anything its gritty location is a testament to how Tel Aviv is constantly changing; the good, the bad, and the ugly which is also beautiful. [Dinner]
- Cicchetti - Another laid-back Tel Aviv-in-a dining-experience type of place. Be sure to make your reservation two weeks ahead to eat at a normal hour. [Dinner] [Yehuda ha-Levi St 58]
- Lila Pizza - Most beautiful alleyway in Tel Aviv. I love the hot sauce and olives that arrive with every dish. [Merkhavya St 4]
- Cafelix- coffee period. Favorite locations are in Levinski and American Colony (must visit). On a sunny day, the Levinsky location has a great plaza with dogs and people watching.
- Naifa - Fine dining Druze cuisine in the charming Neve Tsedek. Sensational flavors like
sashimi with hameiri soft cream and a sauce made from your favorite pisuchim nuts. [Dinner] [Yehieli St 4]
- Port Said - Honestly this is the place I conjure up when I try to describe the city of Tel Aviv. The food is incredible! (try as much as possible- fava beans, green beans, eggplant, minute steak… and for dessert do not skip the french toast). The drinks are pretty great. But really come here for the people; laughing, drinking, smoking, and living - they are the makers of Tel Aviv. [Dinner] [Har Sinai St 5]
- Romano / Pizza Teder- Pizza at Teder or eggplant and lima beans upstairs. Dj sets. I like to bring a bottle of wine, a picnic blanket, and take my pizza to the park (Park Hamesilah) out the backdoor. [Dinner, After dinner] [Derech Jaffa 9]
- Dilek’s- this place is what (carb) dreams are made of. This small Turkish spot in the Hitikvah neighborhood serves Burekas mayim (water) which I wish could explain properly but my attempt goes like this: a bureka and lasagna met in the oven. I love the spinach. Just a heads up, be prepared for a wait to order, get served, and find seating (separately). [breakfast/lunch] [33 Hagana Rd 33]
- Cafe Noir - Shnitzel is the name of the game. This isn’t Israeli food or remotely middle-eastern but it is a lovely institution that has been serving ambience since 1997. Their outdoor seating is another favorite in the city.
- Coffee Shop 51 - a local haunt and excellent place to catch up with friends or get some work done. This outdoor spot is perfumed with undertones of cigarette smoke, zeal, and ground coffee. [Coffee, work spot]
Opened since October 7th:
- Carmelita - Kosher pizza (I love the pumpkin) with the kindest owner on one of my favorite alleys of the Kerem. This spot is great for large groups. [Malan St 43]
- IKARI - Japanese coffee shop in the day and ramen spot by later day. Run by the sweetest family duo. [Malan St 39]
- Bar Maimón - Spanish bar meets the Tel Aviv Shuk. [Dinner] [Rambam 5]