Best Restaurants in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, stretching along the shores of the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, is Israel’s largest and most commercially valuable city. A bustling metropolis, it is home to many great beaches, cultural attractions, and shopping experiences. Of course, as a great city, it is also home to many wonderful restaurants. Naturally, many of these restaurants are heavily influenced by local and regional flavors, reflecting the tastes of the Middle East. Its restaurants also reflect the flavors of other world cultures, thanks to the influx of foreign visitors. With all of these intermingling cuisines, choosing where to eat can prove daunting. To make your decisions easier, we’ve chosen the best restaurants in Tel Aviv, which range from local street vendors to fine dining experiences.

Local Food

Any visitor to Tel Aviv would regret making the trip without sampling the local food. Hummus is a classic Middle Eastern dish, and no place in Tel Aviv does it better than Abu Hassan. Although technically in Jaffa, you won’t care where it is once you’re digging into this creamy specialty. Abu Hassan only serves one other item besides hummus and pita, and it stays open each day until it runs out of food, which is usually by the end of lunchtime. Come early, or you might miss out!

Kosher Options

For kosher food, there’s no better place to go than 2C. Located at the top of Azrieli Center, the tallest building in Tel Aviv, this gourmet restaurant has incredible views and unconventional Mediterranean flavors. This is a great place to have a business lunch, and we recommend that you get a table by a window. If you’d like to try some of the region’s pizza while still keeping kosher, then definitely grab a slice at Pizza Fino. With owners intent on avoiding mass production, they have opened only two Pizza Fino restaurants since 1984. Widely regarded as the best pizza place in Tel Aviv, this is simply the best pizza place around. Another great Mediterranean option is Orna and Ella, a popular bistro in the Shenkin area. It is famous for its fresh, homemade pasta, and a delicious dessert menu. We also recommend the sweet potato fritters.

Fine Dining

For a great fine dining restaurant, try Yoezer Wine Bar in Jaffa. Housed in an eerily quiet stone building, it offers one of Israel’s most extensive wine lists and a menu that emphasizes fresh, high quality ingredients. Menu items here are meat-heavy, and if that’s your thing, you are in for a treat.

Seafood

You can’t leave the Mediterranean without having seafood, and Goocha is the best restaurant in Tel Aviv for reasonably priced, well made dishes using ingredients from the local waters. Traveler tip: if you’re not in the mood for a full meal or if you’re busy shopping, stop in and grab a paper cup filled with fried calamari and shrimp.

There are many great places to eat in this restaurant, and the best restaurants in Tel Aviv combine Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, as well as influences from around the world.

Check out more Tel Aviv dining options.