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When visiting Tel Aviv, one of the most important things to consider is the best places to eat! There are so many delicious options, and of course, you want to try the local fare! So, not only are there local Israeli foods that are worth trying, but you also want to go to the local favorites.
As people who lived in Israel for a year, we spent a long time finding all the best places to eat in Tel Aviv. Here, we will go through our favorite restaurants in different genres of food, as well as the must-visit cafes and desserts in Tel Aviv. For the best burger in Tel Aviv, check out our extensive burger guide here.
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Restaurants in Tel Aviv
Abu Hassan Hummus – Best Hummus in Tel Aviv
Of course, one of Israel’s most popular foods is Hummus. Here, it is eaten with olive oil, pita, and raw onion. Abu Hassan Hummus is the best hummus in Tel Aviv. It is found in Jaffa. The restaurant can only be described as a hole-in-the-wall.
There are four items on the menu, and there is no menu for you to read from. You’ll also likely share a table with someone else. They take cash and cards, but I’d recommend cash. Our favorite option is the hummus trio. It gives you all three hummus options in one, so you don’t need to pick. The spicy and original hummus are my favorites; the third kind is a fava bean hummus.
Address: Ha-Dolfin St 1, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Check out the must-try Israeli Foods here!
Miznon – A Popular Street Food Place
Also found in NYC, this Israeli restaurant is a fan favorite. It has two locations, but we recommend eating at Sarona Market. They have great pita options, and our two favorites are the minute steak and the folded cheeseburger. Miznon has very good and creative pitas that are worth trying!
Address: Shlomo Ibn Gabirol St 23, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Benedict – A Delicious All-Day Breakfast
One thing about us is that we love Eggs Benedict. Given the option, it is our go-to breakfast choice, so when we learned of Benedict, we had to try it. The premise of this restaurant is an all-day breakfast featuring traditional breakfasts from around the world.
Our favorites are Bacon Cheddar Pancakes, Steak and Eggs, and Shakshuka. The breads from the bread basket are delicious as well. Don’t forget to get some fresh-squeezed orange juice and coffee. Benedict is not Kosher.
Address: Rothschild Blvd 29, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Dede Bar – Eat Like A Local
Head over to Florentin and check out this hidden gem. It is off the beaten track and hard to find if you don’t know it’s there, which makes it the perfect local spot. Dede Bar is open for breakfast through dinner and into the late night. We prefer it best for breakfast, but if you’re going out in Florentin, this is a great stop.
For Dede’s Breakfast, we like the homey breakfast. Definitely try the omelet sandwich, too! The rest of the day, you’ll find salads, pizza, burgers, and plenty of cocktail options. So pull up a chair outside and enjoy Dede’s relaxing and cool vibes on your search for the best places to eat in Tel Aviv.
Address: Uriel da Costa St 16, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
La Tigre – Incredible Pizza
While exploring Florentin, make sure to stop at La Tigre for some incredible pizza. It is an Israeli take on a Neapolitan pizza. You’ll even get a pair of scissors to cut your pizza, which is floppy and crispy.
We liked sitting outside to people-watch. A must-try is the sweet potato creme brulee. It is an incredible appetizer that is sweet, savory, and creamy. For pizza, we picked the pistachio pizza to try something a little more unique. They definitely have very unique pizza flavors.
Address: HaRav Yizkhak Yedidya Frenkel 9, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Falafel Gabay – The Best Falafel
While Falafel Gabay has many delicious food options, we recommend trying the falafel. Yes, the chicken schnitzel is delicious, and so is the hummus, but trust us, get the falafel! You can get them as a side or as a full dish. We recommend the hummus and tahini for dipping.
Address: Bograshov St 25, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
HaTaco – The Best Street Tacos
Found in Shuk Carmel, HaTaco is a delicious street taco stand. The stand only offers meat and vegetarian tacos. You can add avocado to your taco for an extra charge. The meat is cooked to order, and it is nice and crispy. The toppings include onions, tomatoes, and cilantro. You order by taco, and they are nice and filling.
Address: HaShomer St 1, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
EatMeat – The Best Sandwich
One day, on our walk home, we walked by EatMeat, and it smelled incredible. So we followed our noses and ordered meat sandwiches at EatMeat. There are only two items on the menu: the sandwich or the salad. If you a vegetarian this restaurant is not for you. Now, for the sandwich, it is made with crispy and flavorful bread. Inside, it has a delicious spread that is a mix of mustard, mayo, and chimichurri, and then, of course, it is stuffed with meat. You can get it spicy with jalapenos. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on this one.
Address: King George St 68, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Silly Kid – Our Favorite Fried Chicken
I have to say Silly Kid was our go-to restaurant for quick food or fried chicken. They have plenty of outdoor seating (no indoor seating), and you can order from a touch order board. My favorite is the honey fried chicken sandwich and Larry likes the Korean spicy fried chicken sandwich. Their meal combos come with fries and a drink as well. The lemon aioli is my favorite dipping sauce if you like chicken tenders. But truly, the chicken is fried to crispy perfection, making it an absolute delight to enjoy!
Address: Yona HaNavi St 48, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Port Sa’id – A Local Israeli Tapas
It is located next to a massive Shul, and this restaurant is always bustling. Regardless of what you get, you must try the bread. It is truly divine. Many people enjoy meeting new people here, so say hi to your neighboring tables. Additionally, it is a popular bar for drinking late into the night. All the dishes are small tapas style but with an Israeli twist. The minute steak, potato bag, and anything with their homemade bread are an absolute must-try. Finally, it must be noted that this restaurant is run by a famous Israeli chef, Eyal Shani.
Address: Har Sinai St 5, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Cafes in Tel Aviv
WayCup Coffee – Our Favorite Coffee Shop
Not far from our home base in Tel Aviv was WayCup Coffee. This cafe has the best macchiato in all of Tel Aviv. The cappuccinos are also very good. Their single-origin coffee is brewed strong and divine. They also always have fun and tasty cakes. We recommend having your coffee there and enjoying the slow morning cafe life. While the neighborhood is generally sleepy, there is still some excellent people-watching.
Address: Yohanan HaSandlar St 23, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Karmi Veraner Cafe – A Great Coffee And Cake Combo
An IDF reservist owns this coffee shop, and they make the best different cakes. You’ll find this lovely little coffee shop right next to Dizengoff Center. They have lots of outdoor seating. Each coffee comes with a delicious homemade cookie as well.
Address: Bar Giyora St 26, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Roladin – A Great Local Chain
You cannot miss this chain while in Tel Aviv; while not as prominent as Aroma (the Starbucks of Israel), Roladin is known for its fun-colored coffee cups and delicious pastries. If you’re headed on a day trip from Tel Aviv, you can stop at this place to eat in the Azreli Mall, connected to the train station. They have freshly baked pastries that are indeed so delicious. I like getting a cappuccino and a croissant and then taking it on my way out of Tel Aviv.
Address: Azrieli Center, Derech Menachem Begin 132, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Nahat Coffee – The Best Coffee
For some genuinely incredible coffee, you must go to Nahat. It is located in Kikar Dizengoff. This coffee shop exemplifies farm-to-cup. The coffee smell is intoxicating when you enter this sleek coffee shop. While I cannot speak to the food at Nahat, I can tell you that their dedication to an excellent cup of coffee is tasted in every cup. The cappuccino is delicious, as is the iced coffee. Finally, we recommend sitting outside at Nahat to enjoy people-watching in Kikar Dizengoff, but be smarter than us, and take one of their proprietary coffee roasts home (then email us to tell us how much we are missing out).
Address: Dizengoff Square 1, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
PRO-TIP: When ordering an Iced Coffee in Israel, you must order it as a “cold coffee.” This will give you coffee over ice, as you expect in the USA. However, if you order an iced coffee in Israel, you will get an “iced cafe.” This is essentially a coffee Slurpee. It is absolutely delicious, and you should get an iced cafe in Israel at least once.
Pate & Puff – Amazing Croissants
For all things puff pastry, you must come to Pate & Puff. This coffee shop has incredible croissants, cruffins, and puffed pastries, sweet and salty. You can see them making fresh puff pastries while you’re there.
I don’t know the names of most of the pastries, and they do change seasonally, so I recommend trying at least three. If there is one that looks like a pizza in a puff pastry cup with an egg in it, then GET IT! It is a little spicy but so good. The chocolate cruffin is delicious and so chocolatey! Of course, the plain croissant is delicious.
Address: Sderot Masaryk 15, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
La Pane – Our Favorite Bagel Spot
This is our favorite place for bagels and caramelized onions on a pita. The bagels are big and fluffy with lots and lots of sesame seeds. We always grab extra and then toast them with cream cheese. These bagels are huge (like the size of my head). At the bakery, you can also get challah, many loaves of bread, and a variety of sweet pastries. They will even toast and add spreads to your bagels while you’re there. It’s a very affordable bakery.
Address: Bograshov St 43, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 6314507, Israel
Dessert Places in Tel Aviv
ReBar – Smoothies
ReBar is a local smoothie chain in Israel. We love going to ReBar and getting their delicious smoothies; they’re perfect for summertime. Tel Aviv has plenty of places to eat smoothies and ice cream to cool off (it is a desert after all).
One of the best things about ReBar is that they freshly make all the juices for each smoothie. My favorite one is the Teddy Bear smoothie bowl with extra Nutella. But their sweet and sour smoothies are also a big hit with me and Larry. I like the chilly tartness.
Address: Multiple places throughout Tel Aviv
B-Fresh – Smoothies Crossed With Boba
We went to B-Fresh on a whim one day, and it was the best whim ever. This is a smoothie place that makes a cross between smoothies and boba. It is not a healthy smoothie. They also have the best coffee creams, which are delicious. Our favorite is the tiramisu coffee. I also like the strawberry chocolate boba smoothie. It’s unexpected to have a cold, thick smoothie with popping boba at the bottom, but it is definitely worth the try.
Address: Multiple places throughout Tel Aviv
Siciliana – Best Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
If you know anything about us, you know we love ice cream. We love trying new ice cream shops. I personally love chocolate ice cream, and I always jump at the dark chocolate option. I must say Siciliana has the best dark chocolate ice cream I’ve ever had. It truly has a chocolatey flavor.
So many ice creams are vanilla with chocolate syrup, but not at Siciliana. Additionally it is the creamiest, chocolatey-est ice cream ever. Now, if you don’t like ice cream (booo), Siciliana also has delicious options for you. There are crepes, meringues, cakes, and pastries available.
Address: Shlomo Ibn Gabirol St 63, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Otello – Ice cream and Chocolate
Now, for another delicious ice cream option with many great chocolate options, head to Otello. Otello has a chocolate fountain that you can get on your ice cream. Additionally they have a variety of chocolate ice cream options that are also strongly chocolatey flavored.
Otello is one of the best places to eat chocolate ice cream or good milkshakes in Tel Aviv. We like getting milkshakes from Otello with the little cones filled with chocolate. Larry likes the pink drink (strawberry), and I get the Nutella or chocolate one. Finally the ice cream cups are also great.
Address: Various locations throughout Tel Aviv
Sweet Box – For When You Crave Brownies
Sweet Box is a kosher bakery with incredible brownies. One day I was craving brownies and Larry took to Wolt and found Sweet Box for us. They have a mixed box option, allowing you to try many of their sweet treats. They have brownies, cookies, cookie dough, crack pies, and cake slices. The Nutella brownie (heated up) and the cheesecake brownie are my absolute favorites. Trust me, and never experience brownies the same way again.
Address: Levinski St 46, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Holy Crack Pie – Crack Pie Deliciousness
Holy Crack Pie is essentially the official dessert of Israel. You’ll find it on all dessert menus. It is an amazing oat and sugar dessert. Holy Crack Pie takes it to a whole new level. Of course, go for the original pie and then try some of their flavored ones. Finally, they recommend eating the pies as cold as possible. Personally, I like the original one warmed up.
Address: Bograshov St 32, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Stefan Austrian Bakery – A Unique Austrian bakery
For a slice of Austria in Tel Aviv, head over to Stefan Bakery. They have a variety of different strudels and cakes. The best chocolate options are a chocolate orange cake and a chocolate fondant cake. Of course, there are other options for non-chocolate lovers. Larry would pick a couple of different orange-flavored cakes or the strudel. They also have ice cream.
Address: Tchernikhovski St 21, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Burrlia – DIY Creme Brulee
One of the coolest dessert options we’ve ever had is Burrlia. You get a base creme brulee, and then you can DIY pick different toppings. It is such a fun way to enjoy creme brulee. They have chocolate, fruit, and sauces. I would highly recommend going into the store and getting creative. Finally, they do have their own pre-made options if you’re not feeling creative.
Address: Shlomo Ibn Gabirol St 113, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Final Thoughts About the Best Places to Eat in Tel Aviv
As you can see, there are so many delicious places to eat in Tel Aviv. I had such a hard time narrowing it down to just this list of 23 places in our top favorite ones. Of course, the best choice is to eat as local as possible for the best options. We put these places on the list because they are incredibly popular with locals and are our hands-down favorite places. Just going through this list is making me hungry again. With all this incredible food it really makes you wonder, is Tel Aviv worth visiting? Check out our thoughts here (spoiler, yes it is).