Written by Zvika Gasner  Koheleth 12-December-2024 (Originally 23-January-2020, Edited 30-December-2020) Photography by Angela Hechtfisch

Must Eat & drink places in Tel-Aviv Jaffa

This time around, I would like to share of some of “must” eat & drink places in Tel-Aviv Jaffa. If you haven’t read my earlier post on Tel Aviv-Jaffa, the two city parts are under the same municipality, where broadly speaking Jaffa is mostly a Muslim and Christian section of the city whereas Tel Aviv is the Jewish side. Therefore, in generalization, Jaffa will host more eastern-oriental restaurnat whereas Tel Aviv will include mostly fusion and European influenced kitchen. This is NOT a complete list. It is only an handful of food establishments, but those we keep on returning back again and again..

Jaffa restaurants

The most famous restaurants in Jaffa nearby the premium “Setai” hotel,  include “Dr. Shakshuka”, which serves eastern home cooking such as Moroccan style “Kuskus” and “Shakshuka” eggs all around the day, which only recently gave its chef & owner Mr. Bino Gabso the 2019 life time award for his contribution to the Israeli foodie scene. The 2nd restaurant is the “Abulafia” where you can either have “quickie” meal while standing, or enjoy sitting on the restaurant rooftop (at summer) comfortability. The place is an eastern oriented with premium quality.

Also, it is must mentioning the new “Chapel” night club bar which is part of the highly luxurius “Jaffa” hotel, that was voted by “Time” magazine as one of the 100 great places in the world of 2019. The place used to be an ancient French Chapel within a hospital that turned into a young hip nightclub a year ago. The drinks are NOT cheap but it is worth the experience. It has taken 12 years to reconstruct the chapel and to get the approval of the Vatican, but it was defiantly worth the waiting. Just 50 meters in proximity to the “Jaffa” hotel lies the “Fairouz” (Fyrus) , a cafe named after the iconic Lebanese female singer, with authentic Greek/Arabic cuisine. The food is absolutely genuine and a live performed Greek music is played in the background after 13:00 o’clock. Also a Must mentioning is the “Malek Sweets” on  Yehuda Hayamit St 36 with genuine authentic arab “knafeh” and “Baklava”. Lately on Jaffa’s “Ben-Zoma” street,  a little turn Jerusalem Blvd. we discovered “Zalmaniko” a Balkan kabab-street-house , which sales genuine fresh meat on grill arriving directly from their own next door butchery shop with ta twist of the local fusion kitchen.

Tel Aviv recommended restaurants

In Tel Aviv, I would happily recommend The “Sushi-Fu” in “hayarkon” street, next to Tel Aviv harbor, for a top quality Japanese take-off, “Benedict” in the “Sarona” market ( the “German village”) where you can have a 24-7 around the clock ONLY breakfast meals from around the world, such as Israeli\New York\English style with great care into details, “Panda-Pita” for vegetarian people who are in the “Carmel market” surrounding, or either eating a “Bouriq” at the stand in the same spot.

Tel Aviv Food Markets & Food Tours

Also, it will shortly but worth mentioned the unique food-markets in Tel Aviv, most known is the one located in “Sarona” market, but may also may found in a smaller scale in the “Ramat Hachyal”, the “Old harbour”, and the open air street promenade of “Levisnsky market”,focusing on Balkan food such as “Burekas” bakeries and natural “Gazoz” at “Cafe levinsky”(Fresh herb made Soda-club). This post can NOT be complete without discovering Tel Aviv Jaffa walking food tours, like the one at the “Carmel” market, either the “Levinsky’market where food exploring becomes an adventure.

And last but NOT least – Bon appetite.