Places to eat in Tel Aviv:

General advise:

Tel Aviv has a large variety of great restaurants serving various food types, at a relatively low cost. However, most restaurants in the "hotels' area" close to the beach serve bad food for a high price.

Booking: On Thursday, Friday or Saturdays it is wise to book a table. If you want a relatively large table (5 and more) book also on other days of the week. 

Tipping: Israeli waiters expect 10-15% extra tip. Some places may (illegally) add 1-2 NIS per person as a "security fee".

Dress code: When David Ben Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, appeared in the parliament in a suit one day, everyone burst out laughing. You're more likely to be overdressed than underdressed.

Cheaper places:

Having either Humus or Fallafel will satisfy your appetite for less than 25 NIS. 

Hummus: ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummus )

  • Humus Abu Adham: Very good Galilee-style hummus (which is a bit lighter than the usual). Try the "Humus with Mashawashe" to enjoy both worlds at once! (Karlibach 7, open 12pm-22pm daily).
  • Humus Ashkara: The best Jerusalem-style hummus in Tel Aviv. Don't plan any sport activity afterwards. (Yirmiyahu st., open 24 hours except for Saturdays)
  • Abu Hassan: Probably the best hummus, in the least accessible location. Ask one of the organizers for more details if you insist (or ask the taxi driver to take you there.)

 

Fallafel / Shawarma: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallafel , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawarma, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabich)

  • Oved's Sabich: This is the only place on the list which is actually not in Tel Aviv, but in Givataim a small suburb of Tel Aviv. A Sabich is basically fried eggplants and a boiled egg in a pita bread. When you get there, Oved will probably ask you where you are from, and then say that you are not the first from that place to eat his Sabich and that will probably be true (even if your country of origin doesn't exist). Expect a long queue and don't plan any activities that involve moving, afterwards. 7 Sirkin st. Givataim.
  • Falafel Hakikar: 79 Iben Gvirol st. A very good and fresh falafel, usually made on the spot.
  • Falafel Jinnah: 22 Schocken st. Probabliy the best falafel in town (Jinnah means Paradise in Arabic). Open Sun - Thu, 08:00-23:00
  • Dabush: Considered to be one of the best Shawarma places in Tel Aviv. A Shawarma is a Middle-Eastern style sandwich comprised of a mixture of meats, usually turkey and lamb. Two "serving containers" are available, a Pita and a "Lafa" (a larger yet thinner Pita). Adventurers should try the "Amba" dressing (mango-based and not the least bit spicy, yet it carries a unique odor). Open Sun-Fri, 64 Iben Gvirol st.
  • Shipodei Pinat Hashlosha: Central Asian food (this is the place for pilaf or sambusac, or even a simple kebab in a lafa.) Ben Zvi Rd. 84 (right next to the Abu Kabir prison).

 

Coffee shops:

Tel Aviv has plenty of them, nearly everywhere (e.g. there are many all along Dizengof and Iben-Gvirol streets).  Most of them serve light meals at reasonable prices (usually 40-50 NIS for a large salad/sandwich/pasta + coffee). Most places should be good. The best advice is to choose a coffee shop where you see many locals.  

Another option: many pub-cafe places are located right on the beach or in Tel Aviv's sea port area. These usually overlook the water, and some of them serve good food. Again : go for ones that accommodate many locals.

Mid-range (a full dinner without wine should cost about 100-150 NIS):

  • Meat Bar: 52 Chen Blvd., tel.: 6956276, open daily 12:00-24:00. A nice place to have an entrecote.  
  • HaBasta: A very nice place with varying dishes, right next to the Carmel market. 4, HaShomer str.
  • Tapeo: a tapas bar, 16, HaArba'aa st. (next to the Tel Aviv Cinematheque), Tel: 03-5628868
  • Brasserie M&R: a very trendy restaurant (not a brasserie), open 24h, 70 Iben Gvirol st.(near the municipality building), Tel. 03-6967111.
  • Coffee Bar: Same owners as the Brasserie; not surprisingly, not a coffee bar (rather, a restaurant in the southern part of Tel Aviv). 13 Yad Charutzim st., Tel. 03 6889696
  • Gilly's: A very nice place to have lunch or dinner at the old Tel Aviv port (10 min. drive from the university); Hangar 15, Tel Aviv Port
  • Dixie: open 24h, with varying menu. The best time is during the night (after 23:30). Their chicken wings and beer is probably the best night "snack" in town. Add their unique home fries and you have a whole meal. 120 Yigael Alon st, Tel: 03-6966123. The menu - http://www.dixie.co.il/englishmenus.html

Sushi:

Over the past decade, Sushi has become one of the most popular dishes in Tel Aviv, introducing a selection of decent priced high quality Sushi places.

  • Hasushia: Sushi fast food, very good for its price. 54 Iben Gvirol st.
  • Moon: Japanese-style conveyor-belt  Sushi bar. 58 Bugrashov st.
  • Sakura: A fancier Sushi place, with many interesting choices. The prices are of course higher as well 79 King George st.

Some of the more expensive restaurants in Tel Aviv (a dinner should cost 150-250 NIS):

  • Mika: a trendy fusion restaurant, they have fixed dinner menus for ~90 NIS,  27 Montifiore st., Tel: 03-5283255
  • Catit : Hechal Hatalmud 4 st.  Tel (03) 5107001. http://www.catit.co.il/
  • Toto :4 Berkovich str. st.  Tel (03)-6935151 .
  • Manta Ray: A great sea-food restaurant right on the beach in between south Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Within walking distance from Old Jaffa and Neve-Tsedek. Almah Beach, Tel: 03-5174774
  • Rafael: Serves fusion dishes of French and North-African cuisine, 87 Hayarkon st., Tel: 03-5226464.
  • Onami:  An excellent Sushi place don't expect to find a vacancy during peek hours without reserving one beforehand by phone. 18 Ha'arbaa st., Tel: 03-5621171.
  • Messa: This exclusive 21st-century-styled restaurant is owned by one of Israel's most famous Chefs, who has Kurdish origins which reflect in some of the dishes of this French-cuisine restaurant.  19 Ha'arba'a St.  Tel: 03-685-6859

  

BEERhttp://www.piney.com/BabNinkasi.html

  • Hudna*: one of the nicest places in the older part of the city, with tables inside and outside, usually open until 4-5 a.m. May be a bit crowded during on Thu.-Sat. after 22:30-23:00. 13 Abarbanel str., Florentin.
  • Armadillo : 51 Ehad Ha'am str. Fresh Czech beers and side dishes in Georgian style.
  • Shoftim: 39 Iben-Gvirol str.
  • Norma Jean : 32 Elifelet str.
  • Minzar*: One of the famous bars in Tel Aviv, with another small bar in the basement under it. Hilel Zaken str., the corner of Gedera str. (just off off Allenby corner of Shenkin.)

Editorial comment:

The best local beer is named Goldstar ; as true local patriots, we have marked the places where it is served (fresh and at reasonable temperature) with an asterisk.

 

Live Music

Tel Aviv has a rather developed Indie-Rock, Groove/Funk and Electronic/ Avant-Garde music scenes. In these places you will find intimate live concerts in cheap prices:

  • Ozen-Bar: An intimate bar with almost daily concerts. various kinds of music. 48 King George St.
  • Levontin 7: One of Tel Aviv's most famous places in the music scene. There's also a bar. various kinds of music. Levontin 7, Tel Aviv
  • Heineken Music Room: Zoa house, 2, Daniel Frish st.
  • Shablul Jazz club: Hangar 13, Old seaport, Tel Aviv
  • Bloom's bar: Mostly for heavy-metal and rock fans. 2, King George st.