Mul Yam
At the Tel Aviv Port. Tel. +972-3-546-9920
Since its opening, Mul Yam has consistently proven itself as one of Israel’s best restaurants. Chef Yoram Nitzan’s style provides diners with dishes that are sophisticated but still intentionally draw on the natural flavors of his ingredients. Using both his talent and imagination, the chef offers a menu of mostly seafood dishes that delight his clients; lobster, shrimps, coquilles St. Jacques are all known to be superb. The wine list and desserts here are also excellent. Staff is friendly but fittingly formal to the atmosphere.
Oyster Bar open daily 12:00-24:00.
Kitchen open daily 12:00-16:00 and 19:30-23:00.
Reservations are strongly recommended.
Raphael
87 Hayarkon St, Tel Aviv. Tel: +972-3-522-6464.
Seafood, Bistro, French food, Mediterranean food
Chef Rafi Cohen provides a constantly shifting menu that offers a creative variety of dishes in an atmosphere built for relaxed, yet sophisticated, dining. His often-playful take on the bistro style restaurant is also accompanied by very reasonable prices; food highlights include ceviche, risottos, veal sweetbreads and a leg of lamb. The desserts are also not to be missed. Raphael also offers warm service and a good wine list fit for price ranges.
Sunday-Friday 12:30-15:30 and 19:00-23:00; Saturday afternoon.
Reservations are strongly recommended.
Carmella ba Nachala
46 HaTavor St., Tel Aviv. Tel. +972-3-516-1417
Newly teamed up chefs, Daniel Zach and Uri Yirmiahas, opened this new restaurant as a blend of French cuisine mixed and the flavors of the Mediterranean. Instead of ordering a-la-carte, you can request half-portions of either appetizers or main dishes and sample a broad mix of what these two chefs have cooked up together. The desserts are also a great treat – lemon cream, pear and plum pie and a red and black raspberry tarte. The menu here also changes regularly – but the dishes are consistently flavorful. With good prices, a unique and central setting and a warm, welcoming staff, you are sure to have a fantastic experience at this restaurant.
Sunday-Friday 09:00-23:00; Saturday 13:00-23:00.
Cordelia
Yeffet 30, Jaffa 68039 Tel: +972-3-5184668
In a colorful Jaffa plaza owned and built by Chef Nir Zook sit four very different – yet complimentary – establishments: Cordelia chef restaurant, Noa Bistro, Whisky Club and Jaffa Bar. Combining his personal aesthetic and creative vision, this plaza brings together Zook’s international culinary training and the tastes and smells he grew up with in Israel. Zook also plays a significant role in the Israeli gourmet scene, hosting a personal TV show, writing a weekly column in Yediot Ahronot, publishing cook books and making regular surprise visits to meet and great the guests of his plaza.
Open daily; evening menu 19:00-24:00
Yoe'ezer Wine Bar
2 Yoezer St. Clock Square, Jaffa Tel: 972-3-683-9115
With his reputation for wine knowledge, Shaul Evron’s wine bar bistro has served as a magnet for wine lovers in Israel since its opening four years ago. Set in an old Jaffa building with Arabesque arches, intentionally mismatched furniture, a wall stacked with wine bottles and hanging smoked meats, this restaurant offers guests a warm atmosphere that invites good company and conversation. The meat here is excellent – the corned beef deserves a particular mention. The wine bar also offers, of course, a fantastic wine selection. Service is warm and friendly.
Sunday-Wednesday 13:00-01:00; Thursday afternoon-Saturday 24hours.
Evening reservations are recommended.
Catit
Heychal Hatalmod St. Neve Zedek Tel Aviv Tel: +972-3-510-7001
Chef Restaurant, French food, Gourmet, Mediterranean food, Seafood
This is one of the few restaurants that have tried to create an Israeli haute cuisine. This restaurant interior offers the same genteel elegance and luxury found in a fine French country restaurant. The space houses a bar, several intimate dining rooms and one larger space, in addition to oriental-patterned tiles, white drapes and a collection of lamps to pull off this atmosphere. In the warmer months, Catit also has a beautiful garden open for outdoor seating.
Arcadia
10 Agrippas St. Jerusalem Tel: 972-2-624-9138
Known as the best restaurant in Jerusalem, Arcadia is known for the unique skill and quality found in Chef Ezra Kedem’s dishes. His restaurant is hidden off the main road with minimalist décor; offering food that is creating with the same class and lack of flash. The French/Mediterranean Rim menu changes regularly. Make sure to visit the garden in summer month; it is a charming place for dinner. The wine list focuses on boutique Israeli wineries such as Castel, Bustan and Margolit. The restaurant also offers fixed-rates meals for both lunch and dinner.
Herbert Samuel
6 Koifman St (Beit Gibor), Tel Aviv, Tel: 972-3-516-6516
With its beautiful sea-side view, this restaurant is packed day and night. Herbert Samuel was recently opened by Chef Yonatan Roshfeld as a some-what laid back, and much less pricey, version of his previous restaurants. The menu is divided into food categories, rather than by courses, as the chef has built a menu around the tapas tradition, with a large selection of small to medium sized portions. The bread and butter are not to be missed. Overall, it is a wonderful mix of high quality, interesting gourmet food with an atmosphere that is not too formal in price or attitude.
Lillit
2 Dafna st. Tel Aviv. Tel +772-3-609-1331
Orchestrated by Chef Noam Dekress, the newly made-up Lillit offers kosher Israeli dining at its best. The chef uses only the highest quality of meat and fish, the freshest vegetables and locally produced olive oil. The restaurant’s owners take pride not only in their food, but also in their community involvement. Lillit runs a special culinary program for youth-at-risk from Elem – a local organization for at-risk youths, and asks its guests to join in their project.