Best Dining Bets in Israel
- Machneyuda (Jerusalem): At the edge of the Market District, this favorite offers the country’s most inventive (and luxurious) menu, lively spirit, and a joy-filled open kitchen where you can watch three master chefs at work.
- Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda Market: This enormous market for produce, spices, and exotic ingredients is dotted with tiny no-name, genuine eateries and a sprinkling of new boutique food shops and gourmet restaurants. Sip fresh almond milk, munch sweet grapes or a bag of fresh-from-the-oven ruggele pastry, and let the aromas, sights, and mountains of foods overwhelm you.
- Raphael (Tel Aviv): The dining adventure here begins with the famous house bread, and Chef Rafi Cohen keeps things interesting and delicious from there. Mediterranean views enhance a meal here.
- Shila-Sharon Cohen's Kitchen and Bar (Tel Aviv): This posh fish restaurant is always busy and for a good reason: Chef Sharon Cohen consistently turns out some of the best seafood in the city. Dining here is as much a social as a culinary experience.
- Hotel Montefiore restaurant (Tel Aviv): While the Hotel Montefiore is indeed a hotel (albeit a small one with just 12 rooms), most Tel Avivians know the place better for its gourmet restaurant. Whether you come for breakfast, lunch, or a late dinner, you will have an unforgettably flavorful experience.
- Decks (Tiberias): With a setting that floats on the surface of the Sea of Galilee like a dream, Decks offers luxurious meats and fish expertly grilled over olive- and citrus-wood fires. As an extra, go on a complimentary postdinner disco cruise. Decks is kosher and a great choice for a memorable evening at moderate-to-expensive prices.
- Helena (Caesarea): With vistas of the sea, waves lapping at its terrace, and a great young chef designing its menu, this restaurant, set amid the ruins of Caesarea, may be the most romantic spot in Israel for a gourmet meal, especially when the sun sets over the Mediterranean.
