Where to find modern mezze, bubbly shakshuka, fluffy pita, and crispy falafel, of course

Tel Aviv is a metropolitan center and multicultural hub with an unrivaled nightlife that welcomes all. You can easily walk or bike — use the city­wide Tel­-O-­Fun rentals — across the entire city, from its beachfront boardwalks to its grittier neighborhoods, experiencing Tel Aviv through its kaleidoscope of eateries.

Yemenite, Moroccan, Tunisian, Spanish, and homegrown Israeli food can all be relished here, from hole­-in-­the-­wall food joints to a groundswell of fine dining, and everything in between, while fresh produce can be picked up for a song in one of the city’s many bustling open­-air markets.

Looking only for what’s new and hot? Head to the Tel Aviv heatmap. Want to focus on cheap eats? There’s a guide for that, too. But for the utterly quintessential, listed in geographic order, read on.

February 2018 Update

As always, some places must leave the list to make room for others. Here are a few of the highlights:

We’re foregoing breakfast at Anastasia to make room for a big lunch at Bana, the city’s hottest vegan spot. Though partying at Jasper is always a thing, we’ve included some new drinking destinations, such as Double Standard and the eccentric boozy brunch at Bellboy.

Cafelix will always be a coffee lover’s haven, but we’re introducing Nahat Café, a microroastery beloved by local coffee connoisseurs.

Vitrina remains one of Tel Aviv’s best options for burgers and fries, but it’s being replaced by a local 24/7 favorite, Minzar, known for its bang-for-buck and laid-back vibe.

Repubblica Di Ronimotti’s Italian lunch deal will always be a standby, as will the farm-to-table freshness at Havat Zuk and the spirit of Bar a Vin and Dalida, but we say goodbye to all to make room for new gems like Oasis, Alena, and Port Said.

Delicatessen is leaving the list, but only to be replaced by another classic from the same restaurant group, Hotel Montefiore.

Sadly, favorite Al Ashi closed, but we added Asia, another spot in Shuk Hapishpeshim (Jaffa’s popular flea market), as well as Azura, which specializes in the kind of homy local cooking that’s rare to find in a restaurant setting.

Price key:

$ = Less than 55 shekels (Up to $1­5 USD)

$$ = 55 to ­139 shekels ($16­ to $39 USD)

$$$ = 140 to ­230 shekels ($40­ to $66 USD)

$$$$ = 231 shekels ($66 USD) and up