Restaurant owner Harel Belo told N12 on Wednesday that Seatara, the longtime restaurant in the Sea and Sun complex in northern Tel Aviv, will shut down on June 30 after 22 years in business. Founded in 2004, the venue became a culinary institution and a status symbol that drew hundreds of thousands of diners over the years.
Belo said the main reason for the closure was major damage caused when an Iranian missile landed near the restaurant during the "With All Your Might" war. He said the site has effectively stood empty since the first Iranian attack about a year and a half ago, making recovery impossible. "We were pioneers in quite a few things, but the place has been empty for a year and a half, I gave up," he told N12. He also said the monthly rent is 100,000 shekels.
In a formal statement, Belo called the shutdown "one of the hardest decisions of my professional life" and said Seatara was more than a business to him, describing it as a home, a way of life, and "another child" he raised with love since 2004. He thanked the restaurant's guests, employees, partners, and suppliers, saying their support helped turn Seatara into a culinary landmark.
Belo said he will continue other seaside business operations in Israel, including Hilton and Metzitzim beaches in Tel Aviv, Poleg Beach in Netanya, and a soon-to-open venue in Eilat. The closure follows earlier reports of advanced talks between Belo and businessman Barak Abramov over a possible purchase of Seatara and Metzitzim Beach, but those negotiations did not lead to a deal. N12 said this is now the final closure announcement.
