Renowned Israeli Chef Rafi Cohen Returns to Kitchen After Decade
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli chef Rafi Cohen is returning to the kitchen after a decade-long absence, planning to open an Italian-style café called "Hanaaleh" near Jerusalem in about two months. The venture follows the closure of his renowned restaurant "Rafael" in 2017, after which Cohen faced financial and legal difficulties. He has recently participated in culinary events and is also consulting for other establishments while seeking a location for a new restaurant in Tel Aviv.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Chef Rafi Cohen will open a new Italian-style café named "Hanaaleh" near Jerusalem in approximately two months.
- Cohen's return follows the closure of his acclaimed Tel Aviv restaurant "Rafael" in 2017 after a period of financial and personal struggles.
- The new café will be a collaboration with the Harim Group and will feature pizzas and other Italian dishes cooked in a taboon oven.
- Cohen is also consulting for two other Harim Group businesses and is looking to open another restaurant in Tel Aviv.
- Chef Assaf Granit previously praised Cohen's management of "Rafael" as a "masterclass."
Chef Rafi Cohen, a prominent figure in Israel's culinary scene, is set to launch a new Italian-style café named "Hanaaleh" in approximately two months. This marks his return to a leading kitchen role nearly a decade after his acclaimed Tel Aviv restaurant, "Rafael," closed its doors in 2017. The new venture will be located in the Har'ef complex at Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim, near Jerusalem, a departure from his previous upscale city establishment. The café, a collaboration with the Harim Group, will focus on Italian cuisine, featuring pizzas, pastries, sandwiches, and breakfast items, with a large taboon oven as a central element.
Cohen confirmed the details, stating the café will open in about two months and will offer food from the taboon, including special pizzas, salads, and more. His return is significant given his past career trajectory. "Rafael" was once considered one of Israel's top restaurants, shaping the local chef-driven dining scene. However, its closure followed a difficult period for Cohen, marked by financial and personal struggles, including hospitalization, accusations of significant embezzlement from his restaurant, legal battles with employees, and bankruptcy.
Despite the closure of "Rafael," Cohen has remained a topic of discussion in the culinary world. In February 2025, he participated in a special meal at the Six Senses Shaharut hotel alongside chefs Ruti Russo and David Biton. Russo, a former employee at "Rafael," was part of this event, which marked Cohen's return to cooking for a unique culinary occasion. Chef Assaf Granit previously praised Cohen's management skills, describing "Rafael" in January 2026 on Yael Dromi's podcast as being run with "masterclass" precision, like the Israeli Air Force or surgery.
Beyond "Hanaaleh," Cohen is also serving as a culinary consultant for two other Harim Group establishments in the area: the kosher bistro "Nora" and "Kerem Bar Wine." Additionally, Cohen is reportedly seeking a suitable property in Tel Aviv to open another restaurant, aiming to re-establish his presence in the city where he first gained prominence.