Top 10 Must-Try Restaurants Outside Tel Aviv Showcase Israel’s Culinary Diversity
While Tel Aviv is often hailed as Israel's culinary capital, exceptional dining experiences abound throughout the country. From north to south, a diverse and sometimes surprising food scene offers travelers and locals alike a chance to explore beyond the city limits. This list highlights ten outstanding restaurants that have maintained excellence over time and are worth a drive of an hour or more.
In the north, Moshbuz in Moshav Ramot offers premium Israeli steaks sourced from local herds in the Golan Heights, with a menu emphasizing local produce and precise execution. Near Afula, Armon Sahara in Kfar Nin serves authentic Galilean Arab cuisine under Chef Nassat Abbas, featuring dishes like lamb shoulder and a unique metal skewer knafeh dessert. Haifa’s Vania Bistro, led by Chef Michael Gertopski, presents refined yet simple dishes in the city’s lower district, including tuna tartare and crab gnocchi.
In the center, Goz and Daniel in Moshav Bnei Zion provides a tranquil bistro experience surrounded by vineyards, with a menu ranging from root vegetable salads to osso buco. Ben Hamo in Or Akiva, run by a butcher family, specializes in Moroccan home-style dishes and grilled meats, offering daily lunch deals. Esther in Yehud, a longstanding institution by Chef Itzik Bar Siman Tov, serves a consistent Mediterranean-French menu in a hidden courtyard setting.
Near Jerusalem, Nora in Kiryat Anavim, under Chef Rafi Cohen, delivers straightforward, high-quality dishes including grilled steaks and fresh fish, complemented by a nearby wine bar and bakery. In Ashdod, Pescado is renowned as the country’s top kosher fish restaurant, focusing on minimal intervention to highlight fresh seafood.
Further south, Mo & Mo in Rehovot is a historic steakhouse with an aging cellar, offering expertly prepared cuts in a preserved 1910 building. Finally, in Eilat, Chef Lior Rafael’s Hamburger Leviathan has become a destination for gourmet burgers, including a standout shrimp burger and vegan options, attracting visitors from across Israel.
These ten restaurants demonstrate the rich culinary landscape beyond Tel Aviv, inviting food lovers to explore Israel’s varied flavors and regions.
