Celebrity chef Haim Cohen is best known for shaping contemporary Israeli cuisine, drawing his inspiration from Tel Aviv and Jaffa, Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as nostalgia for his mom's home cooking. At his restaurant Yaffo-Tel Aviv, the menu evolves according to what’s in season, but fresh fish from the tabun (clay oven) and handmade pastas take the lead here. [$$$]

Beloved Tel Aviv chef Ran Shmueli has made Claro an homage to seasonal and local ingredients. Located in a restored Templer building, this spacious, light-­filled restaurant is a savvy choice for Mediterranean food. On weekends, order the family­-style platter composed of slow­-cooked lamb in a pomegranate sauce with sabzi (Persian fresh herbs), tzaziki, and hand­made pitas straight from the tabun. [$$$]

Sarona, a 140-­year-­old German Templer colony, has been reclaimed as an open-­air leisure area packed with restaurants, shops, eateries, and playgrounds. There are a myriad of standalone restaurants (Jajo, Miss Kaplan, Claro) but the real star is Sarona Market. Open on Saturdays — a rarity in Tel Aviv — you'll find everything from exotic produce, bakeries, cheese shops, and halva to eateries helmed by Israel’s top chefs. Try some knafeh (Arabic cheese pastry soaked in sweet syrup) at Natzaret Sweets, or the smoked trout sandwiches at Forela Bar. [$­$$]

Feel like a part of the family at Ha’achim ("the brothers"), a trendy spot known for its buffet-style weekend brunch (₪ 85 per person) with endless rows of traditional local salads, homemade jams, fresh-­from-­the-­oven breads, and shakshuka. [$$]

This restaurant has so much going for it: a vibrant atmosphere with detail-oriented seafood dishes and a carefully curated playlist to match. The duo of young and up-­and-­coming chefs, Or Michaeli and Moti Titman, approach each dish with mounds of creativity. Its central location across from Habima, Israel’s national theater, makes it a wonderful place to kick back and take in the Tel Aviv joie de vivre. [$$$]

Falafel can be found on just about every street corner in Tel Aviv, but Hakosem is in a league of its own, offering perfectly plump pita and deep­-fried balls of chickpea mash studded with fresh herbs, alongside impeccably fresh salads. Also try the hearty shawarma or the Iraqi breakfast known as sabich — wedges of fried potato, golden eggplant slices, hard­boiled eggs, and amba, a sunshine-yellow pickled mango sauce that seals the deal. [$]

With around five percent of the Israeli population being vegan, Tel Aviv is a top travel destination. Walk just off the fashionable and stroll­-worthy Dizengoff Street, and you’ll find the cozy Anastasia café: Try a breakfast composed of a chickpea-corn flour omelette, assorted nut­-based vegan cheeses, and spreads like the yogurt-­textured labane, cashew cheese, turmeric tahini, and healthy breads. To­ go, grab a superfood smoothie, a “Kit­ Kat” bar made of amaranth crispies, fresh dates, and raw chocolate, or treat yourself to tiramisu. [$$]

Over a decade after opening, chef Sharon Cohen’s bar and restaurant still hits all the right notes: an upbeat vibe, incredibly fresh seafood, and an energetic playlist. This is definitely the place to down shooters and sample the sought­-after fish tartare wrapped in avocado, or indulge in caviar and drink to your heart’s content. [$$$]

Hidden away in the residential Ramat Aviv, this delicatessen and restaurant is nose-­to-­tail dining at its best. Everything is sourced from the Zuk Farm in Emek Ha’Ela, from the vegetables to the goat cheeses. Ask for the "spontaneous kitchen": Tell the chef what you like, and the kitchen will design a tasting menu just for you. (Vegetarians and pescaterians will also find plenty to eat here.) [$$$]

Everything that beloved Israeli chef Meir Adoni touches is magical. At the Carlton Hotel, Adoni's two restaurants, Lumina and Blue Sky, both showcase the intricate details he's known for; choose Lumina for a meat experience or Blue Sky for fish and dairy. After your lovely dinner, spend the evening walking down the promenade near the beach to inhale the salty aroma of the sea. [$$$$] [Kosher]

The pickings for kosher restaurants had been rather slim until last year, but celebrated chef Nir Zook, known for helming many successful spots in the past, decided to show off his kosher skills with Mapu, located in a centrally-located boutique hotel that features a beautiful garden. Zook’s obsession with local ingredients and his fervor to cook and bake everything in house make this a lovely choice for lunch or dinner. [Kosher] [$$$]

This tiny, award­-winning bar, hidden in the boutique Imperial Hotel, is the place to experience cocktail mastery in Israel: currently ranked number 17 on the World's 50 Best Bar list, Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar is arguably the best bar in the Middle East. To make a night of it, start at Imperial's Mexican­-Caribbean sister bar, La Otra, for happy hour, then finish your evening at Imperial — late night is when the city's bartenders head here. [$$]

The freshly ­roasted coffee beans at this micro-roastery and cafe have propelled Tel Aviv mornings to a whole new level, with single-­origin coffees and cold brew. There are two more Cafelix cafes in Tel Aviv and the flagship roastery in Jaffa, each one defined by the vibe of its surrounding neighborhood. [$]

The crossroads for everything food in Tel Aviv, visit the Carmel Market to inhale a mosaic of smells from toasted spices to fresh-­baked bread. The stalls are filled with seasonal produce, piles of candy, mounds of halva, gold­-yellow baklava, and endless eateries. Near the entrance, stop at Uzi­Eli the Etrog Man's shop, where you’ll find ­juices made from the yellow citron fruit, which is known for its healing properties. Oh, and bring cash.[$]

Meat fanatics will meet their match at this no-­frills, tavern­-style eatery, which serves the best cuts from Meatmarket, a high-end butcher shop just next door. Sink your teeth into arayes — huge pitas jam-packed with ground lamb, and then thrown on the grill. Wash it down with a shot of arak, an anise­-flavored drink. [$$]

With two locations, this hip burger spot beloved by locals is a happening place to be. The burgers are thick, juicy and handmade, accompanied by a fresh beet ketchup, and two kinds of thinly-sliced fries, potato and sweet potato, sprinkled with fragrant lemon zest. The house-made sausage selection is extensive with options like the Haifa, made of smoked lamb, or the spicy “Munich” version. With a bouncing playlist and a sexy-cool atmosphere, Vitrina is not to be missed.

Bar à Vin, a chic wine bar with a French bistro menu that embodies Tel Aviv hip, shot up to the top of the most frequented spots in town at lightning speed. Monday nights, chef Enav Ezagouri prepares an impromptu seafood and raw fish feast for the lucky ones who snag a seat at the bar. The weekend brunch boasts sweet and savory crepes and local seafood. Follow it all up with a stroll down charming Rothschild Boulevard. [$$]

A favorite among local food and wine aficionados, this intimate wine bar offers a compact menu showcasing off­-cuts and pastas, as well as a wine list with more than 80 bottles from around the world. [$$$]

Head into this cozy Italian spot where NIS 56 ($15) and upwards nets you one of the best lunch deals in the city: appetizer, main, dessert, and coffee. (These kinds of bargains are known as "business lunches" in town — 56 shekels for three courses is a solid deal, almost the price of a shawarma plate!) On the menu, you’ll find handmade pastas, local meats, and fish, accompanied by produce grown in La Rebubblica's nearby organic garden in Hakfar Hayarok. Every first Monday of the month is Pizzicato night, a memorable evening where co-owner/chef Motti Sofer cooks up a surprise tasting menu with shareable dishes. [$$]

Vegetables shine as the main dishes at famed chef Eyal Shani's lively restaurant and bar. (But there's also a decadent burger.) Most of the food is served in paper bags — plates optional — exemplifying Shani’s signature style: precise food, presented in a down-­to-­earth fashion. [$$]

Aria's first­-floor bar has a DJ mixing up beats for the crowd of young professionals, but the food from the upstairs restaurant is known for its meticulously plated seasonal produce, fine fish, and meat­. The cocktails are fun, like the Sesame Street: a sweet and sour blend of Ketel One Citron and Oranje, house-made limoncello and a twist of halva. [$$$]

This bustling eatery serves up Yemenite favorites like malawach, a layered puff pastry served with grated tomatoes, hardboiled egg, and super­-spicy hot sauce, known as zhug. Also try jachnun, a traditional breakfast of rolled-up, buttery dough, lachuch (spongy flatbread), kubaneh (layered brioche-­like overnight dough), and hilbe (fenugreek) paste, which is considered an aphrodisiac. Communal seating puts you elbow­-to-­elbow with other diners, while the upbeat music makes this place a lively hub. [$]

A fun way to explore the vibrant evening scene in Tel Aviv is to hang out at one of the spots in the Levinski Market area like the lively Ouzeria. Nights are always bustling at this restaurant, which showcases Mediterranean dishes like calamari a la plancha, the must-try "Avigail’s cauliflower," or shrimp sauteed with homemade sun-dried tomatoes. Snag a seat at the bar while you down some anise-flavored shots and take in the spirited music and the effervescent vibe. You can also check out at Ouzeria Next Door, the restaurant and bar next door with a similar buzz and fare to match. [$$]

Delicatessen offers rows of freshly­-baked breads, artisanal tapenades and spreads, hard-­to-find cheeses, sauces, deli meats, and incredible home­style food. Grab what you like, then head on down to the bustling Rothschild Boulevard to find a bench and people-­watch while you feast — or dine in and take some wine home for later. [$ - $$]

Local star chef Yuval Ben Neriah surprises with a seafood­-driven small-plate journey through Southeast Asia at this award­-winning “Asiaterranean” restaurant. If nothing else, sit at the bar to try its creative cocktails, alongside pastry chef Ana Shapiro’s latest desserts, which nimbly combine sweet and savory: fresh fruit flavors with curry, exotic spices, and saffron discs. [$$$$]

Onza, a popular bar and restaurant located in the bustling Shuk HaPishpeshim (Jaffa’s flea market) added a Turkish touch to the menu when the talented chef pair Arik Darhani and Muli Magriso took reins of the kitchen towards the end of 2016. The menu features mezze like cacik, a Turkish yogurt dip made with cucumbers, mint, and dill; and pacanga borek, a pastry filled with pastirma (a Turkish cured beef) and kashkaval cheese served alongside a spicy grape leaf version of zhug (a hot sauce) and warm, comforting eggplant yogurt dip. Come early and browse the flea market for second-hand goodies and check out the shops that showcase local Israeli fashion. [$$]

Those hungry for new Arab cuisine have the perfect place to experiment in the eclectic Jaffa scene. Chef Salah Kurdi, Mischakei Hachef ("Game of Chefs," an Israeli cooking competition reality show) contestant, brings the colorfulness of Arab spices and ingredients served up with loads of creativity. Try the kubbeh (traditional meat-filled croquettes), bulgur and cashew-infused tabbouleh, and the extraordinary dessert menu. [$$]

Tel Aviv’s food scene is young, just like the people behind it. The 20-something Raz Rahav is an Instagram star turned acclaimed chef, and his detail-obsessed outlook has made OCD one of the best restaurants to hit the scene. This creative dining experience includes an eccentric nine-course tasting menu, each dish a wild palette of colors made up of numerous sauces and ingredient combinations, contemporary cuisine that pushes limits. It’s like dining at a private party with incredible service, an intimate tête–à–tête with 18 other diners. (Reservations are a must.) [$$$$]