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In case the Middle East wasn’t already full of controversy, I’m going bold on this one: I think Israelis make some of the best breakfast in the world. And nowhere does breakfast better than Tel Aviv.
With a year-round balmy climate (minus those few rough weeks in January), lots of outdoor seating, and a gorgeous Bauhaus aesthetic, Tel Aviv is endlessly vibing. I visit Tel Aviv a few times a year and keep myself in the loop of Tel Aviv foodies. If there’s one thing you can trust me with, it’s finding the best breakfast in Tel Aviv.
A word of warning: Tel Aviv is the start-up capital of the world. This means many Tel Avivis are either working international hours or in hybrid roles. And so, you should expect to find lots of laptops (and table-hogging) in cafes.
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Breakfast on-the-go: Borekas of Mother Levinsky (Florentin)
This spot is not exactly a breakfast café or restaurant, but deserves a mention on any list of good food in Tel Aviv.
Borekas of Mother Levinsky (הבורקס של אמא לוינסקי) is set in the heart of Florentin’s Levinsky Market, one of the best neighborhoods for eating in Tel Aviv (and worth a food tour in itself). With an open window and some outdoor tables, this small family-run joint is ideal for a quick bite before a big day of sightseeing and is only a short walk to Tel Aviv’s HaHagana train station (if you are planning a day trip to Jerusalem).
I consider myself a boreka expert and this Florentin hole-in-the-wall is my number one spot for a boreka breakfast (or lunch) in Tel Aviv. Scrap that, it’s my number one spot for a boreka in Israel. These flaky, stuffed puff-pastries will be familiar to those who have traveled around Türkiye, Bulgaria or the Balkans. Here, the borekas are a little larger and come in potato or spinach and cheese variation – usually served with a boiled egg, olives and tomato salsa.
5. Eats Cafeteria (Old North)
Eats Cafeteria is much more casual (and affordable) then your usual Tel Aviv breakfast café. Set in the gorgeous Old North and right on the pedestrianized Ben Gurion boulevard amid some of Tel Aviv’s best Bauhaus buildings.
With fewer tourist attractions in the Old North, this is a much more local (and bougie) side to Tel Aviv. Eats offer a daily selection of fresh pastries and toasted sandwiches. Keep an eye open for their spinach tart, the perfect balance of buttery pastry with creamy spinach.
If the main outdoor seating area is full, you will usually find people sitting in the courtyard to the right – or better yet, grab your iced coffee (kafe kar in Hebrew) and go for a walk along Ben Gurion!
Local tip: A few steps from Eats, in the middle of Ben Gurion Boulevard, is an Old North icon: Tamara juice shop.
If you are craving a post-brunch refresher, order yourself a strawberry-banana juice (or anything you like, really) on your way down to the beach. It’s the quintessential Tel Aviv afternoon.
For more local tips from the Old North, don’t miss our exclusive interview with Adi and Shani – our Old North, Tel Aviv insighters.
4. Café Puaa (Jaffa)
Café Puaa is the quintessential Jaffa café. Old rugs, vintage mismatched furniture and a whole collection of cutlery and plates that were likely picked up around the corner at the Jaffa flea market.
Puaa offers an excellent Israeli breakfast and some of the best shakshuka in Tel Aviv.
I always recommend visitors to Tel Aviv spend at least half a day in Jaffa. If you’re like me and you plan your days around meals, Café Puaa is an excellent option for Jaffa.
Local tip: Across the road is a small delicatessen, Shifra, which sells some high quality homemade jams, cheeses and spice mixes.
Shifra even sells a collection of vegan cheeses! This truly is the perfect Tel Aviv souvenir to bring home. Biblical nerds will get a laugh over the naming of these trendy hipster-attracting establishments after the Biblical midwives Shifra and Puaa.
3. Café Shneor (Dizingoff)
I often describe Café Shneor as my local neighborhood café. It’s small, friendly and on one of the prettiest Bauhaus streets in Tel Aviv. Sometimes I’ll pop by just for a coffee, other times I’ll grab a fresh tuna or cheese sandwich to-go.
If you do decide to stay, I always recommend trying one of their brunch dishes which incorporate classic elements of Jewish cuisine, such as eggs with challah bread (the traditional Shabbat food) or latkes (traditional potato patties served on Hannukah).
2. Café Yom Tov (Carmel Market)
Café Yom Tov is easily one of the best cafes by the Carmel Market.
This grungry, hipster TLV classic has a lovely outdoor seating, while the indoors is tastefully designed – I am very jealous of their vintage Hebrew map of Latin America!
Every time I arrive at Café Yom Tov, I announce to whomever is lucky enough to be having breakfast with me: this time I will order something new. And every single time, I go back to my favorite dish: the eggplant saluf.
Think of a soft-grilled, slightly curried eggplant, served on extremely smooth tahini (the best I have ever had) alongside a fresh parsley and radish salad, sliced curried egg and chilli – all accompanied with fresh, warm Yemenite bread.
Local tip: Café Yom Tov gets extremely busy on the weekends (and I would probably try to time my visit around a weekday).
1. And the best breakfast in Tel Aviv is…
Bucke Café. Bucke sits just off Rothschild Boulevard on the uber-gorgeous Bauhaus-lined street of Ahad Ha’am. For some reason, the Ahad Ha’am location does not show on Google Maps. Make sure you specifically click here to go to the correct location.
The vibe at Bucke Café is electric and you will almost certainly have to wait for a table – but I promise it’s worth it.
Bucke Café is famous for its breakfast platters. I’m going to go bold here and give specific instructions. Firstly, don’t order the ‘original Bucke tray’ – it’s very much a standard Israeli breakfast and there are much more exciting things hidden on the menu. You want to get either the ‘country tray’ (for 2 people, yes – bring a friend) or the ‘bourekas tray’.
Local tip: On Fridays and Saturdays, Bucke offer a special Jachnun breakfast tray.
Jachnun is a unique Jewish Yemenite slow-cooked pastry eaten on Shabbat. The Jachnun at Bucke is served with tahini, tomato salta and boiled egg – and is one of the most delicious things you can find in all of Israel.
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