Dining OUt in Gay Tel Aviv - A guide to Gay Restaurants

You’re in Tel Aviv so you’ll have to indulge in plenty of hummus. There is hummus everywhere, and it is nothing like what you get at home. In tiny storefronts where slabs of meat for gyros lazily turn, order one with everything and enjoy a pita bulging with hummus, falafel, vegetables, and french fries all thrown in with a gush of sauce. Enjoy and complain about how it’s not like this at home—everyone does.

When you’ve shopped until almost dropping at the flea market and tiny boutiques and antique stores of Jaffa, grab a brilliant hummus plate or other vegetarian fare at Pua, a funky, bohemian coffee house with mismatched tea sets and frilly curtains amid the kitschy clutter. It is in an old residence and feels like you’re visiting a crazy aunt (who makes a wicked espresso).

For a terrific and romantic dinner in Old Jaffa, you have to navigate to Chef Nir Zook’s Cordelia Restaurant. In an out-of-the-way ancient alley (the rightly famous chef has other restaurants and bistros all nearby), old archways open to a deep dining room with a sparking array of twinkling chandeliers, enormous flower arrangements, and antique baubles and knicknacks on every elegant table. It is gothic and dark and a visual feast. The food is equally adventurous with bold spice mixes and twists on classics, and the menu constantly changes based on the chef’s whim and availability of fresh ingredients. Expect several courses of indulgence, richness, and the need for a post-prandial nap.

The Hotel Montefiore’s Montefiore Café is an elegant, art deco restaurant with servers clad in all black running from the terrace to the bar through the long dining room. The Thai/ Vietnamese/Mediterranean menu is flawlessly presented and the food is fantastic. Ask for recommendations as the menu changes regularly, and save room for dessert (but don’t watch yourself eating it in the enormous mirrors). If you’ve only got a brief break, a glass of wine or cup of coffee on the balcony is a great way to watch the world go by.

Manta Ray is one of many seafood options in the city, most of them quite good. This casual beachside spot features a large circular room with a patio fronting the sand, a stretched canvas roof, and open kitchen. It has long shared tables with pitchers of lemonade and wine drunk from jelly jars to lend that casual vibe. Manta Ray is the pinnacle of the expanded mezze course, with a dozen brought to the table running the gamut from Middle Eastern specialties to contemporary bites like crab and feta cheese, crumbled falafal, red peppers with salty cubes of cheese, and goat cheese with eggplant. There are also plenty of fresh fish options here, and of course anything can be, and is, batter fried as well.

If you’re in a beach state of mind but still want upscale dining, Benjamin Siegel is a clubby-feeling, wood-paneled seafood restaurant that labels itself an “eclectic bistro and bar.” Grown up cocktails, a lovely wine list, its location in the “Opera Tower,” and the classy, rococo mirror-festooned interior are all a surprise considering the cheeky seafood combinations and other menu flair. The open kitchen sends out beautifully-plated, light, healthy fare via superbly friendly waiters. Some of the food is pretty heavy and autumnal feeling: for instance, delicious but overly large steaks with a baked marrow bone or pillow-sized, cheese-stuffed ravioli. You can, however, opt for lighter dishes to counter the day’s heat and keep your coastal cool; try one of their ceviche options (depending on what’s fresh, as they change each day), grilled octopus with a tangy acidic sauce and perfect char, or even the light beef carpaccio.

White Hall restaurant offers menu of first-class steaks alongside classic side dishes and sauces. The origin of the meat is selected carefully and aged appropriately, for best results. White Hall is fussy about offering a professional service by a veteran team who speak several languages, grilling and serving steaks from different and various cuts, along with exceptional tasty sides and distinctive first courses, rich and varied wine menu that includes a plush variety of superb Israeli wines in all price range.

Gordo Beachfront Café – Bistro Gordo with view of the Mediterranean is a summery heaven on the boardwalk and the spectacular Gordon Beach, give its customers the sensation of entertainment, good food and drinks of supreme level. The place is spacious and spreads over 1110 sq.m. of different levels that create varied spaces and an indoor covered bar with an intimate atmosphere, the dominant colors are blue, brown and white that intertwine well with radiant sea calm. The concept brings together a selection of dishes for suitable an elegant dinner as well as a wild night out. The dishes are made with fresh uncompromised products. The menu combines a special twist expressed with Mediterranean touches of bold colors and combinations of special herbs and flavors.

Dita- One of Tel Aviv’s most established restaurants, has it all – a classy bar with a wide alcohol selection, private function V.I.P. room, a stunning garden which provides an island of tranquility in the heart of Tel Aviv, and a design that will leave you wanting more. The kitchen at Dita specializes in grilled meat, especially the exquisite entrecote – a dish that has acquired a reputation among this metropolis’ meat lovers, both inside and out. On weekends (Friday and Saturdays) between the hours of 8:00-13:30, the restaurant serves a rich and diverse brunch. On Sundays, it serves special business lunches from 12:00-18:00. Between the hours of 17:00-20:00 Dita hosts a happy hour, offering 1+1 for all drinks served at the bar.

For gay restaurants and cafes check out Landver is The coffee house of Tel Aviv's Gay Center in the middle of Meir Garden. Check out The Morning After - A queer brunch every Friday from 11am till 7pm43 Lilinblum St. Or Try Suzana, a gay friendly café at Neve Tzedek, Tel Avivs first neighborhood 9 Shabazi St.Daily 10am-2am.

Idelson 10 offers delicious cakes & pastries incl. light dishes on one of the main streets of Tel Aviv 117 Dizengoff St Sun-Thu 7:30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 8:30am-midnight

Other Gay Favourites include, Rif Raf 22 Gruzenberg street, phone 03-5600039, Orna and Ella , 33 Shenkin street, phone 03 5252085

With its art deco atmosphere, authentic Parisian menu and prime city-center location, Brasserie lures everyone from politicians to celebs, army officers to high-tech whiz kids. Do as they do and park yourself on one of Brasserie's rich wooden banquettes to enjoy Left Bank classics like oysters, steak tartare, braised short ribs and coq au vin.

Owned by Israeli-American fashion designer Elie Tahari (of Theory fame), Martha Kitchen and Bar is an all-hours hot spot with a tasty range of house-made vodkas (flavored with cinnamon, lavender or ginger) and a mod-Mediterranean menu. Come for lunch, followed by a visit to the nearby Tel Aviv Museum, or pop in for a late supper after artsy performances at the neighboring Tel Aviv Cinematheque.