Cafes line the streets of Tel Aviv with the cafe-culture truly flourishing. Cafes and bakeries open early, generally by 7pm so they’re the ideal place to stop for breakfast – Try the traditional shakshuka (an egg and tomato dish) or bourekas (savoury cheese pies) with your cup of coffee.
Here are the spots that made our list:
Cafe Zorik: With an atmosphere that is best described as boho-chic, Cafe Zorik serves fresh food, great vegan fare, and offers an outside area that’s both cosy and comfortable.
Address: Yehuda HaMaccabi St 4, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Nehama Vahetzi: Light, airy, and right in the heart of Habima, this cafe is also known for being one of the last places in Tel Aviv with indoor smoking, and one of the few of those with separate smoking and non-smoking areas.
Address: Ahad Ha’Am St 144, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Cafe Tachtit: With plenty of street-side seating, Cafe Tachtit is a quaint neighborhood cafe renowned for its quality coffee. It’s also a fantastic place to try an authentic Israeli breakfast to start your day.
Address: Lincoln St 9, Tel Aviv-Yafo, 67134
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* * *Cafe Louise: This is a large, late-night cafe (open until 4 am) with plenty of light during the day, perfect for a couple of hours of studying or a quick coffee. It serves very good food too, so it’s even great for grabbing a casual evening meal.
Address: Harugei Malkhut St 11, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *The Streets: The Streets is famous for its hip atmosphere, quality coffee, and amazing salads, but it’s worth stopping in to try the all-day breakfasts too. If you’re more of a night-owl, the menu offers a great selection of wines and bottled craft beers.
Address: King George St 70, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Cafe Bucke: Cafe Bucke now provides menus in English, but the staff have created such a friendly and accommodating atmosphere, it doesn’t really matter. This is a great place to sample some local Israeli dishes, with the ample sharing platters adding to the intimate, cosy feel of the place.
Address: Ahad Ha’Am St 91, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Tony Ve Esther: A hidden gem with a funky outdoors, upbeat vibe and all-day breakfasts, this late-night cafe is a Florentin favourite for locals and visitors alike.
Address: Levinsky 39, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Caffe Henrietta: The Cafe Henrietta crew have thought ahead and installed large, gazebo-like umbrellas to shade their ample outside area and protect their clientele from the sizzling Israeli sun. This, the excellent service, and the great coffee all make it a great spot to catch up with friends or work.
Address: Arlozorov St 186, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Cafe Bailik: Renowned for its delightful sandwiches, Cafe Bailik is a cool neighborhood spot to hang out, meet locals, and try some local Israeli food. They also feature quality live music acts in the evenings.
Address: Bialik St 2, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Jeremiah Cafe: Boisterous and fun, in true Tel Aviv style this lively cafe has floor-to-ceiling windows and a large patio area, with plenty of light and plenty of room to spend a few hours drinking great coffee or a glass of wine.
Address: Dizengoff St 306, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Little Prince Books: Full of books, nooks, and crannies, Little Prince Books is a must for bookworms and coffee addicts alike. It has a charming outside area – also full of books – and regularly hosts intimate events such as live readings, acoustic music, and poetry slams.
Address: King George St 19, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Cafe Xoho: This colourful cafe isn’t very large, and serves excellent food, so it can get quite crowded with visitors and locals eager to try the high-quality vegetarian and gluten-free options on offer. It’s well worth trying to find a spot here though, as it’s a charming cafe you won’t want to leave in a hurry.
Address: J. L. Gordon St 17, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Cafe Casbah de Florentin: This artsy cafe makes for a unique sight in Florentine, with a beautifully-decorated outside area and a speakeasy-style atmosphere. It serves everything from breakfast to beer, including great vegetarian options and a tasty Shakshuka.
Address: 79, Herzl St, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Yom Tov Cafe: With bare walls, mismatching furniture, and wonderful food, this cafe is hip, laid-back, and an authentic taste of the infamous Israeli cafe culture. Yom Tov Cafe is renowned for its distinctly bohemian vibes, as well as its selection of salads, and fun staff.
Address: Yom Tov St 30, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Cafe Nahat: A trendy micro-roastery, Cafe Nahat also offers an online store for those coffee addicts who prefer to enjoy good coffee from the comfort of their own home, but it’s also a very chic place to hang out that serves excellent wine and cocktails, too.
Address: Dizengoff Square, HaRav Reines St 1, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Lachmanina: Reasonably priced with fresh bread baked daily, Lachmanina is a local bakery that also serves high-quality meals. It’s the cakes and pastries that really draw the crowds. however!
Address: Marmorek St 4, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Cafelix: Cafelix is located in the heart of the Levinski food market, adding to the already very cool vibes that this quirky cafe has to offer. It also delivers a great cup of coffee, whether you’re a filter-drinker or espresso fiend, from friendly baristas who take the time to make sure they get your brew just right.
Address: Shlomo ha-Melekh St 12, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Dizengoff Cafe: Cosy on the inside and elegant and pretty on the outside. Situated on the funky Dizengoff Street, this is a cafe that aims to please and exceeds expectation, with care taken to provide for everyone from freelancers to social butterflies.
Address: Dizengoff St 190, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Babbette: A famous waffle joint in Israel. This place offers an impressively extensive menu of sweet and savoury Belgian waffles, which are renowned throughout Tel Aviv.
Address: Hafes Haim St 8, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Horkanus: With a pretty street-side terrace, Cafe Horkanus manages to be spacious yet cosy, with a varied menu serving vegetarian options and alcohol.
Address: Shlomo Ibn Gabirol St 187, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Cafe Shapira: Embedded into the local community – it’s even built around a tree! – Cafe Shapira is a charming mix of rustic and artistic, and a great place to take some time out of a busy day and chat with locals and regulars.
Address: Ralbag St 15, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Cafe Castel: The perfect location to while away some time sipping on excellent coffee and people watching. Cafe Castel is an independent coffee shop with friendly staff and all-day happy hours.
Address: Shlomo Ibn Gabirol St 153, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *WayCup Coffee: Stylish inside and out, this intimate cafe’s USP – besides wonderful coffee and some seriously talented baristas – is a wrap-around patio that gets a lot of sun, the perfect place for grabbing a quick (and quality) espresso.
Address: Yohanan HaSandlar St 23, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Caffe Kaymak: Local and community-fuelled. Caffe Kaymak fills an important place as a hole-in-the-wall neighborhood coffee shop, with a fun atmosphere, very good coffee, and vegan food.
Address: Levinsky 49, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Coffee Shop 51: A lovely airy space, with little distinction between outside and indoors, perfect for working or reading. Coffee Shop 51 also roast their own coffee in-house.
Address: Ahad Ha’Am St 51, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Lorenz&Mintz: An upmarket establishment since 1886. Lorenz&Minz is an elegant coffee shop and eatery with a calm atmosphere and tasteful décor.
Address: Schechter Center, Aharon Chelouche Ln 42, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Sidewalk Bistro Cafe: Conveniently located with an extensive and interesting beer menu, this place can get boisterous with live music and a party-style vibe in the evenings.
Address: Dizengoff St 130, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Dallal: Restuarant, bakery, and cafe. The food and beverages are exquisitely presented in all three, and you can be sure of excellent service to match. It is quite an upscale joint though, so expect prices to be slightly higher than elsewhere.
Address: Jabotinsky St 108, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Uber Cafe: Sweet and simple, this is a beautiful little urban cafe with seating on the sidewalks outside. Perfect for an evening of relaxing and people watching.
Address: Barzilai St 3, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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* * *Levinsky 41: Levinsky 41 is famed for its beverages: this is a tiny nook full of herbs, spices, leaves, and flavours that never fail to amaze and intrigue. The drinks that this tiny magic shop can produce are really quite spectacular – and for extra quirkiness, the seating area is in the back of an old tuk-tuk parked outside.
Address: Levinsky 41, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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Author
Tal Gur is a world traveler and personal development enthusiast. An adventurer at heart, after trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, Tal spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey continues as a location-independent blogger, lifestyle entrepreneur, and coach. Tal’s published two books: One Year to Freedom, a 1-Year Roadmap to Living Life on Your Own Terms; and, his most recent book and bestseller, The Art of Fully Living – 1 Man, 10 Years, 100 Life Goals Around the World.
