After the golden age that veganism saw at the end of the last decade, these are not amazing days to be a vegan foodie in Tel Aviv. And yet, despite several painful closures, the city still has enough excellent vegan restaurants to feed us all week long, with zero guilt
We’re pretty bummed to admit that this is not the moment of vegan restaurants. After enjoying a respectable bloom toward the end of the previous decade, recent years brought difficult times to the restaurant world, which severely hurt many vegan institutions that were forced to shut their doors – Dosa Bar, Alegria, Bana and 416 are just a few of the places left only to miss. But we’re here to honor those who are still with us, staying true to plant‑based ethics and cuisine, and doing it wonderfully.
>>טבע נאות: 10 המסעדות הטבעוניות הכי טובות בתל אביב
1. OPA
A meal at OPA, a fine‑dining restaurant masterfully led by chef Shirel Berger, is far more than an ordinary meal. Two years ago she was recognized by the 50 Best magazine, but we had already marked her from the start as a creative, fascinating, prolific chef. We learned to eat melon peel, fermented lychee, steamed radish leaves, and all sorts of things you’d never think were edible. Berger taught us that not only are they edible, but when they come out of her kitchen they’re unbelievably tasty and unique, offering a mix of flavors, textures, and aromas. How lucky we are to have such a special creation in the city.
375 NIS per person for a ten‑course meal, 8 Ha’Halutzim, Tel Aviv
2. Meshek Barzilay
An iconic Tel Aviv institution that embraced vegan, organic, farm‑to‑table cooking years before it was trendy. The restaurant began 20 years ago in Moshav Yarqona and moved to a stunning heritage building 12 years ago, feeding us ever since with excellent vegetables straight from the garden, wonderful stews, and delicious dishes you’d never guess were vegan. Beyond that, it’s simply pleasant to sit at Meshek, breathe, and eat fresh and healthy. Next to the restaurant there’s also a superb vegan deli where you’ll find cooked food and snacks for home.
6 Ahad Ha’am, Tel Aviv
3. J17
J17 on Yirmiyahu offers homey, comforting food in the form of various stews like wonderful handmade couscous with vegetables, bean pkaila, traditional Bukharian oshpelo, pea‑and‑artichoke stew, and more. There’s also a side of the menu leaning more toward the sleazy: hotdogs in buns with different toppings, vegan schnitzel with proper fries, kebab, lentil arayes, and all sorts of juicy burgers. The food is fresh, healthy, and very delicious, and the place is pleasant and comfortable to sit in. Also worth praising: their social work, continuing even now to voluntarily deliver fresh, hot meals to wounded civilians, evacuees, and vegan soldiers.
17 Yirmiyahu, Tel Aviv
4. Green Roll
If you ask the Japanese about vegan sushi, they’ll tell you there’s no such thing as sushi without fish. But we’re not Japan, and that has its advantages: Green Roll’s sushi is wonderful, varied, and based on vegetables and creative protein substitutes. Like cashew cheese, pea‑protein “tuna,” or torched mozzarella. The rolls are handmade, invested and surprising, featuring crispy sweet potato, various tofus, tempura flakes, Japanese oshinko, and more. And beyond sushi – there are vegetable gyozas, tempura veggies, and other fun things that arrive on your plate without fishing anyone out of the sea.
16 Ahad Ha’am, Tel Aviv
5. Liquidium
Not exactly a restaurant, but an artisanal cocktail laboratory – tight, meticulous, and entirely vegan. All cocktails are based on house‑made distillates and extracts, made using chemistry‑lab tools and techniques. No dairy, no egg – only clear, marvelous cocktails. Recently, the place opened to the public twice a week, serving alongside the cocktails a variety of small vegan dishes created on‑site: zucchini rösti with vegan yogurt and lemon, kastan bread with pecan pâté, reduced vermouth and finger lime, and a lahoh dish with miso eggplant. A place to drink and eat in absolute style, without harming a single creature. Nice.
2 HaTa’asiyah, Tel Aviv
6. Goodness
Goodness first opened as a vegan diner fulfilling every guilty craving – burgers, hotdogs, home fries, and other American‑style favorites we love (even if our bodies, well, love them less). Recently, the kitchen underwent a major makeover – still fully vegan, of course – but now focusing on vegetables, healthy plant proteins, and wonderful breakfast dishes café‑style. For breakfast you’ll find, for example, chickpea‑protein omelette served with portobello mushrooms and tahini, or an “egg” salad croissant with arugula, tomato, and pickles. For lunch, intriguing dishes like buckwheat crepe stuffed with vegetables, eggplant moussaka, RedeFine meat dishes, and more will satisfy your guilt‑free appetite.
32 King George, Tel Aviv
7. Anastasia
Anastasia on Frishman is much more than a vegan café. It’s a full‑fledged food house that breaks all the stereotypes about vegan food, showing that when done right, it’s excellent food that doesn’t feel lacking in any way. No wonder their soba‑noodle‑and‑cauliflower salad has become iconic, along with the shakshuka served with soft polenta balls, the shawarma bowl based on high‑quality seitan, the curry patties, and many others. Beyond everything, the food is highly crafted, healthy, and based on top‑quality ingredients – and you can taste it in every bite.
54 Frishman, Tel Aviv
8. The Green Cat
The Green Cat pizza shop opened over a decade ago, back when “cashew cheese” was a phrase only shouted by junkies on the street. And yet The Green Cat proved not only that it’s possible – it’s delicious. They’re known especially for their unique cheese layer, made from a mix of cashew spread and soy mozzarella, earning them eternal love from the vegan scene. The pizza uses thin dough, baked in a stone oven, and is absolutely delicious even for omnivores. Toppings like artichoke, vegan pepperoni, vegan tuna, almond parmesan, and arugula only add more glory to this vegan institution.
7 Levontin, Tel Aviv
9. Rainbow
A proper vegan diner known to vegans as a temple of fun, decadent indulgence. You’ll find portobello burgers, Beyond Meat, RedeFine, and the sensational burger. These patties attempt to mimic the bite of juicy beef or at least create an equally satisfying one. Whether they succeed or not – you can debate. What’s not up for debate is the great flavor and atmosphere that create an excellent burger experience. Shoutout also to the soft bun, a perfect base for any patty. At this rate, we’re not far from the day the vegan burger wins.
88 Ibn Gabirol
10. Alpaca Bar
It’s not a restaurant, but this vegan bar has plenty of vegan food, mostly bar‑style favorites and classics beloved by the city’s vegans. Beyond all cocktails being vegan, you’ll find classic pub comfort food perfect for hangovers: onion rings, fries, deep‑fried cauliflower florets, crispy tofu schnitzel fried in airy challah, Beyond Burger, Mexican wrap, Caesar salad, or thick, indulgent sandwiches with RedeFine meat and various delicious toppings. Drink with a peaceful heart.
40 Florentin, Tel Aviv
