Dining and Food
The best in Haifa: 10 dishes worth coming to Haifa for
There are many good restaurants and many crazy dishes, but is it worth traveling far for them? In the past I already wrote about 10 of these and now 10 more are joining: which dishes are so good that you should come to Haifa for them? Enjoy your meal.
The best dishes in Haifa: Lower City
Rasif's bread pudding 33
Rasif is especially worth coming to, period. The culinary bar of the Sama group, led by chef Hamudi Okla, has become one of the best restaurants in the city within a few months. The kitchen is a culinary melting pot of Haifa, one that mixes with perfect precision with dishes from the Galilean Arab cuisine and the Shami cuisine. Every dish on the menu is a "colored dish", but the last dishes are the icing on the cake. One dish in particular, elicits exclamations of admiration from everyone who orders it from the moment it is served to the table. Sighs of pleasure are heard after tasting. It's called Bread Pudding and it's a dish based on the mythical British dessert. There are hundreds of bread pudding recipes circulating in the culinary world, but none of them are similar to Chef Hamudi's recipe.
Rasif, 33 Hanamal, Haifa Lower City. Phone: 04-6638071. Facebook , Instagram
Wide pasta from Venya Bistro
Venya was opened at the time by Shahar Sivan and it made a buzz as soon as it opened. Since then, it has gone through several incarnations until chef Michael Gratofski came along. Lonia great dishes from Italian-French cuisine, but one surpasses them all - wide pasta, with asparagus, bacon, pesto and parmesan. On the face of it, it sounds like a simple dish, but simple is the new sophisticated. Venya Bistro seems to only get better over the years and what a tremendous achievement it is to be the pioneer of the neighborhood and still the best.
Roku's Omakase meal
"The best Japanese in Israel", that's how some of the restaurant critics and renowned culinary experts crowned her. When Roku opened, Kobi Shanan, the owner, defined it as an "omexa bar", which means - here you won't find rolls adapted to the Israeli palate with cream cheese or cones bursting with fish and sweet potato in tempura with spicy mayonnaise. Broco respects the status of the fish, even if it is from the Mediterranean, and serves only nigiri, with aesthetics playing a major role here. The Omakase meal varies according to what the sea has to offer, so I cannot recommend one dish, but the whole experience. About 15 nigiri dishes from the dreams come to you at a relatively slow pace for Israel. But it's an exciting display of a deft hand and out-of-the-box thinking. Not cheap, but justifies the use of the finest raw materials and the presentation.
Open only Tuesday-Friday from 19:00-22:00.
Barda's Asparagus Croissant
What has not been written about the small Haifa business opened by Daniel Adler Tripon and Yarik Petrenko, which has become one of the most desirable places in the city. Barda opened a window to the culinary transformation that the lower city went through (and is still going through), and it is possible to crown him as a pioneer and a magnet. Barda has pastries. Full of pastries. Sweet, salty, breads, exact sandwiches and atmosphere. Like any self-respecting bakery, Breda has beautiful croissants with a wide variety of fillings. There are the sweet banals like butter, chocolate, pistachio and nougat, crème pâtissier and berries. There are savory fillings of spinach, leek and there is the one that always ignites my imagination and hunger glands - Asparagus Croissant! For him it is worth coming to Haifa.
Barda, 6 Hanamal St., and 21 Sirkin St., Haifa. Facebook , Instagram
Barda Marine, 10 Khativ Alley, Lower City, Haifa. Instagram
Cheese borax and fresh za'atar from Izmir Turkish borax
At Borax Izmir, which is also one of the wonderful stops on my baker tour, they use raw flour instead of margarine, butter or oil. The raw tahini gives a unique taste and of course makes the borax healthier or less-unhealthy, you choose. There is also a wonderful water borax here, but if you have arrived in the lower city and you just want to have a snack, pray that we will stay from the za'atar borax. Every morning, fresh za'atar arrives from Wadi Nissans and goes into the mix of Gibni - this is the famous Arab cheese. They are inserted into the crispy dough and together create a rare borax that cannot be found anywhere else.
Turkish Borex Izmir, Moshe Aharon 8, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 072-3713018. Facebook , Instagram
The best dishes in Haifa: Bat Galim
Dolphin's business
One of the oldest fish restaurants in Haifa and when you enter it, it seems that time has stopped. Veterans of the city know how to tell that this was a luxury restaurant for the rich only, or those who saved all year to celebrate an important event. Yaron's parents took me here when we first met, probably a (successful) attempt to impress me. In any case, they used to serve lobster tails by weight, today the menu consists of fish, seafood and meat. They used to come to her because of the Greek salad, because such a delicious salad was not served outside the borders of Piraeus. Today you will find one in every cafe. I would like to recommend one overall dish, which is a bit unusual, and that is Dolphin's business, which is served five days a week. True, you can easily be mistaken and think that you have arrived at an oriental restaurant, because the table is covered entirely with saucers with salads. But what salads! The page is too short to contain the description of all of them, just know that apart from the great hummus, all the salads can be refilled. And why not hummus? Because it doesn't come in a saucer, but in a deep dish, and this is not a hummus-chips-salad restaurant. For the main dish you can choose between several options. There are whole fish and there are also fish that are poached, fried or in the oven with herbs. I recommend half and half. Half a shrimp cooked in cream and half a fried calamari, the best you've ever eaten in Bay Per.
Dolphin, 13 Bat Galim Ave., Bat Galim, Haifa. Phone: 04-8523837. Facebook
The best dishes in Haifa: Vadi Nisnas
Lollipops from the Abu-Shakara butcher shop
Don't let the name confuse you, it's not candy unless meat is candy for you too. With us, yes, and also with Marwan Abu-Shakara. This butcher shop is back here with lots of recommendations and guides, especially in the guide to the best sandwiches in Haifa. By and large, it's worth coming to Haifa for Abu Shakara, period. But the lollipops, mini meat rolls on a yakitori skewer, are Marwan's invention and are only available here. It is recommended to eat on the spot as part of a meat platter and take home trays to sear on a griddle or barbecue.
Abu-Shakara butcher shop, 38 Hori, Wadi Nisnas, Haifa. Phone: 04-8517652. Facebook , Instagram
The best dishes in Haifa: Hadar
The sandwich of Sandwich Bar Bracha
You can read the story of "before and after" in the Haifa sandwich guide , and only because of this Haifa institution, the guide was written at all. The classic Bracha sandwich has been alive and kicking for over 50 years. Always the same taste, with the same ingredients, seasoned with pearls of tongue that spill out of the commander's mouth, and with the sweet smiles of her daughter Sigi. The modest place is managed with a high hand, in exemplary order and with brilliant cleanliness. There is a modest menu to choose from, but if it's your first time, Bracha won't let you slip away from the classics. As soon as you order, a huge bun baked on the spot will be placed on the plancha to be lightly heated for a pleasant crispiness. Then slices of sausages will be piled on that plancha - among them ham, Italian mortadella, salami and pastrami. Slices of yellow cheese will be placed on top of them to melt. In the meantime, the bread is spread with homemade and spicy mayonnaise (if you ask without it, Bracha will throw "Ashkenazi cowards" at you), tomato, pickle and a leaf of fresh lettuce. At the right moment, the baggage from the planch.
Sandwich Bar Bracha, 12 Shabtai Levy, Hadar, Haifa. Phone: 04-8524394. Facebook , Instagram
The shushbarak of Arabesque
Akram and Idan's path to my heart passed through Shushbarak on my plate... Arabeska is one of the more refreshing places in the Talpiot market. You can read the story about her in the complete guide to the Talpiot market, and if in the guide I didn't manage to recommend one dish that is above the rest, because they are all good, today I am ready to shout loudly with a megaphone like in the market. Arabesque's shushbarak is a dish worth traveling for especially.
Arabeska, Lunts 7, Haifa. Phone: 058-7202007. Facebook , Instagram
Crockett or barzaola of bittersweet
I apologize in advance but I tried to choose, I even made a tree or a tile. No result satisfied me, so I am forced to choose these two small and wonderful dishes as dishes that I must come to Haifa for. The truth is that Kharamorut has been so accurate since its opening, and it is in my opinion in the top-5 list of restaurants and bars in Haifa (not ranking, but...). You'll thank me after you taste the barzaola crudo on toasted brioche and sour cream or shrimp croquette and roasted chicken skin alongside pickled horseradish.
Hammarort, Sirkin 27, Talpiot Market Haifa. Instagram
Recommended Italian restaurants in Haifa
Eat in Haifa like in Italy: the best Italian restaurants in Haifa
I already wrote in my story about Omar the elder who qualified the pizza he ate here in the past as "the best pizza in town". And he knows. This is a bar-restaurant from the Cinta Bar group , with really happy Italian food. There is a small garden in front of the restaurant, suitable for the autumnal weather that has sprung upon us. In the evening it's nice to sit around the bar that breaks out onto a covered and green terrace. The pastas are made by hand in the family factory, with the emphasis on freshness and quality raw materials. Favorite dish? All entrees!
Who is it recommended for? For lunch and afternoon the restaurant is very family friendly. As evening falls, it turns into a happy gastro-bar and is recommended to young and old guys who like to drink and be happy.
Mambo Milano, Moriah 127, Ahuza, Haifa. Phone: 077-2302550. Facebook , Instagram
Despite the name, the place does not serve only pizzas but real Italian cuisine. The menu consists of fresh pasta dishes that are thrown into the water upon receiving the order, refreshing salads with products purchased that morning at the market and interesting main dishes. Don't be mistaken by the sloppy appearance, this is a relatively upscale market restaurant, and its prices accordingly. But worth every penny. The menu changes according to the seasons: what I recommend today, may no longer be relevant tomorrow. What is certain, the atmosphere will always remain embracing and pleasant.
Who is it recommended for? Culinary enthusiasts and connoisseurs of interest in the real Italy, not America's Italy (-: also perfect for couples and small families.
What else is around? Talפiot Market is one of the most developing and fun areas to visit in Haifa. Beyond the row of restaurants on Sirkin Street, you can also visit the special "Plant Market" nursery in the building located on the nearby 21 Sirkin Street. The plant market also has a crazy roof that is worth a visit, where there is also "Roof 21" - a new rooftop bar with a live DJ and alcohol (no food). You can also tour the historic Hadar neighborhood and finish with a good meal at Talpiot Pizzeria.
Venya Bistro is not a classic Italian restaurant: the food served by chef Michael Gratopsky is based on the entire Mediterranean basin. The selection of Italian dishes is relatively large for such a precise and limited menu, so it cannot be ignored in a review of Italian food in Haifa. There are wonderful pizzas (mini pizzas), such as the white pizza with crispy bacon and the margherita pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, sun salad with burrata, handmade gnocchi with tomatoes, basil and parmesan, black linguine with seafood, garlic, white wine, tomatoes and olive oil, fresh hand-torn pasta with thinly sliced sheitel, peas, mushrooms, butter and parmesan and spicy spaghetti with deboned sea fish, tomatoes, capers and basil . Just choose.
Who is it recommended for? Fans of haute cuisine and fans of chef Michael Gartfoski , and anyone looking for good, accurate food and atmosphere. Recommended: sit at the bar in front of the open kitchen or on the sidewalk outside and soak up the port city atmosphere.
What else is around? Underground city, did I say? I said The restaurant's kitchen closes early and you can combine dinner with finishing in one of the downtown bars. You can find recommended bars here in my nightlife guide.
Lower City, Palmer Gate 1, Haifa. Phone: 04-6716272. Facebook , Instagram
Fat Vinny opened in the middle of the Corona crisis and at first only worked on deliveries. A baptism of fire is not easy for restaurants and Italian food in particular. Over time, the restaurant gained a large following, probably due to the combination of traditional Italian cuisine with the New Age of a New York diner. The pastas are fresh and prepared on the spot in front of the diners; The focaccia and pizzas are rolled at the moment of ordering and baked in a stone oven; The desserts are surprising and the ice cream is homemade.
Who is it recommended for? A large and lively restaurant, perfect for families with children, social gatherings and young people.
What else is around? The location in the entrances of the city and in the mall area allows for a combination with shopping, a tour or a football game in the nearby Sami Ofer stadium, extreme attractions such as karting, climbing wall and paintball and of course a cinema. Admit that there is nothing like a movie and a good pizza...
Fat Vinny, Azrieli Mall Haifa, Moshe Pliman, 4. Phone: *2730. Facebook , Instagram
Italiano de la Costa is undoubtedly the restaurant with the most beautiful view in the city. When it combines with Italian food and ingredients from the Arab-Mediterranean cuisine, the result is accordingly. The menu includes pastas, pizzas, main dishes, salads and desserts, but there are some dishes that the chef particularly recommends. These are dishes that combine the styles - modern and contemporary, with the familiar classic: Jerusalem artichoke gnocchi, Italian shushbark , Nero and seafood risotto , tomato cream tagliolini and Jibna pizza.
Who is it recommended for? The restaurant is very large and its location is perfect for both romantic couples and families with children and large social gatherings.
What else is around? Thanks to its location on the boardwalk and near the cable car station, you can combine the meal with a cable car ride and a visit to Stella Maris, the Navy Museum, the National Maritime Museum and more. If you came for a bit of romance, you can read about recommendations in the area here.
Italiano de la Costa, 96 Aliya II, Bat Galim, Haifa. Phone: 04-6601011. Facebook , Instagram
Respect to all of Italy: VIVINO
When Vivino burst into our lives, we Haifa people fell in love with the second. The restaurant aimed high from the day it opened and quickly broke through the borders of Haifa. Oded Strauss , Dadi Zoraf and Eli Hadadi created such a precise concept, and continue to replicate the success with nine branches from north to south (soon two more will be opened). The food in Vivino is excellent, but what captivates is the pampering hospitality for everyone and the attention to detail. The polenta , burrata , mushroom risotto and every other dish on the menu are especially delicious . In the pizza section: the tastiest Hawaiian style pizza I've ever eaten.
Who is it recommended for? For small and large families, with or without children, and also for couples.
What's around? The restaurant is right in front of Romema Hall where basketball games and music concerts are held from time to time. The nearby Haifa Grand Mall is a perfect shopping experience. The proximity of the restaurant to the Carmel Tunnels and Nahal Givorim Road makes Vivino a short and convenient destination for those entering and leaving the city.
Vivino, 1 Elizabeth Square at Delek Paz gas station, Romema, Haifa. Phone: 04-8229454. Facebook , Instagram
Meats in Haifa: the most recommended meat dishes
The best meat restaurants in Haifa - Lower City
Meats in Haifa: roast beef from the "Ha'ogen" pub
It deserves to open the list: firstly because of its seniority: this is the oldest pub in Israel. The pun was opened in 1942 and served mainly British soldiers. Later it became the home of sailors from all over the world when they docked in the city. Second, thanks to the delicious roast beef sandwich prepared by Gili Pincus, a second generation anchor who knew how to move the place forward while still maintaining authenticity. He did it with a lot of respect for his late father Joske, who passed away this year at the age of 94. Since it entered the menu, and that was many years ago, this roast beef sandwich has been a winning dish. Apparently it's simple, but it's all a matter of relationships, between the amount of meat and the bread I am never disappointed when I order this dish, so I recommend it to you too.
"Ha'ogen", Palmer Gate 3, Lower City, Haifa. Phone : 053-7014302. Facebook , Instagram
Kebab battle: Yaakov Kebab vs. Johnny Kebab
Those who do not understand what the commotion is about are the ones who will treat the kebab as another meatball. Sometimes flat, sometimes round and chubby and sometimes elongated. Meatballs in Haifa cause long and intense battles to determine who is the best. It starts with falafel meatballs and continues with meatballs. I'm not going to decide here which kebab is tastier. Both of these places are popular and must be visited. Johnny Kebab opened in 1962 and since then it maintains the same level and with the same captive audience. Yaakov Kebab opened in the Turkish market in 1986 and later grew and opened two more branches. You can sit down to eat on the spot and you can grab a pita or baguette on the way. The prices in both are insanely cheap, with the emphasis being on more authenticity, less Instagram.
Yaakov Kebab, Moshe Aharon 10, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 04-8521168. Facebook , Instagram
Ya'akov Kebab, 20 Aliya II, Bat Galim, Haifa. Phone: 04-8521168.
Yaakov Kebab, 21 Eilat Street, Kiryat Haim. Phone: 04-8428422.
Johnny Kebab, Bankim 12, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 052-3513901. Facebook
The best meat restaurants in Haifa - Vadi Nisnas
Meat platter: Abu Shakara butcher shop
It is very little wisdom to recommend the meat platter at Marwan's Italian restaurant. It has the finest meats in Haifa, and you can actually choose what you want to be put on your plate. There are combinations that Marwan put together and are part of the menu, but if you are a control freak you can manage the event. Don't miss the lollipops that entered the list of 10 dishes worth coming all the way to Haifa for, or the sandwiches that entered the list of the best sandwiches in Haifa.
Abu-Shakara butcher shop, 38 Hori, Wadi Nisnas, Haifa. Phone: 04-8517652. Facebook , Instagram
The best meat restaurants in Haifa - Matam and Naot Peres
Meats in Haifa: Sinta Bar
Sinta Bar is defined by the owner as an urban bistro bar and is a deli with fresh cuts from local carts. The meat is marbled to a high standard and the pieces go through a controlled process of aging on the bone for a month. All the meat dishes are roasted in a charcoal oven and this is what makes the difference from meat roasted on the plancha. There are two meat dishes that I really like: the first is sirloin served with bone marrow, demi-glas beef and a side dish. The second, filet with onion cream, Bordeaux sauce, chestnuts and side dish. Both are excellent, and the choice between them is according to the type of slice you like more.
Sinta Bar, Netiv Hor 1, in front of Sami Ofer Stadium. Phone: 04-6661829. Facebook , Instagram
The best meat restaurants in Haifa - Carmel
Meats in Haifa: everything at a premium barbecue grill
Next to the Tzafririm 1 pub at the entrance to Carmelia, a small place was opened half a year ago, branded as premium barbecue. The meat (and the vegetables and fish) is made in front of the customer's eyes, on a charcoal grill. The meat menu includes kebabs, chicken, chicken tenderloins, veal tenderloin, chicken livers, hearts, chicken breast, wings, mixed meat, brain, picania and entrecote. I love the juicy kebab and I know that it took the owners of the place many attempts to get the right mixture and turn it into a perfect patty. The place is also kosher.
Tzafririm 1, Moriah 54, Carmelia, Haifa. Phone: 04-8324244. Facebook , Instagram
Meats in Haifa: The Duke's cordon bleu
If until now we have been dealing with kebabs and steaks, the time has come to create the perfect finale of the list. This time I'm taking you on a European tour, which starts in the British Isles and continues to the continent, through France until landing in cool Switzerland. The British Isles because this is what this old pub looks like, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. With heavy wooden furniture, premium bottles in impressive showcases, fine food and bartenders who understand alcohol. I like a lot of dishes in this place, about which I have already written in the Haifa nightlife guide , but there is one in particular. The Cordon Bleu, which is a Swiss dish, is also a favorite in neighboring France. It is usually made of veal breast, or chicken breast, stuffed with ham and Emmental or Gruyère cheese, coated with breadcrumbs and fried. You can call it upgraded schnitzel, the French call it blue ribbon. I'm really interested in knowing about anything.
HaDiouk, 107 Moriah Ave., Safar Square (estate), Haifa. Phone: 04-8347282. Facebook, Instagram
Ethnic foods and Jewish food in Haifa
As far as Jewish ethnic foods are concerned, Haifa has a special variety of restaurants and eateries. Some are famous throughout the country, some are popular, small and unknown.
Ethnic cuisine and Jewish food in Haifa: Shula Tevereini kitchen
Shula's menu is limited and precise, it is based on the Shami food, which originated in Syria and Lebanon and was adopted by the Jews of Tiberias into their cuisine. There are several starters that will appeal to every palate and as mains you will find: Kabburi (fish patties) served on chickpeas and thick tahini; wonderful beef meatballs in lemon sauce served with rice noodles and crispy cauliflower; Pickled beet leaf fritters served with majedra and green onion yogurt; Stretched filletIn a sour sauce and herbs served with rice noodles.
Shula - Tabreini Kitchen, Palmer Gate 2, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 04-6340799. Facebook , Instagram
Balkan Hamara: The Bulgarian
When radio broadcaster Erez Yacovi and chef Jacky Razon thought of opening a restaurant together, they thought of hummus. The discovery that they are both grandsons of Bulgarian grandmothers decided surprisingly in favor of Balkan cuisine with a squint to the surrounding neighbors: from Turkey, Greece and even Poland. And it's good that it was so. A second before a global epidemic took over us, the two opened a restaurant in the lower city, on a small side street that goes by the name of Khatib Alley. So when they first opened, even Haifaites didn't know this street, which today has already become the next thing in the local scene. The menu consists of many starters, those that are suitable for sharing and you should taste them all. The portions are not big, but not expensive either. There are also alternating main dishes that are written on the board. It is recommended not to miss the Bulgarian Benitsa pastry with chard leaves and cheese, the Polish egg and chopped liver salad, Tulum cheese on a spread of tomatoes and smoked peppers, tziziki and tchotchki in York with an egg for the brave .
The Bulgarian - Hamara Balkanit, 8 Khativ Alley, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 053-739-3005. Facebook, Instagram
Eastern European pub: "Ma'ayan habira"
In its first incarnation, the pub was a butcher shop and a sausage factory, opened by Nachum Meir, a member of a butcher family from Poland. In 1962, the place became a workers' restaurant and tavern, frequented by port workers, swinging sailors, wagoners and after-hours workers. Over the years, the place became very popular among the bohemians of Tel Aviv, and the media took care of Pampam about its wonders. And really, only those who do not have a tendency to calcification of arteries will be able to enjoy a wonderful kostica, or smoked and fatty pork ribs . Ashkenazim are sure that they will go to heaven after these dishes, especially after the karpelach platemixed, some potatoes and some meat, on top of which is placed a pile of sweet fried onions. Today Reuven, Nahum's son and his children manage the place with him. The place doubled and even tripled in size, but the menu remained the same. With excellent Eastern European dishes and a large variety of beers on tap, which are poured at the right temperature, a rather rare commodity in bars in Israel.
The beer spring, Nathanzon 4, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 04-8623193. Facebook , Instagram
Romanian food: from Mamaliga
The repertoire of dishes on the menu, from the starters to the mains, is quite similar in all of them, but Mamliga has the overall experience. Whether it's the embroidered maps, or the traditional costumes that hang on the walls.
On Friday afternoons, the revelers embrace the past together with the house singer and it is better to reserve a place in advance.
Mamaliga, Bankim 1 corner of Ha'tsamat, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 04-8520544. Facebook
Tunisian food: Djerba
Now you will understand a little what it means to grow up in Netanya and leave it: it is to agree only after massive pressure from the environment, to taste a Tunisian sandwich outside of the city that is considered the kingdom of the friksa. After I surrendered (not without pate, but what can I do, in the battle against carbohydrates I always lose), it is always (but always) before the first bite, to utter the following sentence out loud: "Let's see if it compares to Netanya". No need to continue. What a surprise awaited me when I tasted for the first time the Tunisian of Yaffe Shmilovich, the owner of Majerba in Talpiot Market. What a blessing was the defeat in Djerba, a head-to-head competitor of the Netanya sandwich. The principle of the place, that every day a different Tunisian dish is served. The couscous is also excellent, and together with a whip of arak tanim that she makes herself, it is better to make an appointment for the Shnat. Djerba is also listed in the complete guide to Talpiot market.
Djerba, Sirkin 21, Talpiot Market, Haifa. Phone: 050-7263796. Facebook , Instagram
Iraqi Kuba: Momo's Kuba
Momo is a kind of Jerusalem Rahmo, only without the atmosphere of the authentic market. It's still a cuba paradise: they have several types of cuba - oblong or flat, rice cuba, or vegetarian. There are samboskies filled with all kinds of fillings and there is kobe in soup. There is beet kuba and okra kuba, hamusta kuba (sour and the tastiest) and pumpkin kuba. There is also a bowl for a final course filled with dried fruits and served with rose water. Probably due to pressure from the customers, they also added salads and grilled meats, and you have both a perfect lunch and shopping for a holiday table.
Momo's Cove, Kastra Mall, Pliman 8, Haifa. Phone: 077-4142473. Facebook , Instagram
Argentinian Jewish food: At Bar's and Geri's
Yes, it is very surprising to hear about an Argentinian restaurant that is also vegan and vegetarian. They are meat lovers, aren't they? Well, this place is a little different. Barbara and Gary immigrated to Israel during the Corona period and decided to open a small place that would perpetuate Jewish-Argentinean cuisine: when South America meets Ashkenazi countries. The menu includes a variety of "old time" dishes such as empanadas , umita - an Argentinian vegetable stew; " colorful pie" ; Alfahors and more.
At Bar's and Geri's , Sirkin 22 (on the corner of the alley of Gush Halab), Talpiot market Haifa . Instagram
Arab food in Haifa: my recommended restaurants
Arab restaurants in Haifa: not just hummus, chips and salad
Once upon a time, and it wasn't that long ago, there were oriental restaurants here that provided us with the necessary orientation to feel the Middle East. They appealed mainly to the Haifa people, but also beckoned to domestic tourists, who came to Haifa to enjoy "coexistence" (a concept that we, at least, managed to eradicate in favor of something more harmonious - shared existence). The old Arab restaurants, such as Maxim, Abu Yosef (in Ford and Maginim), Eskander, Allenby, Matza and the like, had a stunt - to cover every millimeter of the table with salad plates and hope that the diners will also order a main course. This phenomenon gradually disappeared mainly because of cost-benefit considerations. Later, restaurants appeared, mostly on Ben Gurion Boulevard, that were a little more sophisticated, such as Duzan, Petush and Strudel. It's no longer just hummus-chips-kebab, but a mish-mash of Lebanese-Syrian food (arais, vine leaves and shoshbarak), mixed with a little Italian, a little French, food defined as "Mediterranean".
Arab restaurants in Haifa: my recommendations
In recent years, some of the most respected Arab chefs in Israel have joined the local scene. Their dishes seek to avoid definitions such as "Arab" or "Mediterranean", but do not take them far away. After all, the Middle East dictates to us the use of sheep, fish, olive oil and herbs. The hope is that the cuisine in Israel will balance out and Arab food will become "local", current Middle Eastern food. In this list I included the three schools of thought, which know how to live in peace with each other, in a sort of new Middle East.
Recommended Arabic restaurants in Haifa: Lower City
Lux
Chef Alaa Moussa's Lux advocates the use of all those local ingredients - unloading, tahini, wild herbs, local fish, schnitzel... In the episode dedicated to Lux in the program "We are on the napkin", the chef explained that he simply takes his mother's food for a personal and up-to-date interpretation. And really, this is a food that has been here for hundreds of years and everyone is welcome to give it their own interpretation. what to order Everything!
Lux, Hanamel 13, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 077-2060970. For online orders click here. Facebook , Instagram
Rolla
When Rolla opened on Moriah Ave., it was like dropping a bomb. The rumor about a Levantine chef restaurant in Carmel spread and the lines outside indicated that something was happening. Slow food from the Semitic cuisine had not been in Haifa until then and the crowd devoured what shushbarak , khiar and levan , mint meatballs , shishtwak and the Orfa kebab dish . After two years, Moin Halabi and Rolla Div decided to change locations and settled in an emerging complex of excellent restaurants in the lower city and have been there ever since. Each of the dishes I mentioned is excellent.
Rolla, 33 Hanamal, Lower City, Haifa. Phone : 04-8383866. Facebook , Instagram
Ein Huadi
In an arched structure from the Ottoman period, in one of the most authentic places in Haifa, is Ein Huadi. Father and son cook in it, with each having their own personal touch of Lebanese cuisine. Some people like stuffed. There are people, like me, who love stuffed dough and Bein Huadi has the entire collection. Petayer , Sefiha , Sambusk and also Cuba. The maklova and sanya are excellent, as well as all the first courses.
Ein Huadi, 140 Ha-Atzmaat, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 04-8553353. Facebook
Recommended Arab restaurants in Haifa: Bat Galim
Njama
In September, after many postponements due to the corona virus, the restaurant Najama (Star) opened on the seafront of Bat Galim led by chef Asil Sharif . A chef from the new generation of Arab chefs who decided that Haifa is the place for the new cuisine - dishes they grew up with at home, but with their personal touches and interpretation. The place is amazing in its beauty and the dishes are extravagantly beautiful and delicious.
Najama, 96 Aliya Second St., Bat Galim, Haifa. Phone: 04-8111105. Facebook , Instagram
Recommended Arab restaurants in Haifa: Talpiot market
Arabesque
The tiny restaurant in Talfiot Market offers dishes that have been passed down for generations in Amal Abd's family, who learned the secret recipes of her grandmother who used to cook in banquet halls. Her son Akram and his partner Idan Madev are partners in the venture, the purpose of which, beyond making a living, is to rehabilitate and cultivate the Talpiot market by allocating a portion of the profits for this purpose. Abed was the first woman to own the market stalls in the 1980s. As much as she succeeded as a tough business woman, she acquired more and more scams, until one day 15 years ago, her world came to a halt. Her son, Akram's brother, was killed in an accident and she became withdrawn. Akram gave the restaurant to his mother as a birthday present and since then her life has changed. I like all the dishes, but I will try to choose: Lebanese kuba filled with meat, chicory or hummus; Amal's kuba filled with lamb or chicory cooked in yogurt and za'atar leaves; Ajinat al-Seth- Grandma's dough seasoned with zaatar leaves, rolled with meat, vegetable, leek and zaatar filling, spinach and cheese or Roquefort; Cigars filled with meat or cheese and spinach.
Arabesque, Lunts 7, Talpiot Market, Haifa. Phone: 058-7111983. Facebook , Instagram
Recommended Arabic restaurants in Haifa: the German colony
Nabila
It is true that it is not the same hype that was when I first arrived in Haifa. Today they call themselves Ham Nabila restaurant and define the food as Lebanese gourmet. I mainly remember the long lines that stretched to the sidewalk outside. I still remember the tension of whether I would have enough of the dishes I liked, because those who arrived a little late were greeted by refrigerators and empty pies. Nabila has a lot of great dishes, but their koba , the meat and the vegetarian, are the flagship dishes.
Nabila, Tel Aviv 1, the German Colony, Haifa. Phone: 04-8521792. Facebook
Strudel
Despite its name, this is not an Austrian cafe but a restaurant owned by the brothers Alaa and Issa Asad . The two serve Arabic food with a twist, but always remain faithful to the source - the food they grew up on in their mother's house in Haifa. Every few months they renew the menu, but the basis always remains the food of my mother who also occasionally comes to the restaurant to check the dishes herself and how far they have strayed from the original. For those who are not fans of the genre, there are also pasta dishes and pizzas from the tabon.
I love Posy's chicory; the Muajnat platter containing koba, asifah, meat sambusak, cheese sambusak alongside fresh vegetables from the market; Shih al Mahshi - baby zucchini filled with smoked friki, Turkish spinach and yogurt cream.
Strudel, 39 Ben Gurion Ave., the German Colony, Haifa. Phone: 077-7004312. Facebook , Instagram
Duzan
Duzan can no longer be considered Middle Eastern, because the food that comes out of her kitchen reflects the entire Mediterranean basin. The menu reflects a multitude of cultures, and they believe that the meeting between East and West equals fine food. Shishbarak ravioli with warm yogurt and fresh mint is an example of an excellent combination with both Italian and Lebanese cuisine. Alongside first courses from Lebanese cuisine, fresh pastas prepared on site and fragrant pizzas are served. The restaurant is located in an ancient Templar house built in 1870 with eclectic furniture, special seating areas and a sweet smile welcomes you from the owner Fadi Najjar .
Duzan, 35 Ben Gurion Ave., the German Colony, Haifa. Phone: 04-852-5444. Facebook , Instagram
Recommended Arabic restaurants in Haifa: Carmel Center
Eklati
Aklati, which serves authentic Semitic cuisine, was opened by chef Hussam Abid in the center of Carmel. After 20 years in the profession, of which 16 years at the Allenby restaurant, he decided to set out on his own with the food of his mother and, in fact, of all the girls in the family, on which he grew up. This means many authentic dishes, which are not always served in restaurants, such as salted chicken (in season), family makluba and lamb mansaf . The menu includes all traditional dishes such as stuffed; Shishbarak in goat yogurt; chicken tenderizer; Mograbia - chicken legs and bloody twist and hummus grains; Tomato kefir or tahini and many salads.
Aklati, Bikurim 2, corner of Hanasi Ave. 139, Carmel Center, Haifa. Phone: 04-8182182. Facebook , Instagram
Recommended Arabic restaurants in Haifa: Neve Shanan
Khaled Adoui
Adoi is the type of oriental restaurant I wrote about in the opening. One that will serve you plates of salads that will cover the entire table, which will be joined by main dishes from the grill, but there are also traditional dishes. It seems that the people of Haifa do not need to introduce the restaurant. If you have arrived from out of town, or you are returning from a trip in the north, this is the restaurant that is worth a stop, especially for large to huge families. This is also the restaurant that is fun to stop by on Friday, to fill the fridge with a variety of salads, Cuban and stuffed.
Khaled Adoi, Derech Yaakov Dori 20, Sonol gas station Facebook , Instagram
Nightlife: recommended bars and pubs in Haifa
It doesn't matter if Haifa falls asleep early, what matters is what Haifa does before going to bed... If you're looking for a gastro bar, a cocktail bar, an old-time pub, a concert bar or just to have a drink with locals - here's a nightlife guide: the bars and pubs. My recommended ones in Haifa.
When they say nightlife in Haifa, I answer: "Define night...?". Not because there is no nightlife here, but simply because it is different. If we go with the theory that Haifa is a bit foreign, in the field of nightlife it is very foreign. The hours of recreation here are relatively early and those who go out to hang out at midnight are mainly teenagers and young people in their twenties plus. Here the bars and pubs are full to capacity sometimes already between 8 and 9 in the evening. Around midnight they will start to empty. This is wonderful to me and super logical. It is not clear to me who likes to drink at 2 in the morning, sleep 4 hours and get up for work dead of hunger and with a hangover. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we cracked the essence of the good life: go out early, drink and eat well early, go to bed early and God forbid.
In the Nightlife guide: recommended pubs and bars in Haifa you will find all my favorite places and also a recommended list according to areas of the city, for your convenience. Most importantly: there is Gett here, Carmelit and even public transportation on Shabbat. There is no reason to drive and drink.
Intimate gastro-bar: Rive West
A few weeks have passed since the culinary bar Rive West opened in the lower city and already it can be said that there is nothing like it in Haifa. Something about the precise menu alongside the special cocktails, concocted by a mixologist expert in mixing and distilling, blend into the careful design of the space and the soft lighting, designed around one brown sofa. Remember Joey, Chandler, Monica, Ross, Rachel and Phoebe?
This is a small place opened by chef Nabil Hana , his partner Roxanne Rose and his brother Elias who are also the ones who designed the place. The girlfriends and I flew. About the design, the atmosphere, the attention and the dishes. Green salad and smoked dates , with pecans, tarragon vinaigrette and Manchego cheese. Marinated sirloin with seasonal fruit, balsamic and blue cheese. But the dish that made everyone shut up and surrender to the pleasure was shrimp bread pudding with artichoke a la Romana, moist tomatoes, sage butter and gruyere cheese. boom!
Rive West, Derech Jaffa 48, Lower City, Haifa. To reserve a place through o ntopo , phone : 077-3320140
Authenticity of the past: The Anchor pub
When making a list about Haifa's nightlife, there is no way to ignore the anchor, the oldest pub in Israel (yes, in Israel!). To the place that was opened in 1942 during the Mandate days, British soldiers and sailors who missed home flocked and found solace by sipping alcohol until they passed out. Over the years, the pub was frequented by many seafarers, and one could easily mistake it for a bar in one of the countries of the Mediterranean basin, because of the night of languages. In the 1960s, Yoske Pincus bought the place and since then it has become a real institution and his son Gili continues his way.
The walls are full of pictures, souvenirs and memories, the bar is full of drinks, the beer taps flow liquid at the right temperature and the kitchen puts out dishes that have become legends. Like, for example, a home-made roast beef sandwich, which is the flagship dish.
The Anchor, Palmer Gate 3, Lower City, Haifa. Phone: 053-7014302. There is no website.
A little Talpiot: Yodi Bar Food
Ever since Talfiot Pizzeria left the small place on Sirkin Street, we have been waiting to see who will enter and what will open there. The answer came within 3 months: Yodi , a market food bar. What does market food bar mean? On the purity of the rules of the genre - an effortless atmosphere, a menu whose base is fixed and most of it changes, sharing dishes and local alcohol as much as possible in a light and welcoming market atmosphere. A great place for a light night atmosphere, also at noon. Don't miss the olive oil cocktail that is so special to them and Moore's special basabusa dessert.
Sirkin 30, Talfiot Market, Haifa 📍 04-8500800
Sirkin 17
The new and refreshing addition to Talpiot Market is a cocktail and alcohol bar with a snack menu alongside them. The bar was opened by several partners: some come from the world of real estate brokerage and some from management in the alcohol sector. The place is precise in design and fits exactly to its environment, and the main attraction it adds is the hours of operation. Unlike the custom in the Talpiot market, Sirkin 17 is open every day of the week including Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As of the time of writing this update (August 2022) the place is open every day from 18:00 until the wee hours of the night and on Fridays also at noon between 12:00 and 16:00. Since this is a running period, you should check Sirkin 17's Instagram page before you arrive, if there are any changes.
For cocktail lovers: Dobrin and Vesper
Dobrin 7 is the first bar to open in the renovated Turkish Market and there is no doubt that it is one of the people responsible for the vibrant nightlife scene of the underground. The menu of the first ones is eclectic, ranging from kartushka with sour cream and dill (indicating the country of origin ofowner Michael Nodel), through shredded sabih to grilled lettuce with Caesar dressing, capers and parmesan to roasted eggplant with raw tahini, mint and pomegranate concentrate. There is a selection of pizzas, but the sandwiches are the real story. Go for the most decadent: pulled pork pulled bacon , bacon, corned beef, cheddar, emmental, onion, tomato, basil, cilantro, herb mayonnaise and sriracha.
Inside Dobrin is hidden the Vesper (named after one of my favorite and strongest cocktails, Vesper ). This is a place that sanctifies drinking culture and the art of cocktails that are shaken and served professionally. To recommend one cocktail is to do an injustice to the rest, also because they are seasonal and change frequently.
Dobrin and Vesper, Lower City, 7-9 Dobrin Street, Haifa. Phone: 058-5586825. Click here for Dobrin 7 and Vesper website
Making a neighborhood: the neighborhood bar Stella-Bar
The Haifaites are crazy about the Stella (Yeron, my partner among them): a neighborhood bar with a 29th course graduation atmosphere, or alternatively a loose, wild and debauched Club Med atmosphere. On Tuesdays they celebrate an Israeli evening, Thursday is a friends' evening. The vibe is dominated by the bartenders, the music and Rafi Levi is the owner in the corner of the kitchen. The cuisine that comes out of this tiny space is really not appropriate for the conditions, but when the raw materials are meticulous, there are no bad surprises. The meats are excellent, the seafood dishes are delicate, there are also fish and salads that are surprising in their simplicity and precise seasoning. My recommendation: Filet Mignon , or Wagyu Australian to the extent of precision, tomato salad with meiri cheese and perfect fries.Another recommended dish is Hajj Yam in the oven with root vegetables.
Stella Bar, Yarakon 1, Carmelia, Haifa. Phone: 04-8112000. There is no website.
London is here: The Duke
When you enter The Duke , it will feel like you entered a pub in Ireland or Wales, but with a twist. And that's the secret, you don't need to sign a passport to absorb the British vibe: careful design with matching motifs such as dark and heavy wooden furniture, a very long bar in front of stylish cabinets containing bottles of fine premium alcohol. Add to that the professionalism, the meticulousness, the stormy atmosphere and you got perfection. During the day the Duke is a chef's restaurant and at night it becomes a magnetic entertainment place with stylish cocktails and excellent dishes. It's a bit difficult to narrow them down to just a few, so I decided to choose one from each category: minut steak first; fruit and cheese salad for a snack in between; A corned beef sandwich for lunch like this on the go, a hamburger with kaijin fries when you're really hungry; and Cordon Bleu When you feel like kicking every diet menu that's stuck on your fridge door. Whatever, I don't skip cheese stuffed cigars dipped in a divine sauce.
Duke, Moriah St. 107, Sefer Square (estate), Haifa. Phone: 04-8347282. Click here for the exact site
Sasson, joy and food for the soul: the bar sasson at the estate
The first thing that catches the eye when entering Sasson is the design. Sitting areas like in the home living room with a central bar and a balcony for the benefit of smokers. This is also the owner's motto: "The customer will get the feeling that he has entered the house and we will happily host him every day for a holiday dinner, as we would host in our own homes." Sassoon is a combination of aperitif cuisine with a quality bar and the menu is adapted to the home concept - dishes for the center of the table that are fun to share, fine alcohol and the best of all is the atmosphere and the meticulous service. Dishes that are mast and which I will not give up regardless of the degree of hunger, are calf's brain cooked in Moroccan style, with pickled lemon and chickpeas. The dish is spicy to die for and my palate can handle it with the challah that comes with the dish. To lighten everything we eat, we have two options. The first, take off the heaviness with some digestif. The second, to return home on foot which is within walking distance. Want to guess which option I usually choose?…
Sasson Haber in the mansion, Horeb 10, Haifa. Phone: 04-6306234. Click here for the Sasson Habar site in the mansion
Downtown bars
Aiza Bar - If you came to the Turkish market and saw a river of tables and chairs filled with partygoers, you came to the right place. The beers are sold at floor prices of 15/20 shekels and alongside excellent dishes at affordable prices. The best value for money.
Moshe Aharon 1. Phone: 058-7460202.
Petush Gallery Bar - without a doubt this is the most beautiful place in Israel. As soon as you enter, your jaw will drop, but the eye will not be able to take in all this beauty at once. I recommend going to every corner and not giving up the gallery. The place is built for live performances in the evening, but also serves breakfast.
The port 6. Phone: 04-8813040.
Bars by the sea in Haifa
Cinema Paradiso - the favorite pastime of the Europeans is the aperitivo - a stopover between the working day, or studies, dinner, or the night out. Two hours in which we do a closer to all the pressures, enjoy a refreshing cocktail and snacks. Add to that a stunning sunset and you'll feel like life is in a movie.
Zamir Beach, Carmel Beach. Phone: 053-3241759.
Kahuna Beach Bar - Dreaming of visiting the Caribbean? I'm here to shorten the way for you. Tanning beds, lounge corners, wide parasols, cold beers, fancy cocktails, sea, sun and immersive music. After sunset the energies change and the feeling is like on vacation overseas.
David Elazar 10. Phone: 054-7733599.
Bar Galim - not right on the beach, but in the neighborhood closest to the sea, is the bar that is managed by a non-profit cooperative association whose goal is to promote community life in the Bat Galim neighborhood. It is a cafe bar where cultural-social and community activities take place, but the place also welcomes visitors from afar.
Bat Galim, Yonatan 3. Phone: 04-6444408.
Aeron: Wine bar
A wine bar by night and a gelateria by day, it is the new addition to the renewed end of Sderot Bat Galim (by the way, one of Haifa's most beautiful boulevards, the one at the other end of which on the water's edge sits the "Casino" building). O-Ren, the owner of the place opened it in a perfect location opposite her neighborhood cafe, Millhouse. Now she has freed herself to open a new place dedicated to her 2 great loves: ice cream and wine, and especially wines with minimal intervention from around the world.
When you arrive, you will be invited into a space that is also a deli. The wine you order from a rich, unique and varied menu. They will pour it for you at the bar inside (prices accordingly: you will find glasses of wine here in the range between NIS 30-70). The menu is also designed to compliment the wine and not dominate it: a short menu of non-standard dishes that are suitable for sharing as well as specials that change from night to night. Our recommendation: don't give up the potato salad. Sounds simple, but it really isn't. Admittedly we enjoyed it a lot and we all agreed that it was the wow. Suitable for wine lovers (especially adventurers), romantic couples and guys who are just looking to drink something good away from the hustle and bustle of the underground and the market.
Activity time:
Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday 18:00-23:00
Saturday 18:00-23:00
The operating hours during the run managed to confuse us as well, but they have a highlight with updates and it's worth following!
Oyron, Sderot Bat Galim 11, Haifa. Instagram
Near Haifa there is Carmel: nightlife on the Carmel
Wine Bar by Andre Suidan – over 100 different wines are carefully selected each week by wine expert Andre Suidan, to suit your wine palate. Fine wines, aged cognacs and great food complement both atmosphere and professionalism.
98 Hanasi Ave. Phone: 058-4274556.
The grocery store - a neighborhood bar built on the ruins of Rosner's legendary grocery store that existed for forty years. This is a small place with an avant-garde atmosphere, suitable for the 30+ age group. In the last year, the Side B grocery store was opened - the little sister of the Carmel grocery store, which received the nickname Side A.
Go ahead 1. Phone: 04-8362659.
Neve Shanan, Shalom Aleichem 1. No phone.
Zafaririm 1 - a restaurant bar with a young and lively atmosphere that offers quality culinary entertainment, a bar with a wide selection of alcohol and careful music. Chef Yaron Vider conducts the orchestra and the main soloist, as far as I'm concerned, is mushroom risotto, which was off the menu for a while, but is back in a big way.
Hornbills 1. Phone 04-8112235.
Braun - although it is a big place, Braun is the most neighborhood bar in the area, where all the night people flock to at the end of the shift. In the summer the roof is opened and this is the only place where smokers are allowed to sit around the bar.
Moriah Ave. 131. Phone: 04-8112391.
A night in the Neve Shaanan, or for short NOS
Nola Sox - a student pub par excellence, located close to the Technion and the university. This is a real public house, with quality cultural content, such as lectures at the bar, shows and exhibitions. On Fridays at noon there are live performances that go well with half a Guinness and a rotten hamburger.
Shalom Aleichem 4, Neve Shanan, Haifa. Phone: 077-7929159.
The Side Bee grocery store - the little sister of the Carmel grocery store that I mentioned earlier...
Shalom Aleichem 1, Neve Shanan, Haifa. no phone
The Little Sister: Lila in Kiryat Haim
BeerLine – fine beers on tap (26 different taps) with a crazy selection of sausages, cheeses, seafood and smoked fish made by the owner. But the kicker - you can take away or order draft beers, with the guarantee that the beer will last in the fridge for at least a few days.
21 Eilat Ave., Kiryat Haim, Haifa. Phone: 04-8850033.