Yes, yes we know you love The Cheesecake Factory, but there are plenty of other options to get your sugar fix in Tel Aviv that won’t leave you with clogged arteries (have you seen their nutrition facts)? A serving of the Oreo cheesecake has 1620 calories, 134g of sugar, and more saturated fat than you should be consuming in an entire day)! That doesn’t mean the below options are any less deliciously indulgent. Whether you’re into a pistachio croissant, a cream cheese frosted red velvet cupcake, a cronut, a Swedish cardamom cinnamon bun, and yes even cheesecake (or savory pastries!), we’ve got you covered with the best options in the city.
The French folks here are the real deal – as we learned when we dared asked if they have any pastries with halva. NO! This is a French bakery after-all, which means buttery, flakey croissants (plain, chocolate, almond, or pistachio), meringues, eclairs, tarts, quiches, and golden galette des rois on and around January 6.
If you miss American classics like black and white cookies, bagels, muffins, cake pops, pies, rice crispy treats, and knock offs of popular American spots like Milk Bar (think Captain Crunch Milk Ice Cream or cake balls) or Dominique Ansel (think cookie shots), there’s no better place than this always bustling spot.
Nola isn’t the only one to knockoff Dominique Ansel, Showroom has a selection of cronuts along with a wild assortment of donuts (think covered in frosting and Oreo bits), cookies (s'mores) and croissants dripping with fillings like Nutella or strawberry. They’ve also got vanilla and chocolate pretzels that will make Americans nostalgic about your childhood Auntie Anne’s.
Gluten allergy? Sorry, this place definitely isn’t for you. La Farina – meaning flour in Italian – is carb heaven. They’ve got everything from crispy breads, focaccias, pizzas, and pasta salads, to pastries, cakes, and cookies.
The first Swedish bakery in Tel Aviv, Fika (meaning “to have a break”) already has two locations. Who knew Swedish pastries were so good! Flakey and delicious, the standouts include kanelbulle (aka a cinnamon bun; there’s also a cardamom iteration of this), kokostopp (aka coconut macaroon), and a variety of savory pastries crafted with feta/spinach, pesto/ mozzarella, and more.
This spot specializes in, you guessed it, cupcakes. If you’re missing Magnolia, this is the place to go for your carrot cake, chocolate, red velvet, and more. They also stock Magnolia-style banana pudding. Besides cream cheese frosted confections, you’ll find American-style muffins, blondies, brownies, and giant cookies.
At this popular landmark bakery (literally serving authentic Arab pastries since 1879), locals and visitors alike chomp at the bit for the fluffy rounds of pita lovingly sprinkled with zaatar and sesame seeds, half moon pastries oozing with salty Bulgarian cheese and honeyed desserts of baklava and knafe that are equally delicious.
If you can’t get here before the early afternoon, don’t bother. Torta della Nonna is so popular they consistently sell out of their cheesecake, of which they have a few types. This is a serious achievement given that it’s easy to miss this small, unassuming spot (don’t be fooled though, despite its lack of frills, it isn’t cheap). Torta della Nonna, meaning “Grandma’s cake,” also stocks an amazing poppy cake and a few other small cake and cookie options, like amaretti. Note, it’s located just seconds from The Showroom Bakehouse if you want to hit two birds with one stone!
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