Singer-songwriter Shira Zlouf, a finalist on the latest season of “The Next Star,” once insisted there’s “no knight on a white horse in Florentin.” But I found two: Avi Dinari, a real estate lawyer, and entrepreneur Omri Terry. The pair are behind the recent revival of the “4Florentine”, Florentin Quartet, a mixed-use complex that has gained new momentum thanks to a wave of compelling food ventures.
For Dinari and Terry, cultivating the complex’s culinary identity is key. Designed by architect Ilan Pivko and launched a decade ago, the space struggled for years. “We realized food is what draws people in and sparks interest,” they say. Alongside carb haven Fika, the Kolbo Basar butcher-deli and chef Yuval Ben-Neriah’s refined fish shop Yama, several notable new spots have opened, with an upgraded skewer spot, Sich, set to follow.
For years, businesses opened and closed, and the complex failed to establish itself as a nightlife or retail destination. That changed when Dinari and Terry partnered with JTLV. “We specialize in curating complexes, arriving in a neighborhood and carefully selecting local artisans,” they say. “When we got here three years ago, the place looked like a graveyard.”
With the Florentin Quartet now buzzing again, here are six spots worth checking out, some brand new.
Café Bollywood: vegetarian Indian street food
Meskin Moses grew up in a family of acclaimed dancers and, as a teenager in Mumbai, performed in Bollywood films. It’s only fitting that the vegetarian Indian restaurant he recently opened is called Café Bollywood. Named after legendary Habima Theater actor Aharon Meskin, Moses moved to Israel in 2011; his wife, Pooja, joined him two years later.
“Café Bollywood is a dream come true for me,” Pooja says. “I’ve always loved cooking and wanted to run something of my own. I’m a vegetarian, so I preferred opening a place without meat or fish. We also offer vegan dishes.”
Moses, who previously worked in the motorcycle business, joined the venture. “We specialize in street food that’s hard to find here,” he says. “We don’t tone down the spice for Israeli tastes. It’s self-service. Pooja cooks and blends the spices, and I work the front. We just opened and there’s already a line. Sometimes we sell out within hours.”
The menu features an expansive selection (“Pooja knows how to make 300 dishes. In India, people eat six times a day”) and is exceptionally tasty, from masala dosa and pani puri to samosas, malai kofta, palak paneer and various fritters. Drinks include masala chai, spiced milk and rose lassi. The colorful space, filled with Indian décor, adds to the experience. Prices range from 15 to 55 shekels.
Open on weekdays from 4 p.m., and on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lunel: where French meets Yemeni
In August 2023, just weeks before October 7, restaurateur Omri Kauftheil and chef Inon Elal opened Lunel. “We chose to open in Florentin because at the time the neighborhood lacked a restaurant of this caliber,” Elal explains. “We named it Lunel after a town in Provence that many Jews migrated to, and at some point was dubbed ‘Little Jerusalem.’ I’m originally from Jerusalem, and we incorporated Jerusalem stone into the restaurant.”
The menu blends Elal's Yemeni roots with French cuisine. Expect kubaneh alongside brioche, gnocchi in beurre blanc infused with hawaij, and a dessert called malawach Suzette, a twist on the French classic. The standout is a jachnun bruschetta topped with raw fish, tomato paste and schug.
Elal credits the restaurant’s survival through wartime to relentless effort. “We’re constantly present, learning the neighborhood and reinventing ourselves with pop-ups and guest chefs,” he says. A special menu of dishes under 50 shekels was recently introduced.
Open Sunday through Wednesday from 5 p.m., Thursday from 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 6 p.m.
Hamama: organic and biodynamic wines
Opened during operation Roaring Lion, Hamama by Danilo Tziporucha and Zecharia Ashurov is already drawing Florentin’s hip crowd. The small indoor space, complete with a DJ booth, spills out into an open-air bar surrounded by tropical plants.
“Like a greenhouse that nurtures plants, we want to nurture people and offer something calm and natural, like our wine,” they say. The focus is on organic and biodynamic wines, “alive even in the bottle,” alongside handmade vegetarian bites such as fruit and vegetable chips and fine cheese plates.
Prices are approachable, starting at 35 shekels per glass and 140 shekels per bottle. We raised a glass of “Dancing Queen,” a lightly sparkling Austrian biodynamic wine, to peace in the Middle East.
Open from 6 p.m. to midnight, and on Fridays from noon to 7 p.m.
LOKI: a roastery that lets the beans speak
Opened four months ago, LOKI is a haven for coffee enthusiasts. Founded by Saar Avrashi and Andrei Bordyug, two affable, good-looking men who have been working and specializing in the coffee world for several years. The name LOKI combines the names of their dogs.
“We import high-quality green coffee you can’t find in Israel,” they say. Beans come from Central and South America, Africa and Indonesia. “Everything starts with the raw material. People come for the roasting quality, freshness and presentation.”
LOKI is the perfect spot to start your morning or get some work done on a laptop, with eight types of coffee to choose from. “We don’t interfere with the beans,” Avrashi explains. “We highlight coffee as a fruit, bringing out its flavors instead of masking them, unlike old-school Italian roasting.”
Pastries and baked goods, including brioche, baguettes, muffins and croissants, round out the offering.
Open Sunday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed Saturday.
Beatnik: a T-shirt and a record
The used vinyl revival is in full swing, and Beatnik is one of the scene’s key players. Founded by Guy Grinberg and Elad Eisenstein, the shop takes its name from a late-1960s song.
Step inside and it’s clear why collectors travel from across the country. The passion is palpable, the vibe almost familial. Customers can sell their own collections, and alongside secondhand records, the shop carries new releases and reissues of classics like Chava Alberstein’s “Tzemach Bar.”
“We’re constantly renewing,” Grinberg says. “There’s a new shipment every day.”
There’s also a section of graphic T-shirts featuring pop and rock icons. Live performances once took place here, and efforts are underway to restore the necessary permits.
Open Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The space: fashion pop-ups
At “The Space,” a creative pop-up hub, young designers showcase their work. Among them are Shira Gutman-Koren, known for her striking pearl jewelry; Esther Fruchter of the unisex brand “Montevideo 6,” ("I'm inspired by sportswear, designs are masculine"); Alexandra Pinto, focusing on elevated basics; and Einat Ashkenazi of “JETSKI,” offering bold, colorful streetwear.
“I chose designers whose taste I admire,” says curator Tal Yosifov. “They’re diverse but speak the same language.”
Yosifov also presents her own brand, HALT, known for dramatic, vibrant designs. “I focus on flattering cuts and custom sizing, including plus sizes,” she says. “My designs work for everyone.”
Open Monday through Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m., Thursday and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.