Port Said
Israeli · Newe Ẕedeq, Tel Aviv
Restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel
The Read
Midnight-Hours Israeli Casual
Chef
Eyal Shani
Dress
Casual
Why go
Port Said is Eyal Shani's most casual Tel Aviv venue and one of the most consistently OAD-ranked informal restaurants in Europe. The room is loud, communal, open late; until 2 am most nights. Book it for a lively, produce-driven Israeli meal; skip it if private dining or a quiet occasion setup is the priority.
About Port Said
Verdict: Book Port Said for the room, the hours, the pedigree; just don't expect a private event setup
Port Said is one of the most-discussed casual restaurants in Tel Aviv, its OAD rankings confirm that reputation is earned rather than assumed. Ranked #136 in Casual Europe in 2023, #177 in 2024, #334 in 2025, it sits in a competitive tier of Israeli cooking that rewards food-focused visitors who want energy and craft in the same room. If you are coming to Tel Aviv and want a single dinner that captures how the city eats right now, this is a defensible first choice. If you need a private dining room or a quiet, occasion-specific setup, look elsewhere.
The Space and the Experience
Port Said occupies a corner of central Tel Aviv on Har Sinai Street, the physical room does a lot of the work here. The space is designed for a specific kind of communal, high-volume dining rather than intimate table service. Seating is open, the room fills fast, the energy is loud by design. For solo diners and pairs looking to absorb the atmosphere of the place, this works well. For groups expecting the kind of separation and attentiveness that a private room provides, the main dining room is the whole offer; there is no dedicated private dining section indicated in available data, which is worth knowing before you plan a celebration or a business dinner here.
The hours are genuinely generous. Port Said opens at noon daily and runs until 2 am most nights, stretching to 3 am on Thursdays. Friday is the exception, closing at 6 pm. That range makes it practical across almost every itinerary, a long, late lunch, an early dinner before a night out, or a late sit-down after something else. Few restaurants at this ranking level in Tel Aviv stay open this consistently late.
The Chef and the Food Angle
Eyal Shani is the name attached to Port Said, his approach to Israeli cooking, high-quality produce, minimal fuss, intentional presentation, is well documented across his wider restaurant group. Port Said is the most casual expression of that philosophy. The cuisine is Israeli, while specific dishes are not confirmed in available data, the OAD recognition for four consecutive years in the European casual category is a reliable signal of consistent execution rather than a one-season spike.
Group Dining Consideration
Given the PEA-R-10 lens: if you are planning a group visit, Port Said works well for informal gatherings that can adapt to the open room format. The long operating hours mean booking a late-night slot gives groups more room to breathe as the dining crowd shifts. There is no data confirming a private dining option, dedicated group menus, or a buyout arrangement. Groups planning a structured celebration with a set menu and privacy should consider HaSalon, Eyal Shani's other Tel Aviv venue, which is configured for larger, more theatrical group events. For a more relaxed group meal in the same Israeli-casual category, Habasta is worth considering.
Booking and Practical Details
Booking difficulty is rated Easy. The extended hours help, if you can be flexible on time, getting a table is not the challenge it would be at a tighter-capacity spot. No website or phone number is confirmed in available data, so booking via a third-party reservation platform or your hotel concierge is the practical route. Price range is not confirmed in available data; at an Eyal Shani casual concept, expect mid-range Tel Aviv pricing rather than a fine dining bill, but verify before you go.
| Venue | Cuisine | OAD Ranked | Booking Difficulty | Late Night | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Said | Israeli | Yes (2023–2025) | Easy | Yes (until 2–3 am) | |
| Habasta | Israeli | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Moderate | Not confirmed |
| Ha'Achim | Israeli | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| HaSalon | Israeli/Med | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Harder | Yes |
Who Should Book Port Said
Book Port Said if you want a late, lively, well-regarded Israeli meal without a complicated reservation process. It is a strong choice for solo diners, pairs, small informal groups who want to eat in a room with real character at hours most restaurants have already closed. Skip it if private dining, quiet conversation, or a structured occasion meal is the priority. For those, Alena at The Norman offers a more occasion-ready setup in the same city.
For more on where to eat, drink, stay in Tel Aviv, see our full Tel Aviv restaurants guide, our full Tel Aviv hotels guide, our full Tel Aviv bars guide, and our full Tel Aviv experiences guide.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 12 pm–2 am · Tuesday: 12 pm–2 am
- Location
- Har Sinai St 5, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
- Website
- instagram.com/port_said?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
- Phone
- +972 3-620-7436
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Port Said reads like a social engine more than a formal dining room: the space is loud, dense and unmistakably informal. Tables sit close together, the kitchen is audible from most seats, and a young, inclusive crowd keeps the energy high well into the night. The restaurant balances serious, opinionated food with a deliberately unpretentious attitude, so the room feels like a place to be seen and to share rather than to observe quiet rituals of fine dining. It has become a long-running fixture in Tel Aviv’s casual-food tier, emblematic of the city’s informal culinary culture.
Best For
This is a go-to spot for late-night socializing and lively group evenings. With hours that extend into the early morning on most nights, Port Said suits people who want dinner that transitions into a late-night hangout; the loud, closely packed room favors convivial conversation and collective ordering. It is less about quiet, intimate meals and more about energetic gatherings where the atmosphere is central to the experience. The restaurant’s standing in the local scene also makes it a comfortable choice for visitors seeking a quintessential Tel Aviv casual night out.
Ordering Tips
Treat meals here as social transactions: expect to share and sample rather than dine in strict courses. The kitchen’s personality comes through in bold plates—try signature items such as the minute steak, smoky aubergine and Jericho beans to get a clear sense of the kitchen’s approach. Given the room’s volume and communal pace, pick several dishes to pass around so everyone can taste. The kitchen closes early on Friday (6 pm) in line with the city’s Shabbat rhythm, so plan accordingly if you’re visiting that day.
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 12 pm–2 am
- Tuesday
- 12 pm–2 am
- Wednesday
- 12 pm–2 am
- Thursday
- 12 pm–3 am
- Friday
- 12–6 pm
- Saturday
- 12 pm–2 am
- Sunday
- 12 pm–2 am
Location
Har Sinai St 5, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Dr. Shakshuka; Middle Eastern, Middle Eastern
- Ha'Achim; Israeli, Israeli
- Habasta; Israeli, Israeli
- HaSalon; Israeli - Mediterranean, Israeli, Israeli - Mediterranean, Israeli
- Jasmino; Kebabs, Kebabs
Restaurant context
Port Said is the strongest choice among Tel Aviv's casual Israeli restaurants if OAD recognition and late-night hours matter to your decision. Its three consecutive years on the OAD Casual Europe list put it in a different accountability tier than most of its peers; that kind of sustained ranking is a more reliable signal than a single press mention. Habasta is the closest tonal comparison: also Israeli, also focused on quality produce, better suited to diners who want a slightly quieter room. If the noise level at Port Said is a concern, Habasta is the practical alternative.
HaSalon is Port Said's most direct upgrade for groups and special occasions. Both are Eyal Shani venues, but HaSalon is configured for larger, more theatrical evenings with a more structured format; it is the right call if you need the occasion to feel designed rather than ambient. Ha'Achim occupies a similar casual Israeli register and is worth checking if Port Said is fully booked, though it does not carry equivalent critical recognition. Dr. Shakshuka in Jaffa and Jasmino are lower price-point options in the Middle Eastern and kebab category respectively; different cuisines, different energy, but useful if you want to spread your Tel Aviv eating across formats rather than doubling up on the same Israeli-casual register.
For value-focused visitors, Port Said's Easy booking rating is an advantage over harder-to-book venues in the same tier. You are not trading access difficulty for quality here, which is genuinely useful when building a Tel Aviv itinerary from scratch. See our full Tel Aviv restaurants guide and our full Tel Aviv wineries guide for more context on how Port Said fits into the city's wider eating and drinking picture.
Explore Tel Aviv
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Port Said guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Port Said
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Said | Israeli | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #3342024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #1772023 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #136 | Easy |
| Dr. Shakshuka | Middle Eastern | 2026 OAD Cheap Eats in Europe Ranked · #1382024 OAD Cheap Eats in Europe Ranked · #124 | Unknown |
| Ha'Achim | Israeli | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2023 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended | Unknown |
| Habasta | Israeli | Star Wine Lists 20262026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #4672024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #5802023 OAD Casual in Europe RecommendedWorld's Best Wine Lists 2022 | Unknown |
| HaSalon | Israeli - Mediterranean, Israeli | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Recommended2025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #362025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #2772024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #512024 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #3002023 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #642023 OAD Top New Restaurants in Europe Highly Recommended | Unknown |
| Jasmino | Kebabs | 2026 OAD Cheap Eats in Europe Ranked · #352025 OAD Cheap Eats in Europe Ranked · #392024 OAD Cheap Eats in Europe Ranked · #262023 OAD Cheap Eats in Europe Ranked · #12 | Unknown |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at Port Said?
Dinner is the stronger call. Port Said runs until 2 am most nights (3 am Thursdays), which means the room hits its stride in the evening when the energy is higher. Lunch works if you want a quieter read on the food, but the late-night format is what sets this place apart from daytime-only Israeli spots in Tel Aviv.
What should a first-timer know about Port Said?
Booking difficulty is rated Easy, so you do not need to plan weeks ahead; flexibility on arrival time helps, given the long hours. The room on Har Sinai Street is open and social rather than intimate, so come expecting a lively shared environment. Port Said has held a ranked position on Opinionated About Dining's Casual Europe list since at least 2023, which tells you the food quality is consistent and peer-reviewed.
Is Port Said good for a special occasion?
It works for a celebratory dinner if your group is comfortable with an open, informal room rather than a private or hushed setting. The OAD credentials and Eyal Shani's profile give it enough weight to feel considered, but this is not a white-tablecloth occasion restaurant. For a milestone that needs a contained, formal setup, look elsewhere in Tel Aviv.
What are alternatives to Port Said in Tel Aviv?
Habasta is the closest peer for ingredient-driven Israeli cooking in a casual format. HaSalon is the right move if you want Eyal Shani's cooking in a higher-energy, more theatrical setting. Ha'Achim suits groups who want meat-focused Israeli food without the scene. Dr. Shakshuka is the practical pick for daytime, lower-price-point Israeli eating, while Jasmino offers a different angle on the city's Arab-Israeli food tradition.
Is Port Said good for solo dining?
Yes. The open room format, easy booking, long hours all work in a solo diner's favour. You are not competing for a scarce two-top at a set time, the lively environment means sitting alone does not feel awkward. Port Said is one of the more practical choices in Tel Aviv for a solo late dinner.
