Ben Yehuda 192, Tel Aviv-Yafo
+972-3-524-0961
One historic evening in 1992, founding father Ezra Mermelstein formally announced the establishment of the Barbunia Bar and Restaurant on Ben Yehuda Street. On that warm summer night, fish lovers gathered from all corners of Israel and the globe to celebrate the grand opening and raise a glass to the future of the institution.
Since that epic evening, more than 1992 pubs, bars and restaurants have opened and closed their doors on Tel Aviv. Governments have fallen, leaders were assassinated and artists have moved on to the next world. Bands broke up and ships sunk but the Kingdom of Barbunia has stood up to test of time, ever stable - a solid rock.
A Second Barbunia Enters the World
By any measure, the success of the restaurant was grand. But it was not enough for Mermelstein. Throwing caution to the wind, he opened up another restaurant just across the road in 1996. Today, it has earned a reputation in its own right.
The newer restaurant is more formal than its elder across the way. It, too, serves up the freshest fish and seafood in Tel Aviv, but in a more quiet, traditional atmosphere for diners looking to enjoy their meal undisturbed by the vibrant nightlife of the Barbunia Bar next door.
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“If you like fish, Barbunia is the place to go; they are all about fish”
A National Reputation for The Best Seafood
Both Barbunia restaurants are known throughout Israel and beyond for the joy they bring to all those who pass through their gates - regulars and tourists, drunkards and gluttons, seafood diehards and fish-loving fanatics. Favorite dishes includes the famous “Ezra Salad,” packed with fresh zest and tasty herbs, the crispy red mullet bites and the grouper fish-head for the true sea-foodies.
At Barbunia, the beers overflow from their steins and the abundant wine list features bottles from all across Israel and every corner of the world. There’s a separate section for smoking and a special “Knights Table” in the back where diehard Barbunia fans gather with their friends for long evenings of seafood, drinks, laughter and festivities. (Want to secure your spot at the Knights’ Table? Be sure to book ahead!)
Barbunia attracts veteran fishermen, line cooks, tourists, honest politicians (three or four do exist), painters, singers, and blue, red, white and pink-collared workers alike. All guests are treated equally, prices are fair and it’s a place where any two people can quickly become drinking partners - or forever friends.
With great music in the background, bartenders and a wait staff that stick around for years, and the freshest of fish, Barbunia offers an experience unlike any other. The best seafood in Israel makes its way to your plate, handpicked from select fishing boats in every port in Israel, from Acre to Ashkelon and everywhere in between. If it’s swimming in the waters of Israel, it’s on the Barbunia menu.
