3 Best Restaurants in Around Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, Israel

Vintner Adam Sternbach and his father Adam make wines in the Ella Valley and serve tastings and thoughtful snacks on a grape-vine covered patio. Tables set out on barrels overloook rolling hills. You can also order a picnic basket to go, as long as you return the reusable containers. Gadi makes cured meats; the cheeses and bread come from local makers. On Fridays and Saturdays, the winery is open to the public, but calling ahead is recommended.

Chef Rama Ben Zvi combines local produce, meat, and dairy with attentive service for a meal that could easily last hours amid the gorgeous Judean Hills. Brunch, lunch, and dinner are fixed price and begin with bread baked on-site. The menu changes at this spot open only a few days a week, but the beet hummus is outstanding, and grilled lamb ribs served on bulgur wheat with tomato chutney are delightful. Desserts like pistachio ice cream are beautifully executed. Prices are upscale, as are the modern wooden furnishings and wood floor. Drinks include a spicy gin coriander cocktail, and the wine list includes many Israeli bottles.

The café at the Ein Gedi Hotel is a great option for fresh salads, pastas, and coffee after a hike at the nearby Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. Sit on the outdoor deck amid the baobob trees, and enjoy the gorgeous views and the aromatic botanical gardens. The café is open for evening drinks as well as lunch and dinner. There is a limited menu on Friday night and during the day on Saturday when Sabbath regulations put the espresso machine and other cooking off-limits.