4 Best Restaurants in Upper Galilee and the Golan, Israel

Ask any local about their favorite place to eat and they will direct you toward this family restaurant tucked into a small shopping center. The menu has a hearty selection of pastas, pizzas, seafood, and meat dishes, all with a contemporary Middle Eastern touch. It sits opposite Kibbutz Ma'ayan Baruch. Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends when the place is packed with locals.

The setting, a charming stone house with both indoor and outdoor seating, lends great atmosphere to this family-run eatery set above the Old City and taking in the view of Mount Meron (the restaurant's name means "paradise"). Gan Eden is best known for its fish, especially fillets of sea bass and sea bream. What they call calzones are actually dumplings stuffed with salty Tzfat cheese and served with a delicious salad of lettuce, cranberries, and walnuts. The place is kosher for dairy, meaning no meat is served.

Located in Nimrod, a short drive south of Majdal Shams, this whimsical restaurant is decorated with smiling witch dolls and boasts a magnificent view of volcanic lakes and cherry fields. The staff is attentive and friendly, and the food is hearty. The chef specializes in casseroles, such as salmon cooked with coconut milk, ginger, and oranges. Another tasty dish is the lamb simmered in white wine and served with root vegetables.

This whimsically decorated restaurant specializes in warming casseroles, such as salmon cooked with coconut milk, ginger, and oranges. Another tasty dish is the lamb simmered in white wine and served with root vegetables. Despite moving locations after 20 years, the witch dolls adorning the walls continue to smile down on satisfied regulars.