Israelis love bread – plain bread without additions. But they like it even better if it’s stuffed, piled, and wrapped with something. Yes – Israelis love wheat bread, and although rye and buckwheat is available, nothing beats wheat – everywhere and in all kinds of ways. There are many bakeries, but really good ones are harder to find. Here are a few that will make it impossible to try at least one thing – all in one day.

Zomer

A very small bakery in Jaffa where the locals come for breakfast pastries and for lunch – pizza that is most famous for its artichoke version with poppy seeds, cheese and onions. If you don’t want pizza, try their sandwiches with feta, greens, and pine nuts. If you eat there, they warm it up for you, cut it in half and serve it with a couple of heavenly olives, which you can also buy there. If you’re renting an apartment, then it’s worth buying bread for breakfast here. Address: Frishman St 39, Tel Aviv; www.facebook.com/ZomerBakery

Urban Bakery

In the farthest corner of Jaffa is a place where you can snack, have a real meal, or get take away. Fresh bread, croissants, pecan muffins with maple syrup, cheesecake, and olives. On site with a glass of wine, coffee, or fresh-squeezed juice. If you want take away, you can get pastes, olives, halvah, and tahini from the producers. I visited this producer a few days later and it’s the only place that makes their tahini using millstones. Address: Nitsana St 14, Tel Aviv; www.facebook.com/www.urbanbakery.co.il

Le Moulin

This is not a classic Israeli bakery, but rather quite French. Start with the famous croissants or the heavenly cinnamon, cacao, and caramel pastry (I was ready to eat the paper the caramel got stuck to). If you have something small and sweet for breakfast, lunch offers a couple dozen types of sandwiches (pastrami is a good choice) that are served with olives. Fresh-squeezed juice or a Mimosa goes best with this. It’s a find for any croissant freak. Address: Bograshov St 72, Tel Aviv

Dallal

One critique of Dallal was quite short: “Aner Zalel is genius!” This is considered the best bakery in Tel Aviv – French inspired, but with an Israelis touch. It’s difficult to find, and equally difficult to leave. But the locals of Neve Tzedek come here to enjoy, work, people-watch, or just enjoy their breakfast croissant, cake, or quiche. If you want something local, then you should have the flaky local pretzel and definitely the unusually good rugelach. It just melts in your mouth and was the best thing I ate on this trip. Address: Shabazi St 10, Tel Aviv; www.dallal.co.il