What's open, what's kosher, and where's the sukkah? All the best tastes for Sukkot and Hol Hamoed

Festive Menu at Burger Station

Burger Station, one of Israel's largest burger chains with 14 branches and counting, is celebrating Sukkot with a special holiday menu. The festive dishes, expected to remain available even after the holiday, are designed to lift the nation's morale.

Highlights include "New York Chips" (fries topped with vegan cheese and shredded asado), mini chorizos with red and white cabbage and various sauces, a "Lisbon Burger" with smoked asado, vegan cheese, caramelized onions, and garlic sauce, and a "Casablanca Burger" featuring mini sausages, pickles, and chimichurri.

These holiday specialties join Burger Station's regular offerings, including the classic burger, spicy burger, kosher cheeseburger, "Smash Station," and a vegan burger.

Burger Station

German Festivities at Marlene

Sister restaurants Marlene, located in Givatayim and Tel Aviv, are bringing the German Oktoberfest vibes to Israel with a special menu full of sausages and, of course, beer.

You’ll find classics like the "American Hot Dog" (veal sausage with sauerkraut, sriracha mayo, mustard, pickled onions, and scallions), "Classic Hot Dog" (veal sausage with fries and crispy onions), a spicy version with sriracha aioli, pickled jalapeños, cheddar cheese, and roasted corn, as well as a traditional currywurst (veal sausage with crispy potato chunks, curry sauce, and green onions). Pints of Spaten-Franziskaner draft beer will be served for just 25 shekels during the festival, from October 13-19.

Marlene

Oktoberfest at Meltzer

Meltzer’s Oktoberfest runs from Sunday to Friday, October 20-25, featuring exclusive beers, special launches, indulgent menus, and prize-winning competitions.

The highlights include the Oktoberfest platter, featuring a half-meter veal sausage with mountains of fries, Bavarian pretzels, pickles, steamed cabbage, caramelized onions, and pickled vegetables. Other options include fried chicken in a brioche bun with Caesar sauce, a “Drunken Toast” with four types of cheese and bacon, an asado sandwich with cheddar, a decadent croissant stuffed with sausages and cheese sauce, choucroute with potato cubes and chorizo, and for dessert, the "Garden Party" chocolate fudge cake.

The festival also offers 230 beer brands, beer cards, foosball tournaments, and live music.

Meltzer

Schnetoberfest at Schnitt

Schnetoberfest, the third Oktoberfest celebration hosted by the Tel Aviv brewery, will be held from Sunday to Tuesday, October 20-22, starting at noon. The event will feature a festive lager inspired by Oktoberfest, a curated food menu, and a Beer Tour across four nearby taps, complete with a gift for those who complete the tour.

Schnitt

Beerbazaar Brewery in the Modiin region is blending German traditions with local celebrations for a grand beer festival.

From Sunday to Tuesday, October 20-22, the brewery will host live music, food stalls, guided tours, workshops, drinking games, competitions, and, of course, plenty of beer, including a new brew and beloved classics.

Sukkotfest

Psagot Winery

Nestled in the Jerusalem Hills, Psagot Winery is celebrating Sukkot with a combination of tours, tastings, and sweet indulgences.

On Monday and Tuesday, October 21-22, visitors can enjoy guided tours that include stops at the winery's scenic terrace, wine museum, and tasting rooms. Afterward, guests can relax with coffee and fresh pastries from the winery's new patisserie. The Psagot Spirit Lifestyle space offers a plant nursery, home goods store, bridal studio, and vintage clothing boutique.

Psagot Winery

A social-consumer initiative aims to label products from southern Israeli farmers affected by the recent conflict. The green-yellow label "Grown in the Western Negev" has been introduced on packaging to direct local purchases to support farmers from the region, emphasizing the importance of food security and the future of Israel's agricultural industry.

Where Can You Find a Sukkah?

From rooftops to open-air spaces, in the city or nature, restaurants across Israel understand the significance of dining in a sukkah during this time. While strict kosher certifications are often important, many places also emphasize the joy of sharing food and drinks with family and friends.

Sphera, Rehovot

The popular restaurant, run by Beni Madar, is setting up a sukkah on its spacious balcony overlooking lush greenery. Diners can enjoy the cool breeze while sipping wine and cocktails, and feasting on dishes like Josper-roasted eggplant, sea fish sashimi with nut tabbouleh, tempura cod with spicy matbucha, handmade gnocchi with chestnuts and truffles, or large cuts of fire-grilled meat.

Sphera

The kosher restaurant and café chain Biga is offering sukkahs at its various branches across the country, from Tel Aviv's Sarona Market to Ashdod, Petach Tikva, and more, during Chol HaMoed, October 16-24. Menu highlights include cauliflower salad with tahini, arancini and tacos, mushroom risotto and stir-fries, "Mumbai Salmon," and French toast with brioche and caramelized bananas for dessert.

Biga

Despite the situation in Israel's north and south, traditional hiking season continues, especially during the extended break from school. And, for many, a day of hiking goes hand-in-hand with good food, whether it’s packed to-go or enjoyed at a nearby stop.

Turkish Box, Elite Coffee

To add some excitement to the hiking season, Elite Coffee's "Turkish Box" provides the perfect break. This limited edition set, created by Elite and Strauss, includes a coffee kit, a folding table, four glass cups with sleeves, a multipurpose spoon, and three bags of Turkish coffee, all neatly packed and ready for travel. The set also comes with a backgammon and checkers board on top, complete with game pieces inside.

Price: NIS 99.