Yaffa Knafeh

Yaffa Knafeh is a dessert-focused spot in Jaffa’s flea market area, centered on knafeh and Turkish-inspired sweets. The shop is associated with a contemporary take on the classic cheese-and-kataifi dessert, including versions served with ice cream. Its setting on Olei Zion Street places it among the streets and small businesses of the flea market district, making it suited to a sweet stop during a walk through Jaffa.

Knafeh is the main attraction, with individual portions and larger trays designed for sharing. The menu also includes vegan alternatives, giving plant-based diners a way to enjoy the house specialty. The dessert selection extends to handmade Turkish-style baklava in assorted combinations, as well as other milk-based and syrup-soaked sweets. These include malabi and trileche, a soft cake soaked in milk and finished with caramel.

Ice cream is part of the shop’s signature approach, including goat’s-milk ice cream brought in from Istanbul. It can accompany selected desserts or be ordered separately. The result is a menu that combines warm, syrupy pastries with chilled, creamy textures, with enough variety for a quick individual treat or a shared dessert spread.

Drinks keep the same regional focus. Turkish-style tea, mint tea, Arabic coffee with cardamom, coffee drinks and sahleb are available alongside the sweets. The combination makes Yaffa Knafeh suitable for a short coffee-and-dessert break, a shared box of pastries, or a relaxed stop after exploring the surrounding Jaffa market streets. The atmosphere is shaped by the founders’ stated emphasis on hospitality, friendship and originality, while the food remains the central focus.

With its concentration on knafeh, baklava, regional hot drinks and ice cream, Yaffa Knafeh offers a focused dessert experience rather than a full savory meal. It suits visitors looking for familiar Middle Eastern sweets in a Turkish-influenced format, groups interested in sharing trays, and diners seeking vegan dessert choices. The shop’s second Jaffa location near the Clock Tower is separate from the Olei Zion Street branch listed here.