Dizengoff

Thirty years is a long time in cafe years — and that kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. Dizengoff, a mainstay on Ponsonby Rd, has more than earned its spot. Open earlier than most, the place does a clattering trade through breakfast and lunch. Dizengoff’s white-walled room is packed tightly with tables that brim with cups of coffee and plates stacked with some combination of toast, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, bacon and smoked salmon — always with a dollop of pesto — plus French toast, tempting sweet treats from the counter, and, occasionally, Jewish-inspired dishes like chopped liver or the signature chicken salad. A Ponsonby fixture for good reason.

While you’re in the area: Everyday Needs