"Eilat's landmark Red Sea fish taverna since the early 1980s, where the charcoal-grilled catch earns the queue — book it for a birthday."
About The Last Refuge
The founder ran a fish restaurant at Sharm el-Sheikh, at the tip of Sinai, and when the peninsula was handed back to Egypt in the early 1980s he carried the idea north to Almog Beach in Eilat. Forty-odd years on, The Last Refuge is the Red Sea's best-known fish taverna: nets on the ceiling, blue-and-white cloths, and windows over the boat dock. The kitchen does one thing and does it hard, charcoal-grilling the day's catch and serving grilled lobster and seafood platters to a room that has fed ministers, footballers and television faces. Expect to spend ₪180 to ₪280 a head.
The Kitchen
There is no celebrity chef and no tasting menu here; The Last Refuge is run by the family that has worked the pass since the founder moved north from Sharm el-Sheikh, and the cooking is deliberately old-school. The signature is the charcoal-grilled whole fish, picked by weight and cooked over coals until the skin crackles; the grilled lobster and the cold seafood platter are the other reasons regulars drive down Route 90; and the seafood soups, thick with crab and clams, open most tables. Sushi and a wine list round out a menu that has barely needed to change.
Pricing is at the upper end for Eilat, roughly ₪180 to ₪280 a head depending on whether you order lobster or fish by weight, and reviewers consistently judge the quality worth the premium. The room has been a fixture of Eilat dining for more than four decades and is listed by Time Out Israel among the city's essential tables. It sits right on Almog Beach, with the Red Sea and the boat dock through the windows, which is part of what you are paying for. Time a table for sunset.
The Room
The Last Refuge looks the part of a forty-year fish house: fishing nets slung from the ceiling, maritime bric-a-brac on the walls, blue-and-white tablecloths, and big windows framing the boat dock and the Red Sea. The sound level is lively rather than hushed, the lighting warm and low at night, and the tables are set close in a busy, full room. Dress is smart-casual and beach-relaxed; this is Eilat, so no jacket is needed. Seating is generous, with the window and terrace tables the ones to ask for. Book the sunset slot and request a table over the water.
Best for a Birthday
Book this room for a birthday because it turns a meal into an event without trying too hard: a Red Sea view through the windows, a generous seafood spread built for sharing, and a forty-year landmark that locals treat as a rite of passage. Order the charcoal-grilled catch and a platter for the middle of the table and let a group dig in. It works equally to impress visiting clients or for a team dinner with a view. For more of the coast, see our best seafood restaurants guide.
Not for
Not for budget travellers or vegetarians. The Last Refuge is a pricey, fish-and-shellfish house where the bill climbs fast once lobster and catch-by-weight reach the table.
Frequently Asked
Is The Last Refuge worth it?
Yes, if you want Eilat's landmark fish house and are ready to pay for it. The kitchen has charcoal-grilled the Red Sea catch for more than forty years, and regulars judge the grilled lobster and whole fish worth the ₪180 to ₪280 a head. It is a busy, old-school taverna with a sea view, not a quiet fine-dining room, and the setting is half the appeal.
How hard is it to book The Last Refuge?
Booking is wise, especially in season and at weekends, when this well-known room fills with locals and tourists alike. Reserve a day or two ahead for a standard evening and earlier for holidays and Friday nights. Ask specifically for a window or terrace table over the boat dock, since those go first, and aim for the sunset slot for the best of the Red Sea view.
What is the dress code at The Last Refuge?
Smart-casual and beach-relaxed. This is a seafront fish taverna in Eilat, so a shirt and shorts or a summer dress are entirely normal, and no jacket is expected. The room is lively rather than formal. Come as you would for a relaxed holiday dinner by the water, and bring an appetite for a long, shared seafood meal.
What does a meal at The Last Refuge cost?
Budget roughly ₪180 to ₪280 per person for a full meal. The figure swings with what you order: fish and lobster sold by weight push the bill up, while a soup, a platter and a glass of wine sit nearer the lower end. It runs pricier than most Eilat fish restaurants, and the consensus among reviewers is that the quality and the setting justify it.
Is The Last Refuge good for a birthday?
Yes, it is one of Eilat's go-to celebration rooms. The Red Sea view, the shareable seafood spread and the forty-year landmark status make a birthday feel like an occasion. Order the charcoal-grilled catch and a platter for the table and book a window seat at sunset. It also suits a team dinner with a view.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at The Last Refuge
The Last Refuge takes bookings by phone and through Ontopo. Reserve a window or terrace table at sunset; the sea-view seats go first.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressAlmog (Coral) Beach, Eilat
NeighbourhoodAlmog (Coral) Beach
CuisineRed Sea seafood
Price₪180–₪280 per person
Dress CodeSmart-casual, beach-relaxed
SeatingLarge room + terrace
ReservationPhone / Ontopo
