Restaurants in Jerusalem
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Babette
Waffles and coffee are the specialities of this popular student hang-out, which is just big enough to fit half a dozen standing patrons.
reviewed
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Village Green
A vegetarian’s delight, this kosher restaurant offers homemade dishes made from the freshest ingredients. It’s cafeteria style with various offerings of vegetable soups, quiches, veggie burgers, pizza, blintzes, savoury pies and lasagne, all served with home-baked bread. Meals are sold by weight (8.5NIS per 100g). If you still have room for dessert try one of the freshly baked pies.
reviewed
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1868
This French-Italian gourmet restaurant is housed in one of the oldest buildings in West Jerusalem, built (obviously) in 1868. Despite its age, owner Guy Ben-Simon has worked painstakingly to renovate the interior without losing the classic Jerusalem look and feel. There is an extensive wine collection and starters are little works of art - try the braised endives, flavoured with vinegar, walnuts and croutons. As a meat kosher restaurant, beef, lamb and fish dominate the main-course options.
If money is no object, order the nine-course tasting menu, which has the chef personally visiting your table to manage the whole affair. Classical and jazz music concerts are sometimes…
reviewed
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Coolinary
The latest addition to Jerusalem's restaurant row, Coolinary is a gourmet's delight with one of the best names in town. The three energetic Jerusalemites who opened the place went with a romantic, Spanish-influenced interior of dark wood and candles. One whole wall is taken up with wine bottles that are reached with a sliding library ladder; the wine list is five pages long so ask your server to assist in choosing one.
Ingredients and recipes from around the globe contribute to the menu - you have a choice of roast beef in a tortilla, stir-frys, ravioli or a 350g steak marinated in vodka. Goose liver in wild berry sauce is a house speciality. Desserts are also excellent -…
reviewed
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Darna
A narrow passageway off leafy Horkanos St leads into this charming slice of Casablanca, where patrons nestle inside small alcoves decorated with imported Moroccan furnishings, tiles and artwork. There is a warm atmosphere here (darna darcom means, 'My home is your home') and the service is impeccable. Among excellent menu options is the pastilla fassia, a flaky pastry stuffed with Cornish hen, almonds and cinnamon.
If you've come with a friend, try as a main course the mechoui, a marinated lamb shoulder roasted on a spit. Reservations are required.
reviewed
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Hamarakia
Old drums, typewriters, records and a beat-up piano line the walls of this purposely ramshackle restaurant. Check out the chandelier made from spoons and ladles! The name of the place (Soup Pot) pretty much sums up the menu – you have your choice of about five different soups. Shakshuka (eggs poached in a skillet of tangy stewed tomatoes; 25NIS) is also available. It’s a very social atmosphere, with just a few tables so you may end up eating with new friends. Live music (jazz jams and acoustic grunge) is sometimes played here.
reviewed
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Little Jerusalem
The peaceful patio overlooking a grove of pine trees is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet dinner or late Israeli breakfast. The kitchen mixes Western and Mediterranean menus, with a nice selection of seafood and meat dishes. On Tuesday at 8.30pm, the restaurant hosts a wine and cheese evening (95NIS) with live jazz music. Chamber-music aficionados can hear a concert here on Friday at 11am (for an additional fee), while Jewish traditional music is played on Saturday evening. Advance bookings are essential.
reviewed
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Amigo Emil
A 400-year-old building and former workshop, Amigo Emil has been chiselled down to the bare stone foundations and decorated with pictures of old Jerusalem. There are some nice appetisers, including a mezze of goat’s cheese, tabbouleh, aubergine and hummus. A Jerusalem plate (40NIS) gets you all of these. The house speciality is musakhan, a dish of spiced chicken and onions stuffed into Bedouin bread (58NIS), or if you prefer red meat, try the qidreh, lamb with rice and chickpeas (80NIS).
reviewed
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Ceilo
Chef and owner Adi grew up on the Italian food made in his mother's kitchen and has dedicated himself to bringing Jerusalemites pure Italian cuisine. It's not kosher and for once there are no fusion recipes. What it does offer is great food served in a cosy space painted in various hues of yellow. The palm hearts in cream sauce is a nice starter, while trout in lemon and crêpes is a popular main dish. Adi also has some creatively designed fruit desserts.
reviewed
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T’mol Shilshom
This bohemian cafe has its own literary subculture and popular following. Regulars here tend to be poets, writers and journalists who come not only for the excellent soups and sandwiches but also to swap stories and listen to impromptu acoustic concerts. This is also a good place to ask the staff about cultural events in town. It can be a little tricky to find: go through the arch on Yoel Solomon St, turn left and look for the black and white sign.
reviewed
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Focaccio Bar
The combination of good food at reasonable prices has made this one of the most popular restaurants in town. The speciality of course is focaccia, baked fresh in the taboun (clay oven) and eaten on a sunny patio. A variety of toppings is available and portions are large and reasonably priced; try the Bulgarian cheese and olive spread (32NIS). The menu also includes a nice 350g entrecôte steak, deep-fried calamari and fried mushroom dishes.
reviewed
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Barud
‘Barud!’ is a word that Israelis call out when an explosion is to be denoted, kind of like ‘Timber!’ Middle East style. The name belies the dazzling (non-kosher) Sephardic cooking. Meatballs with eggplant is a speciality, as well as pastalikos (a pastry with pine nuts, minced meat and onion; 49NIS). Owner Daniella Lerer is also very proud of her fruit-based moonshine, which is surprisingly good. Live jazz is played once or twice a week.
reviewed
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Kadosh
There are a lot of great cafes in Jerusalem and Kadosh is one of the best. The ambience is ‘French bistro’ and the wait staff and regular customers are all very engaging. Meals are made from scratch so you can be sure that the sandwiches, lasagne, quiche and baked goods are tasty and fresh. Ask about their specials; the salmon bruschetta (32NIS), stuffed mushrooms (34NIS) and ravioli aubergine with goat’s cheese (49NIS) are all excellent.
reviewed
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El Gaucho
Set inside a stone building, this delicious-smelling steakhouse imports everything from Argentina, including the beef, charcoal and all the decorations. If you starve yourself for a couple of days you could try the house speciality, a 1kg steak or the El Gaucho platter (salchicha, sausage chorizo and three empanadas). If you really can't handle all this meat, scan the menu for pasta and fish dishes; there are even a few vegetarian options.
reviewed
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T'mol
This bohemian café has its own literary subculture and popular following. Regulars here tend to be poets, writers and journalists who come not only for the excellent soups and sandwiches but also to swap stories and listen to impromptu acoustic concerts. If you get bored staring at your food you can pluck a book off a shelf. This is also a good place ask the staff about cultural events in town. Is a gay-friendly meeting place.
reviewed
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Bistro
This family-run restaurant is popular with locals and visitors alike. They serve food all day but it's at its best in the morning when you can try a set breakfast that includes an omelette, freshly baked bread, five types of dip and juice. Lunch and dinner is a fusion of French and Italian dishes with a soupçon of Sephardic (try the excellent kuba soup). It's located in the centre of the village at the main intersection.
reviewed
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Restobar
Not quite sure if they had just created a restaurant or a bar, the owners adopted an apropos name. Restobar consists of an oval bar with six beers on tap. You can occasionally hear live jazz and blues and a DJ spins records on Thursdays. Towards the back is the restaurant section, which resembles a living room, complete with fireplace and bookshelves. The menu is mainly salads, omelette breakfasts and meat-based lunches.
reviewed
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Mona
Mona is hidden inside the Old Bezalel Art School and usually missed by tourists, which is great if you’re looking for some truly local atmosphere. The regular crowd tends to be journalists, diplomats and other interesting people. Seafood and pastas are popular dinners, but you’ll need a reservation if you plan to come at night. The weekend breakfast, with eggs Benedict, muesli and shakshuka, is recommended.
reviewed
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Flavors
A breath of fresh air in East Jerusalem, Flavors is an affordable deli-café run by the affable Najati Tahhan. It's a very clean place and there's a little nook upstairs for more privacy. You can watch BBC on the TV overhead, tap away at your laptop (they have wi-fi) or just mingle with the local regulars. A half- dozen sandwiches are available, plus pepper steak and a nice chicken teriyaki platter.
reviewed
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HaMit Bahon
This is one of those secret eateries that tourists are not supposed to know about. Sorry Jerusalemites, we’re going to spill the beans on HaMit Bahon, quite possibly the best hummus joint in Jerusalem. Owner Assaf makes a creamy variety of the classic chickpea paste and it is damn good. The atmosphere is also lots of fun – once you see it you’ll understand the name, which means ‘the Kitchenette’.
reviewed
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La Boca
La Boca’s South American menu shakes things up in the German Colony. The young chef was a former backpacker who romped around South America for a year before returning home to open a restaurant (inspiration for the rest of us!). Try the excellent Peruvian soup or a Brazilian steak. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor of a Templar building; look out for the hostess who waits at street level.
reviewed
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Abu Shukri
Our constant search to find the best hummus in Jerusalem landed us at this place, as recommended by many a local. It was good hummus – maybe not the best, but definitely worth trying. The standard platter includes a bowl of fresh hummus, sliced tomato, pita bread and a couple of felafel balls. Add 10NIS for a cup of freshly squeezed OJ. It’s located near the Fifth Station of the Cross.
reviewed
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Chakra
This casual but classy dining experience whips up legendary seafood dishes cooked with Mediterranean spices. Less expensive pastas are also available and there are steaks too (but these are nothing special). Stick with the seafood; choose the aubergine and tahina side dish and you’ll have a wonderful gastronomic experience. It’s located under Cup o’ Joe, with the entrance in the back.
reviewed
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Armenian Tavern
Walk down the steps into this basement restaurant and relax in an old-world atmosphere, with Armenian pottery hung on stone walls and a gently splashing fountain. The strongly flavoured meat dishes are excellent, including khaghoghi derev, a spiced minced-meat mixture bundled in vine leaves. Other specialities include Armenian pizza and soojuk (spicy sausages).
reviewed
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Caffit
A lady on the bus recommended we check this place out and we’re glad we took her advice. Caffit is a fun and lively restaurant with a varied western style that includes salads, burgers and pastas, plus some tasty specialities, such as salmon with haloumi and mushrooms. If you’re flying solo, grab a seat at the bar and hang out with the friendly bartender, Tilan.
reviewed
