Restaurants in Jerusalem
One of the unquestionable highlights of visiting Israel is the food, and Jerusalem is no exception. The cuisine reflects the city’s melting pot of different communities, with traditional Middle Eastern, North African, South American and Asian influences creating a feast of different flavours and inspiring such world-famous chefs as Yotam Ottolenghi. One of the best ways to experience Israel’s culinary diversity is to order a mix of starters, mains, and desserts for sharing. There are plenty of decades-old traditional eateries to be discovered, while Middle Eastern fast food is also filling and utterly delicious.
The restaurants below have been classed into three different price categories.
Expensive (over ILS120)
Moderate (ILS40 to ILS120)
Cheap (up to (ILS40)
The prices quoted below are for a meal for one including tax and service. Restaurant prices are subject to 17% VAT (Value Added Tax). Service charges of 12-15% are generally added to the restaurant bill.
Expensive
1868 Restaurant
Cuisine: Israeli, EuropeanThis elegant kosher restaurant was the first stone house to be built outside the Old City walls in 1868. Prime ingredients are cooked to perfection, and while meals don’t come cheap, you pay for top quality and an atmosphere of elegance and sophistication. The menu includes light meals, three-course fine dining, and six-course tasting extravaganzas.
Address: , 10 King David Street, Jerusalem,Telephone: +972 2 622 2312.
Website: http://www.1868.co.il
Machaneyuda
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, IsraeliDiners never get bored at this funky restaurant where the creative menu changes daily. It’s run by three well-known chefs who source ingredients from nearby Machane Yehuda Market. Prices vary, and while there are some expensive daily options, there are cheaper dishes to choose from as well. The décor is unpretentious and the open kitchen allows for some culinary showmanship. Booking is almost always required.
Address: , 10 Beit Ya'akov Street, Jerusalem,Telephone: +972 2 533 3442.
Website: http://www.machneyuda.co.il/homepage
The Eucalyptus
Cuisine: IsraeliTraditional dishes are recreated with a modern slant by famed chef Moshe Basson in this elegant establishment, where local indigenous ingredients combine to produce a gourmet dining experience. Dishes include Jerusalem artichoke soup with almond cream, chicken stuffed figs in tamarind sauce, and the biblical King Solomon couscous. Waiters are happy to explain the history behind the dishes, making this much more than simply a meal.
Address: , 14 Khativat Yerushalayim Street, Jerusalem,Telephone: +972 2 624 4331.
Website: http://www.the-eucalyptus.com
Moderate
Armenian Tavern
Cuisine: ArmenianNestled in the Armenian Quarter, this tavern offers a unique dining experience, where Armenian dishes are served in the cellar of an ancient Crusader church. The atmospheric tiled interior includes solid wooden tables, a huge chandelier, and a fountain in the corner. The food, which is great for sharing, is served in wooden or painted ceramic bowls and contains plenty of local spices and flavour.
Address: , 79 Armenian Patriarchate Road, Jerusalem,Telephone: +972 2 627 3854.
Azzahra Restaurant
Cuisine: Italian, Franco-ArabThe unusual little Azzahra Hotel has catered its reputation entirely by word-of-mouth and hosts a similarly celebrated restaurant known for its Franco-Arab cuisine. Meat lovers will be enchanted by the chef’s juicy fillet mignon, while those with a taste for Italian will delight over the thin crust brick oven pizza, which is made in front of the customer. The restaurant also boasts an extensive list of drinks.
Address: , 13 Azzahra Street, Jerusalem,Telephone: +972 2 628 2447
Website: http://www.azzahrahotel.com/
Satya
Cuisine: Mediterranean, IsraeliA short distance from the Old City, this eatery features local, seasonal ingredients sourced by chef Ilan Garussi. The intimate restaurant has a warm, friendly atmosphere. The menu features excellent vegetarian and vegan dishes, along with beautifully cooked fish and a modern take on surf ‘n’ turf.
Address: , 36 Keren ha-Yesod Street, Jerusalem,Telephone: +972 2 650 6808.
Website: http://www.satya.co.il/en
Cheap
Abu Shukri
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, IsraeliThis rustic and simple hummus joint is regarded as the best in the city and has been run by generations of the Abu Shukri family. In the hustle and bustle of the Muslim Quarter, it can be easily identified by the queues of people waiting patiently for bowls of fresh, creamy hummus and fluffy warm pittas. The piping hot falafel balls are also worth the try.
Address: , 63 El Wad Ha Gai Street, Jerusalem,Telephone: +972 2 627 1538
Maoz Falafel
Cuisine: Middle Eastern, IsraeliThis tiny, historic falafel stand is a city-centre favourite. Staff fill your pita bread with falafel, chopped salads, hummus and tahini sauce, which you can then supplement from a tempting array of salads and sauces spread out on the counter. They also serve a mean shwarma (slices of slow roasted lamb).
Address: , 19 King George Street, Jerusalem,Telephone: +972 2 625 7706
Pinati
Cuisine: Middle EasternOne of the most popular kosher falafel joints in Jerusalem, Pinati’s queues attest to its long-standing popularity. Perfect for a quick snack, the falafel is light, tasty and hot, and packed into a fresh pitta with lashings of tahini paste and mixed salad.
Address: , 13 King George Street, Jerusalem,Telephone: +972 2 625 4540
