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This Viennese-style second-floor garden café in a guesthouse for pilgrims is a refined retreat from the chaos of the Old City markets down below. Lunch and dinner are available, and the deep burgundy walls, wooden tables, and classical music make this a lovely wintertime spot for light fare or dessert. Ask at reception about visiting the rooftop for a small fee: the views of the Old City are gorgeous.
37 Via Dolorosa, 9762637, Israel
Known For
- The famous apple strudel, Sachertorte
- A frothy coffee for a reboot while touring
- Rooftop views of the Old City
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Jerusalem is famous for its Kurdish kubbeh soup, made with softball-size meat-and-semolina dumplings, and Azura is the perfect place to try this classic dish. Tucked away in a plaza off the Machaneh Yehuda market, the cavelike kitchen is packed with massive pots simmering on kerosene burners. Try the velvety beet kubbeh soup, or the tangy hamusta soup made with lemon and chard. Delicious hummus is made daily, and on some days the oxtail stew has the pungent flavors of the market. If weather permits, grab an outdoor table to watch groups of old Iraqi men drink coffee and play backgammon on the benches nearby. The restaurant closes when the food runs out, so don't arrive too late.
4 Haeshkol St., 9432204, Israel
Known For
- Comforting Israeli home cooking
- Beet kubbeh soup
- Outdoor dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. No dinner
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Locals flock to Café Yehoshua at breakfast, lunch, and dinner for its Israeli take on American diner food. The menu includes everything from tahini pancakes to spaghetti tossed with shrimp. A laid-back yet vibrant atmosphere and a location just a few minutes' walk from the prime minister's residence make it a great spot for quality people-watching in one of Jerusalem's quaintest neighborhoods. In good weather, the rooftop dining area lets you enjoy the fresh air. Evening is a great time to stop by for a drink and a bite-size burger.
17 Azza St., 92381, Israel
Known For
- Rooftop dining in one of Jerusalem's quaintest neighborhoods
- Laid-back yet vibrant atmosphere
- Israeli diner food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Fri. No lunch Sat.
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Locals rejoiced big time when this casual kosher spot opened, bringing with it a menu of creative street food (not to mention Jerusalem’s best artisan bread and meat purveyors). It's all complemented by craft Israeli beers and signature cocktails in a vibrant and loud "America in Israel" atmosphere. Get the duck fries, sliders, and a range of options on the "taco bar" menu, and then chomp in disbelief that the food is so delicious and kosher at the same time.
1 Hashikma St., 9432301, Israel
Known For
- Gourmet street food
- Lively atmosphere
- Duck fries, sliders, and a "taco bar"
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Fri.; no lunch Sat.
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This Tunisian hole-in-the-wall offers pillowy hand-rolled couscous, slow-cooked stews, and zingy tuna and egg sandwiches, served outside on tiny tables or packed up to go. There is no menu, just whatever owner Motti Hadad is cooking in the closet-size kitchen.
17 Beit Lechem St., 9355309, Israel
Known For
- Quick bites
- No menu
- Tunisian favorites
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. No dinner Fri.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Jaffar specializes in kunafe, the Nablus sweet made of goat cheese topped with syrupy semolina crumbles. You may be tempted to split your first plate, but the treat soon grows addictive. Jaffar also makes sheets of golden baklava topped with nuts. It's a landmark, visited by locals and tourists alike, so anyone in the Old City can help you find it.
Known For
- Massive portions
- Addictive desserts
- Value for money
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When aficionados of local standards like garlicky hummus, skewered shish kebabs, fried chicken schnitzel, and bean soup argue hotly about the merits of their favorite eateries, Pinati—which means "corner" in Hebrew—comes up as a leading contender. It's now a chain, but this simple downtown spot remains a convenient place to rub shoulders with locals while eating expertly prepared food. Not for long, though: your table will soon be in demand, and you will have to share at peak times.
13 King George St., 9422913, Israel
Known For
- Local favorite
- Hummus
- Convenient
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. No dinner Fri., Reservations not accepted
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On the top of the Mamilla Hotel, this open-air restaurant lays claim to one of the best views of Jerusalem, and you can enjoy it from a cushioned chair as you sip spiked iced tea and dine on seared sea bass or grilled lamb chops with Swiss chard. The extensive wine list features more than 20 local boutique labels. During the Sabbath, the Rooftop serves a cold menu of salads and fish. The atmosphere is lovely and the view is unbeatable, so advance reservations are a must in summer.
11 King Solomon St., 9418238, Israel
Known For
- One-of-a-kind alfresco dining
- Unbeatable views
- Salads and fish
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.–Thurs., Reservations essential
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Mo Tahhan opened this cheery café in the space that was once his father's travel agency with the vision of creating a gathering spot as comfy and as fun as your living room at home. Staff often joins patrons for a chat on the bright blue couches and encourages them to add or take from the in-house library stocked with a selection of English-language books. Changing daily specials include maqloubeh, a Palestinian rice and chicken dish, or the bright orange knaffeh, the traditional cheese pastry soaked in syrup, for dessert. Excellent coffee, pastries, Wi-Fi, and in-house printers create a kind of coworking vibe during the day, but the wine list and excellent pastas also attract more serious diners later on.
42 Salah A-Din St., Israel
Known For
- Palestinian beer
- Maqloubeh, a Palestinian rice and chicken dish
- Laid-back atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri.
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Just under the Jerusalem Theatre, Talbiye is a cozy neighborhood restaurant and wine bar specializing in French--Israeli cuisine. The soundtrack of classical music during the day and jazz at night, as well as the rustic-chic decor, provide a sophisticated atmosphere for a solid clientele of politicians, judges, and Jerusalemite intelligentsia. Don't miss the moules frites (mussels served with french fries) or the sea bream cooked in white wine, and finish off the rich meal with a baba au rhum, a small bundt cake doused in sweet rum.
Known For
- Cream of the crop clientele
- Fine dining
- Moules frites
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The name—a Hebrew literary phrase that translates roughly as "yesteryear"—is a clue to the character of the place. A tiny passageway leads to a rear courtyard and an iron stairway, which takes you up to this funky restaurant and bookstore in two separate rooms on the top floor of a 19th-century house. Hosting Hebrew (and occasionally English) poetry readings, lectures, small art exhibitions and modest book parties, T'mol Shilshom has long been a popular spot for folks who enjoy lingering over a novel. No meat is served, but choose from a tempting selection of salads, pastas, and fish dishes. Desserts are luscious, and the array of hot drinks served in chunky ceramic mugs is always welcome on a rainy day.
5 Yoel Salomon St., 9463305, Israel
Known For
- Cozy, go-to nook for great food and community
- Poetry readings and book parties
- Salads, pasta, and fish
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Fri. No lunch Sat.
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In the heart of the Old City, this place has some of the best hummus in town, served fast to locals crammed around rickety tables under fluorescent lights. Enjoy the excellent falafel, eggplant salad, and labaneh (a slightly tart yogurt drizzled with olive oil and spices). Eat family style and don't order too much, as you can get additional portions on the spot.
63 El-Wad Rd., 9750072, Israel
Known For
- Light on the wallet
- Colorful salads
- Family-style dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Reservations not accepted
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At this popular kosher chain, the hamburgers are more like cakes than patties. They come with your choice of tasty sauces, and all are made to order. Lamb and chicken wraps and robust salads reflect Israeli tastes. Vegetarians will delight in the portobello burger.
12 Shammai St., 9463112, Israel
Known For
- Kosher burgers
- Lamb, chicken, and beef options
- Vegetarian portobello burger
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Fri. No lunch Sat.
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Even though this German Colony institution is part of a chain, it's still quaint with welcoming service. It's well-known for its sweet potato soup and juicy salmon skewers. Morning meals are generous and varied, including classic Israeli breakfast of eggs and salads. The personable staff and the warm, welcoming space make this a favorite spot for locals. There are also charming branches downtown near Mamilla on Shlomzion Hamalka Street as well as at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.
36 Emek Refa'im St., 9310418, Israel
Known For
- Multiple branches in great locations
- Local favorite
- Sweet potato soup
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Fri. No lunch Sat.
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Cholent is a dish that evolved from necessity: Jewish law forbids cooking on the Sabbath, and so observant Jews often start a stew on Friday that will be ready the following afternoon. Every Jewish community has its own recipe, but in Jerusalem the best place to try cholent is in the ultra-Orthodox quarter of Me'a She'arim, where on Thursday nights locals crowd into Deitsch for a plate straight out of Poland. You'll be served a rich brown stew with a few vegetables and a dumpling. Dress modestly, and expect to be the only patrons not wearing black and white.
32 Me'a She'arim St., 9522914, Israel
Known For
- Authentic cholent
- Age-old tradition
- Ultra-Orthodox local spot
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. No dinner Fri.
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It's hard not to wolf down these pita sandwiches stuffed with seared entrecote, osso buco, or fried red mullet, and there's crispy cauliflower too. Shots of arak are available as well, on the house.
6 Beit Ya’akov Street, Israel
Known For
- Unusual pita stuffings
- Shots of arak
- Homey atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri. night and Sat. during the day
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Part coffee shop, part bookstore, this spot has an endless trove of literature exploring the Arab-Israeli conflict from a Palestinian perspective. Take a volume upstairs and peruse it over a lunch of a savory manaqeesh bread topped with thyme and olive oil, freshly made labaneh cheese, or salmon sandwiches. Turkish coffee is brewed fresh on an orange camping stove. Ask about upcoming lectures and movie screenings.
19 Salah A-Din St., 9711042, Israel
Known For
- Engaging atmosphere
- Hospitality
- Special events and book launches
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Brothers Aviram and Shlomi Ohana's tiny fish-and-chips emporium in the heart of the Machaneh Yehuda market offers fresh selections direct from their father Haim's seafood stall down the alley. Everything is garnished with a range of tasty dressings and accompanied by great fries. Try classic British-style battered cod, or a range of interesting dishes including tuna, salmon, or whatever today's fresh catch happens to be. There are also good beers on tap. They had to triple the seating area because of the huge demand, so there's plenty of space.
12 HaEgoz St., 9431818, Israel
Known For
- Cheap and delicious
- Classic British-style battered cod
- Beers on tap
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sat. No dinner Fri., Reservations not accepted
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The sign is only in Hebrew at this hole-in-the-wall stand, which features what many say is the best sabich in the city. The Middle Eastern street food staple has thin slices of fried eggplant combined with hard-boiled egg and your choice of greens, wrapped in a laffa (flatbread) or stuffed into a pita, then topped with tehina and/or amba, a tangy, pickled mango sauce. If you haven't yet been introduced to sabich, this is is the place to be initiated. The hours? Until the eggplant runs out. There are vegetarian and vegan options.
9 Shamai St., 9463109, Israel
Known For
- Traditional street food
- The place to try sabich (fried eggplant and egg in pita)
- Open until the eggplant runs out
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri.–Sat.
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All walks of life share elbow space at this casual eatery's long bar inlaid with Armenian painted tiles. The hummus here is especially tasty and is served from morning until well after midnight.
3 Ben Sira St., 9418103, Israel
Known For
- Fresh hummus
- Open morning to late night
- Casual atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Fri. No lunch Sat.