Around Jerusalem and the Dead Sea Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in Around Jerusalem and the Dead Sea - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

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  • 1. Afteem

    $

    Just off Manger Square, Afteem draws locals and tourists alike for its falafel, hummus, and chicken platters. Grab a falafel sandwich for just a few shekels, or order a sit-down meal in the arched, cave-like interior. There are meat, veggie, and vegan options, as well as Taybeh beer, local wine, and fresh fruit juices. Afteem also stays open late for night owls.

    Manger Sq., Israel
    02-274–7940

    Known For

    • Local beer
    • Great prices
    • Fresh ingredients
  • 2. Bab IdDeir Gallery and Kitchen

    $

    One floor contains a gallery where local Palestinian paintings and posters are on exhibit and for sale; above it is a well-lit restaurant with giant windows. Breakfast features Arab mainstays like hummus and man'ousheh bread baked with aromatic zaatar, and main courses range from traditional offerings like shishbarak dumplings to more Western offerings such as fettuccini Alfredo. Try local Palestinian wine and beer, or order from a wide bar selection.

    D’eik Quarter, Manager Square, Israel
    02-276–9222

    Known For

    • Good mix of cuisines
    • Local beer and wine
    • Close to Manger Square but away from the crowds

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 3. Limona

    $$

    Glass walls let the sun pour into this restaurant beside Hisham's Palace, providing a delightful setting for Palestinian basics done right. Middle Eastern mezze salads are delicious, grilled meats are expertly done, and you can try traditional dishes like Musakhan chicken cooked in sumac. The minty lemonade is a revelation after a hot day. On cooler days or in the evenings, there is a large patio with outdoor seating.

    Hisham's Palace Rd., Israel
    02-231–2977

    Known For

    • Grilled meats
    • Mint lemonade
    • Light-filled interior and patio seating
  • 4. Qabar Chicken

    $

    Just west of Bethlehem in Beit Jala, this fluorescent-lit hole-in-the-wall has perfected the art of grilled chicken over nearly 50 years in operation. The birds are split and grilled over charcoal, then served with creamy hummus, eggplant salad, and an unforgettable garlic sauce called mtawameh. Taxi drivers can take you here from Manger Square, and it's worth the trip.

    Near Beit Jala Municipality Bldg., Israel
    02-274–1419

    Known For

    • Addictive olive oil–garlic spread
    • Attracts politicians and other notables
    • Half or whole grilled chicken

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 5. Shams Al-Aseel

    $

    Tables face the rolling terraced hills of the West Bank, making this an unforgettable setting for a sunset meal. Try the musakhan chicken cooked in sumac or the maqluba rice pilaf served upside down; sip some local arak liquor or a Palestinian beer, and gaze at olive trees that have been growing here for centuries. You can also walk in the adjacent Makhrour Valley to picturesque nearby Battir. To get here, drive from Malha in Jerusalem toward Beit Jala. The site is in Area C, meaning it is accessible to both Palestinians and Israelis.

    Al Makhrour Rd., Israel
    059-461–6011

    Known For

    • Stunning views
    • Chicken cooked in an underground oven
    • Relaxed and inexpensive spot
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Abu Ghosh Restaurant

    $$$

    Jawdat Ibrahim won the Illinois state lottery in 1991 and plowed his winnings back into his village, creating a local restaurant as well as a scholarship fund for Arab and Jewish students. Jawdat was the driving force behind Israel's Guinness World Record for the largest plate of hummus, served on a satellite dish; taste the hummus for yourself, or try the bean soup or the juicy meat skewers served with freshly cut colorful salads. Take in stunning village views from large windows or outdoor seating on the balcony. A sweetshop on the first floor offers coffee, tea, and freshly made baklava and other treats, including the syrupy sweet cheese-based desert, knafe.

    Hashalom 65, 9084500, Israel
    02-533–2019

    Known For

    • Stuffed grape leaves
    • Stunning views
    • Homemade sweets
  • 7. Abu Omar Restaurant

    $$

    Locals come to this restaurant, just steps from Jericho's main square, for grilled chicken or lamb served with fresh salads and hummus. The attached bakery turns out sheets of golden baklava and sugary ropes of bourma, angel-hair-like dough wrapped around cheese.

    Arrasheed St., Israel
    02-232–3429

    Known For

    • Central location
    • Local crowd
    • Grilled meat at the attached restaurant
  • 8. Hummus Abu Shukri

    $$

    This popular hummus joint is also the village's oldest, having started out with two tables in Samir Abu Shukri's home in 1965 (his grandson, Fadi, is now the restaurant's third-generation manager). Grab a table by the large windows, and look out at the towering mosque minarets in the village while enjoying big plates of hummus served with fresh pita. For something more substantial, try hummus topped with grilled mushrooms or meat.

    63 Hashalom Road, Abu Gosh, Israel
    052-233–0399

    Known For

    • Meat-topped hummus
    • Great views
    • Relaxed atmosphere
  • 9. Last Chance

    $$

    On the main highway just outside Jericho, this restaurant run by an Israeli family specializes in meat dishes like chicken schnitzel and pastries filled with spicy ground beef. The large breakfast menu features shakshuka with tomato, spices, and egg; quick bites include potato-filled pastries, hummus, and salads. Try the meat-stuffed dates, drizzled in tahini and sweet date honey, accompanied by a glass of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice. Ask owner Vered Tayeb-Sinai to show you around the family's date orchards, just behind the restaurant. The restaurant also sells boxes of dates and runs a small guesthouse for overnight stays. 

    Rte. 1, Almog Junction, Israel
    050-352–5035

    Known For

    • Meat-stuffed dates
    • Local crowd
    • Convenient highway location

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Fri. evening and Sat.
  • 10. Majda

    $$$

    A Jewish--Arab couple offers fresh food made using ingredients straight from their garden at this eatery in a picturesque location a few miles west of Jerusalem. Yakub Barhum built the outdoor deck and pergola overhead, and Michal Baranes, the chef, dreamed up the menu of changing dishes. The fig salad is a celebration of the summer's juicy abundance, and the Layali Beirut dessert is a semolina cake with cream and rosewater. 

    Off Rte. 3975, Israel
    02-579–7108

    Known For

    • Diverse crowds
    • Fig salad
    • Weekend hangout

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Thurs.
  • 11. Muza

    $$

    Every inch of wall, ceiling, and bar real estate is plastered with the scarves of worldwide soccer teams at this beloved, well-established eatery on Route 31 at the entrance to Arad. Although there are plenty of options for non-meat eaters (veggie burgers, lentil stew, eggplant and cauliflower dishes), most people come for the burgers, which are served with spicy potato wedges and go well with one of the many available Israeli and imported beers. The atmosphere is cozy and warm, the waitstaff is cheery, and the big-screen TV is always tuned to a soccer match.

    Rte. 31, 89060, Israel
    08-997–5555

    Known For

    • Friendly staff
    • Cozy atmosphere
    • TV always showing soccer
  • 12. Naji Restaurant

    $$$

    People from near and far seek out this casual eatery for its excellent kebabs, made from ground beef and lamb, along with plenty of parsley. Opened in 1936, the family-owned restaurant also offers a large menu of grilled meats, salads, and desserts made in its nearby bakery. Vegetarians will enjoy stuffed peppers, onions, and eggplants. Large windows surround the tables in the circular dining room.

    4 Mahmud Rashid, Israel
    02-533–6520

    Known For

    • Sweeping views
    • Quality service
    • Local lunch crowd
  • 13. Peace Center Restaurant

    $

    Palestinian classics are the main draw at this tourist-friendly eatery steps from the Church of the Nativity. Try the maqloubeh, a spiced and baked chicken leg served with a colorful pilaf of yellow rice and eggplant, cauliflower, and carrots. Another great option is musakhan, chicken and onion baked in sumac spice over flatbread. There are also a wide range of pasta dishes. Palestinian Taybeh beer is on tap, and you can end with local baklava pastry or tiramisu.

    Manger Sq., Israel
    059-818–3849

    Known For

    • Tour groups
    • Chicken and onion baked in sumac sauce
    • Fresh desserts
  • 14. Reshta

    $$$

    Chef J.J. Jalil returned from the United States to his mother's home village and trained in top Israeli kitchens before opening his own homage to Ein Rafah. Try the musakhan chicken, marinated in sumac for 24 hours, or the siniya (layers of bulgur and minced lamb served with house-fermented lemon). Bread is baked in a stone oven on-site, and vegetarians can order salads or vegetable stew. No alcohol is served, but you can bring your own. 

    Ein Rafah, Israel
    053-611–2763

    Known For

    • BYOB
    • Stone-oven-baked bread
    • Vegetarian options
  • 15. Shanklish

    $$

    A modest, sweet, and genuine spot named for the dried, aged shanklish cheese that is grated over its salads, this is the ideal place to grab a light meal. Breakfast features bread baked over stones, eggs, salads, and a parade of dips; more substantial dishes include shishbarak dumplings, kebab wrapped in grape leaves, and musakhan chicken cooked in sumac. 

    Ein Rafah, Israel
    072-281–1738

    Known For

    • Good brunch spot
    • Lighter meals
    • Stone-baked bread

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 16. Sultan

    $$

    Reached by the Jericho Cable Car, this restaurant is the only place to get a cup of coffee, fresh juice, or some lunch near the Qarantal monastery. Tables are scattered on terraces built into the mountainside, and the menu includes grilled meats, hummus, salads, and some Western foods like pasta. Sultan closes at 7 pm daily, except for Thursday and Friday, when it is open later.

    Qarantal St., Israel
    02-232–1590

    Known For

    • Great oasis views
    • Lunch service
    • Hummus
  • 17. Temptation

    $$$

    The closest restaurant to Tel Jericho (they share a parking lot), this touristy spot known locally as Abu Raed serves grilled meat and chicken as well as mezzes like hummus and vegetable salads. You can buy Dead Sea beauty products at the adjacent shop.

    Ain as-Sultan St., Israel
    02-232–2614

    Known For

    • Caters to tour groups
    • Wide range of mezzes
    • Slow service at busy times
  • 18. Tent Restaurant

    $$

    Located in Beit Sahour, this massive restaurant with wide windows is a great way to end a day of sightseeing. Slip into a bright red chair, order a water pipe, and wait for waiters in white shirts and black vests to bring out well-spiced grilled meats, hummus, and salads.

    Shepherd's Field St., Israel
    02-277–3875

    Known For

    • Huge picture windows
    • Middle Eastern hospitality
    • Chicken liver cooked in pomegranate molasses

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