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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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On a hillside opposite Jerusalem's Old City, this is one of the best spots to dine when the stone walls reflect the golden sunset. The menu is heavy on meat and draws from Mediterranean influences. For starters, try the leek patties or the earthy bean soup with truffle oil. Ceviche is served with grated tomatoes, a nod to Yemenite kitchens. The standout dish is shpondra, or thin rib, cooked for seven hours. Vegetarians will find grilled artichokes or black risotto with mushrooms. Desserts are tasty, and the extensive wine list features local and foreign bottles. Look around while you dine; Touro is underneath the Jerusalem Press Club and is frequented by prominent local and foreign journalists.
2 Nachon St., 9411012, Israel
Known For
- Views of Hinom Valley and Mt. Zion
- Gorgeous 150-year-old building
- Shpondra, or thin rib, cooked for seven hours
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri. No lunch Sat.
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In this elegantly clubby version of the 24-hour diner, you can enjoy a wide variety of breakfast options, from the traditional English breakfast of bacon, sausage, baked beans, and a sunny-side-up egg, to the classic Israeli breakfast of eggs, cheeses, and fresh vegetables. Later on you can sample the house-made pumpkin tortellini or the famous French toast. There's a discount when you dine on weekday afternoons. There's a good kids' menu that's served fast to keep little ones happy.
15 Yoel Salomon St., 94633, Israel
Known For
- Jovial atmosphere
- Diner food 24/7
- Famous French toast
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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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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The name means "red" in Hebrew, referring to the 150 kinds of wine that decorate every wall in this large yet cozy restaurant. The menu has roots in Mediterranean kitchens, and includes loads of meat and seafood options. Try the fantastic Jerusalem mixed grill—it's a gussied-up version of the city's famed street food. Desserts include tahini ice cream and a dark chocolate, gluten-free "Nemesis cake." If you're seated at the bar, look up: when Adom moved to the First Station complex, the old restaurant's plates were converted into intricate light fixtures. Don't arrive Friday evening without reservations.
4 David Remez St., Israel
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Open on the weekend
- Jerusalem mixed grill
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This excellent authentic coffee shop in the Muslim Quarter serves traditional brewed coffee alongside a sesame cookie, as well as freshly squeezed pomegranate and other juices.
12 Via Dolorosa, 9762612, Israel
Known For
- Fresh squeezed pomegranate juice
- Sesame cookies
- Traditional Arabic coffee
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This popular eatery with a geometric mirrored ceiling is steps from the King David Street hotel district. The steaks are among the city's finest, as are the desserts, including dark-chocolate mousse and fresh fruit over tapioca pudding. The staff is helpful and friendly, and the knowledgeable sommelier will guide you to unusual Israeli vintages.
4 George Washington St., 9418704, Israel
Known For
- Inventive combinations
- Top-notch desserts
- Unusual Israeli vintage wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Fri.–Sat., Reservations essential
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At this East Jerusalem bistro, the stone walls are hung with local art and antique musical instruments. In summer, you can enjoy your meal on a lovely patio. The menu emphasizes salads—the tabbouleh is a refreshing mix of parsley and cracked wheat—simple pastas, and heavy-hitting meat dishes. The service is efficient and unpretentious, and the well-stocked bar includes local Palestinian Taybeh beer and wine from Bethlehem, along with European imports. Most Thursdays feature live music.
11 Shimon Hatzadik, 9725011, Israel
Known For
- Authentic tabbouleh
- Open on Friday night
- Hidden gem
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Jerusalemite Daniella Lerer combines her family's Sephardic culinary traditions with modern Israeli cooking techniques and personal favorites from two decades in the business. Reservations are a must for Friday dinner and on Saturday, when there are often live performances outside. Starters include pickled herring, boyikos (cheesy biscuits), and pastelikos (dumplings stuffed with seasoned ground meat). Main dishes include sufrito (braised dumplings with Jerusalem artichokes) and shrimp in wine and lemon. For dessert, look for the traditional sutlach, a cold rice pudding topped with cinnamon, nuts, and halva. Barood's other face is its well-stocked bar serving more familiar fare like spareribs and sausages, along with homemade citrus schnapps and 20 other flavors of schnapps.
31 Jaffa St., 9422108, Israel
Known For
- Tucked-away location in a hidden alley
- Sufrito (braised dumplings with Jerusalem artichokes)
- Homemade citrus schnapps
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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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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Steps from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Palestinians crowd into this tiny, bare-bones spot to tuck into hammam mehshi, or stuffed pigeon. It's a delicately flavored specialty served with salads and rice. You can also opt for stuffed chicken, grilled lamb chops, or fried liver, all made fresh by the friendly proprietor. Get here early—it closes at 6 pm.
28 Hakoptim St., 9712071, Israel
Known For
- Local spot for delicious delicacies
- Fair prices
- Friendly service
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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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Hebrew for "Sea Dolphin," this lively eatery serves some of the city's best seafood. The decor is pleasant enough—pale yellow stucco walls, recessed wine racks, arched windows, and an outdoor patio—but the food is what draws the mixed clientele, including plenty of families. Start with appetizers like the excellent wild roasted eggplant with tahini and pine nuts, then move on to the shrimp in a mushroom-cream sauce or the drum fish in a tasty broth. You can also experiment with the generous seafood platter for two that includes crab, scallops, and calamari.
9 Ben Shetach St., 94147, Israel
Known For
- Seafood platter
- Family-friendly
- Shrimp in mushroom cream sauce
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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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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One of the city's few restaurants to flout Passover restrictions on eating leavened dough, this popular haunt has been baking fluffy focaccias for over 20 years. There are many toppings (don't miss the black-olive spread), and some tasty starters (try the mushrooms stuffed with goat cheese or the fried calamari). The chicken livers stir-fried with shallots and fried onions are delicious. There are generous sandwich options, including the sirloin strips. Reserve a table on weekends when families fill the rustic restaurant where most of the seating is in the enclosed outdoor area.
4 Rabbi Akiva St., 9458204, Israel
Known For
- Fluffy focaccia
- Vegan and gluten-free options
- Sirloin strip sandwich
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Recommended on weekends