Jerusalem Restaurant Tips by iblatt Top 5 Page for this destination

Panoramic Golden City: Dining on the Roof in the Christian Quarter

"Panoramic Golden City". previously called Papa Andreas Restaurant, is located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, in the center square of the Muristan section.
We climbed the stairs to the large, spacious roof, and had a very good lunch (the usual Middle Eastern fare) with a great view all around us: The Muristan square with its small fountain right below us; the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer very close on one side, and the Holy Sepulchre Church nearby; the roofs and balconies of the Christian Quarter all around; the golden Dome of the Rock a bit further, and the Mount of Olives in the distance: the most inspiring background for an enjoyable meal. For a rainy day, there is also an indoor dining hall one floor down.

Favorite Dish: You can order all the salads (usually served as starters) for NIS 120. This includes 10 small dishes, such as humous, tehina, a plateful of falafel balls, eggplants salad, pickles, Turkish salad (spicy tomatoes and onions; the menu calls it "Turkey salad" but don't let that confuse you: there is no turkey in it at all!!); quite enough for 3 people who do not want to have a full meal.

Address: 130 Aftemos Market, Christian Quarter, Jerusalem

Comparison: about average

Directions: Muristan Square, Christian Quarter, two minutes from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Other Contact: (+972)-52-5557889

Phone: (+972)-2-6284433

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Middle Eastern

Focaccetta: Dining in Central Jerusalem

We had dinner in Focaccetta on a Friday evening: It is one of a few restaurants in central Jerusalem which is open on the Sabbath.

The menu was quite varied, with diferent kinds of meat, fish and seafood prepared in a variety of styles, from Thai-style noodles to Mexican fajitas. The menu also included a variety of starters and a selection of sandwiches and salads.

The service was good and efficient, and the decor trendy and quite pleasant. There was mainly indoor seating on the entrance floor, with a gallery above and a few small tables outside, on the pavement.

The main drawback was the noise: There were several families with children, and the noise was not dimmed by the acoustics in the restaurant. Maybe on other, less busy, evenings it feels different.

Address: 4 Shlomzion Hamalka St., Jerusalem

Comparison: about average

Directions: Near Jaffa Road, a few minutes from the Mamilla Boulevard or from the Nachalat Shiv'a neighborhood.
Non-kosher.
Open Sun-Fri 08:00-02:00, Sat 11:00-02:00.

Phone: +972-2-6243222

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 3

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://www.rest.co.il/sites/Default.asp?txtRestID=5206&txtNa

Herzl Grill House: Dine in the Building where Herzl Stayed

Theodor Herzl was the founder and leader of the Zionist movement in Europe in the late 19th century. In 1898 he was invited to Jerusalem to meet the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was visiting the Holy Land at the time. Herzl's goal was to gain the Kaiser's support to plead with the ruling Ottoman Sultan to grant the Jews a charter to build their national home in the Holy Land.

A famous photo shows Herzl standing on the balcony of a house on Mamilla Street, just outside Jaffa Gate, in which he was staying. The house has been conserved, and today it stands on the recently built Mamilla Boulevard. "Herzl Grill House" is located at the front of this historic house.

We had lunch here on a summer Friday afternoon. We sat outdoors, watching the hustle and bustle of Mamilla Boulevard: Locals and tourists, singles, couples, families and groups strolling from the new city to Jaffa Gate and the Old City, or in the opposite direction.

The starters were disappointing: The salad had a lot of fennel and beetroot, bith of which are not our favorites. The Moroccan cigars stuffed with chicken ragout, onions, plums and roasted almond sounded promising but were a bit tasteless and dry.
We did enjoy our main dishes: I was happy with my hamburger, Ofrah and Adam loved their grilled young chicken steak with red wine onion jam.
"Herzl" also offers a special Friday brunch for only NIS 59, consisting of bread, jam, olives, avocado spread, liver pate, eggplant in tehina and a vegetable salad, plus a selection of tapas. This is a really good deal.
There is outdoor and indoor seating on two levels of the building.

Address: 13 Mamilla Boulvard, Jerusalem

Comparison: about average

Directions: On Mamilla, connecting the New City and Jaffa Gate.

Other Contact: hertzelmamilla@gmail.com

Phone: +972-2-5020555; Fax +97225020511

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 3

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://www.rest.co.il/sites/Default.asp?txtRestID=11283

Kadosh: Cosy, Atmospheric Cafe-Restaurant in the Center

Kadosh Restaurant is located on a central street in Jerusalem, on the border of the historic neighborhood of Nachalat-Shiv'a. It is one of the favorites of my daughter, who lives in Jerusalem, and her friends. We had a light meal here in the evening, and greatly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere: It really felt "homey", as the restaurant website promised.

The menu is varied, with sandwiches, salads, quiches, pasta, soup and fish, and for dessert there is a very large selection of cakes and tarts. There is a touch of humor in the menu, with sandwiches named after frequent patrons of the restaurant (I had "Haim's Sandwich"). The others enjoyed their lasagna, salad and yam quiche.

Address: 6 Shlomzion Ha-Malka, Jerusalem

Comparison: about average

Directions: In central Jerusalem. halfway between the Mamila Blvd and Jaffa Road.
Open Sun - Thu 7:00 - 24:30, Fri: 7:00 till 30min before the Sabbath; Sat: 30min after the Sabbath till 01:00.
Kosher.

Phone: +972-2-6254210

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://kadoshcafe.rest-e.co.il/

Cavalier: Gourmet Restaurant in the Trendy Center

We owe our culinary experience at Cavalier to Yona and Duby, who asked us for lunch there. This is a chef's French restaurant. It is set in an old house in the trendy area of Shlomzion St, on the edge of the Nachalat-Shiv'a neighborhood, which is home to many restaurants, cafes and pubs.

Cavalier offers a choice of excellent gourmet dishes. During lunch time it is possible to order a business lunch consisting of a starter or soup and a main course for the price of the main course (NIS 79-99). The evening menu is more varied and many main courses cost over NIS 100. I had a very tasty pumpkin soup and a delicious red tuna sashimi, seared in sesame oil, soy sauce and wasabi. For dessert I had tarte tatin which was also excellent.
The service was very good.
In addition to the excellent food we enjoyed the intimate atmosphere and the decor.

Address: 1 Ben-Sira St., Jerusalem 94181

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: In a small lane at the corner of Shlomzion St.
Open daily 12:00 to 15:30 and 18:30 to 02:00.
Not Kosher.

Other Contact: cavalier1@bezeqint.net

Phone: 02-6242945; Fax 02-6236117

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 4

Theme: French

Website: http://en.dinnersite.co.il/restaurant/5755/Cavalier/Jerusalem/

Montefiore Restuarant, Mishkenot Sha'ananim: Italian cuisine in a historic building

Mishkenot Shaananim was the first residential building outside the Old City walls, built in 1860 by Sir Moses Montefiore (see my "Things to Do" tip). Its prime location on the slope of the hill overlooking the Old City walls from the west makes it unique and inspiring. It now serves as accomodation for visiting writers, artists and scientists from all over the world.

However, you do not need to be a distinguished writer in order to dine in the excellent restuarant in Mishkenot Shaananim, appropriately named "Montefiore Restaurant". You can enjoy excellent food (Italian cuisine) and a superb view. We had dinner here with a guest from abroad and greatly enjoyed it. The first course included eggplant parmesan, antepasti, cannelloni, artichoke filled with wild mushrooms. For the main course I had sea bream, which was delicious. The desserts were tasty but very standard and uninspiring (caramel cream, fruit salad, cheese cake, apple pie, chocolate mousse).
The service was professional and efficient.

All in all, food and ambience combined, this was a worth while dining experience.

Address: Mishkenot Sha'ananim, P.O.B 8215, Jerusalem

Directions: At the bottom of Yemin Moshe neighborhood.
Opening Hours: Sunday-Thursday 07:00-23:00; Friday 07:00-15:00; Saturday Closed.

Other Contact: Fax: +972-2-623-2925

Phone: +972-2-623-2928

Rating: 4

Theme: Italian

Website: http://www.mishkenot.org.il/en/catmain.asp?secid=2&catid=48

Link: Nice central garden-restaurant for shabbat lunch

We met friends for here for lunch on a summer Shabbat (Saturday). It's not easy to find restaurants in central Jerusalem which are open on Shabbat, and Link is one of this rare kind.

The menu offers a large variety to choose from. We ordered their home salad, "Link-salad", and a chicken-guacamole tortilla. The salad was a big success: tomato, cucumber, lettuce, mushrooms, croutons, roasted almonds and cubes of feta cheese in yoghurt, mayonnaise and mint sauce: delicious! The tortilla was also very good.

There is outdoor seating in the garden and indoor seating as well. The service is friendly.

Address: 3 Ha-Ma'alot St., Jerusalem

Comparison: about average

Directions: In central Jerusalem, on a side street off King George St.

Phone: +972-2-6253446

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Eclectic/International

Website: http://www.restaurants-in-israel.co.il/restaurant.aspx?id=10287

Colony: Restaurant and bar open on Friday night

It's not easy to find restaurants in Jerusalem which are open on Friday night and Saturday outside the Nachalat Shiv'a "secular enclave". "Colony" and two other neighboring restaurants are located in an enclosed yard at the entrance of Bak'a, across from the German Colony. It defines itself as a "Salon-food-bar".
The decor is slick and modern, the atmosphere is very lively, and it is always full on Friday nights: make sure to make a reservation! The menu is varied, including meat, fish, pasta, salads and more.

As for the food: The salmon fillet was tasty; the grilled entrceote was fine; the beef was medium-rare although we asked for medium-well done; the meat lasagna was mediocre.
The desserts were delicious, especially the pear-gratin.
The service was friendly and efficient.

Address: 7 Derech Beit-Lechem, Jerusalem

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: In an enclosed yard at the entrance to Baq'a.

Phone: +972-2-6729955, +972-52-2600006

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 3

Theme: Eclectic/International

Cafe Smadar: Movie-Goers' Hangout in the German Colony

"Lev-Smadar" cinema is a landmark in Jerusalem, tucked in a narrow lane in the German Colony, showing quality movies to a select audience, many of whom are Hebrew-U students and Jerusalem's secular intellectuals and bohemians.

"Cafe Smadar" is located in the one-storey cinema, between the ticket office and the hall entrance. This is the place to sit down, sip coffee (or cider or beer), have a meat or dairy sandwich or a salad, discuss the movie you've just seen (or going to see), have movie stars smile at you from the photographs and posters...

The ambience is special in Jerusalem, and Cafe Smadar is an answer for an "unmet need" for places like this in the Holy City...

Address: Lloyd George St., Jerusalem

Comparison: about average

Directions: At the "Lev-Smadar" cinema, in the German Colony, off Emek Refa'im Street.

Phone: +972-2-5660954

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.gojerusalem.com/discover/item_630/Cafe-Smadar

The Austrian Hospice: Wiener Apple Strudel in Jerusalem's Old City

If you had enough of chickpeas (humus), lamb shish-kebab and Knafe in the Old City, how about some authentic apple strudel?
No, this is not a gustatory hallucination or a fata morgana, there is a genuine Austrian bakery in the midst of the Old City of Jerusalem, a few meters away from the Arab market!
I am talking about the coffee house at the Austrian Hospice. Right on Via Dolorosa, next to the 3rd station of the cross, where Jesus fell for the first time.
An Austrian nun dressed in a white habit will serve you good coffee and your choice of Wiener cake: an apple strudel, or a Sachertorte if you so wish. You can sip your coffee and enjoy your strudel outside, in the garden, or indoors, with Franz Josef glaring at you from the wall.
Jerusalem is a microcosmos, full of contrasts and surprises, and this is one of them. But it's a very pleasant surprise!

Address: On Via Dolorosa, Old City of Jerusalem

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: German/Austrian

Website: http://www.austrianhospice.com/en/kaffeehaus.htm