World City Guide

Restaurants

We have selected 15 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.

Restaurant prices are subject to 18.25% VAT (Value Added Tax). Service charges of 10-15% are generally added to the restaurant bill, if not a tip of this amount, depending on the quality of the service, is expected.

The prices quoted below are for a three course meal for one, including a bottle of house wine or equivalent:
$ (up to (ILS90)
$$ (ILS90 to ILS130)
$$$ (ILS130 to ILS180)
$$$$ (over ILS180)

Gastronomic

Cavalier
Offering a combination of modern and traditional French food with the ingredients and flavours of the Mediterranean, this charming restaurant offers a high level of service and extensive wine list. Since opening in the mid-1990s, it has become increasingly popular and offers a selection of excellent dishes.

Rehov Ben Sira 1, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 624 2945.
Price: $$$$

Michael Andrew
This gourmet restaurant is famous for its multitude of fish platters, but is equally popular for its views over the Old City taking in the Ramparts and Citadel of David. Be sure to reserve a window seat or if the weather is warm enough ask for the balcony table where the nighttime views of the illuminated Old City are particularly stunning.

12 Emile Botta Street, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 624 0090.
Price: $$$

Mishkenot Shaananim
With a wine cellar reputed to be one of the biggest and best in the world, and food made of the highest quality ingredients, it’s no wonder that Mishkenot Shaananim has been the choice of VIP guest for over 20 years. This is documented by the photographs at the entrance that includes Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, Jacques Chirac and John Le Carré. The décor is somewhat old-fashioned but the service is excellent and through the large windows is a view that takes you over the walls of the old city, Mount Zion, the Citadel of David and towards the edge of the Judean Desert.

Yemin Moshe, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 625 1042.
Price: $$$$

Business

Ima
An Israeli-Oriental restaurant with a touch of Jewish-Kurdish cooking, Ima is located in a charmingly renovated house taking up several rooms and including a terrace. Private parking is available for guests. There is a separate business lunch menu that is good value.

189 Agrippas Street, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 624 6860.
Price: $$$

Mamma Mia
Set in a recently renovated old stone building with its well-kept garden, this is one of Jerusalem’s most beautiful restaurants and one that combines the original architecture with modern comfort. Mamma Mia is owned and managed by a family of Milanese roots and culinary tradition and was one of the first Italian restaurants in the city. It offers the range of traditional Italian food – pizzas and pasta and a selection of desserts.

38 King George Street, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 624 8080.
Price: $$$

Shonka
Serving a range French-Mediterranean-Italian dishes and with a good wine list, Shonka is a popular restaurant and reservations are advised. The dishes are simple and the décor modern making it and ideal place for business dining – the business lunch menu is particularly good value.

Rehov HaSoreg 1, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 625 7033.
Price: $$$

Trendy

Arcadia
The intimate interior, divided by stone arches and subdued lighting, offers the perfect setting for contemporary dishes combining local ingredients with French style. Arcadia deserves its reputation as one of Israel’s best and most exciting restaurants, it is understandably popular with both visitors and locals.

Rehov Agrippas 10
Tel: (02) 624 9138.
Price: $$$$

Darna
This popular West Jerusalem restaurant offers an extensive menu of North African and middle-eastern food in a Moroccan-inspired setting. It has recently been extended to encompass a restored wine cellar with low ceilings and arches, the atmosphere is completed with the plush cushions scattered around the tables for leisurely reclining.

3 Horkanus Street, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 624 5406.
Website: www.darna.co.il
Price: $$$$

Fink
With a reputation as one of the best known restaurant/bars in Jerusalem, this is a place to go to see and be seen rather than for its menu. Dishes are an eclectic mix of European, Mediterranean and traditional Israeli with a few surprises thrown in for good measure.

Rehov haMelech George 13, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 623 4523.
Price: $$$

Budget

Ma’adan
The poorly decorated interior aside, Ma’adan offers good value food at low prices and has a wide range of fish and meat dishes. Influences range form North African to European and with a wide range of salads and soups it is popular and lively at all times of the day.

35 Jaffa Street, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 625 5631.
Price: $$

Maoz Falafel
This kosher falafel stand has been a favourite in West Jerusalem since it opened in 1967. It has a small interior with seating space around the service counter. Spread out on the counter is a tempting array of shredded salad and piles of laffa – staff will fill your falafel, while a salad bar allows you to supplement your meal with a range of salad and sauces.

19 King George Street, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 625 7706.
Price: $

Te'enim
This restaurant serves a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes in a charming old stone building behind the gardens of the King David Hotel. Spread over three floors with view over the Old City, the best seats are in the arches of the windows but these must be reserved.

12 Emile Botta Street, Yemin Moshe
Tel: (02) 563 0048.
Price: $

Personal Recommendations

The Armenian Tavern
An atmospheric restaurant in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City. It is located in the basement of an ancient Crusader church and has a tiled interior, solid wooden tables, a huge chandelier and a fountain in the corner. The food is served in wooden or painted ceramic bowls. On Fridays, local Armenians come to the restaurant with home-cooked food which they share with visitors.

Armenian Patriarchate Road, Old City
Tel: (02) 627 3854.
Price: $$

Mifgash HaShech
Well away from the usual tourist track, Israelis flock from far and wide to this rustic café. What draws them here is the hot drink made from vanilla orchid, coconuts and cinnamon known as sachlab and the rosehip dessert – malabi. There is a bakery on the premises where pita is baked for stores so everything served is just out of the oven.

7 Tzeret Talpiot, West Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 678 3547.
Price: $

Nafoura Jerusalem Wall Restaurant
Set in an open air courtyard in what was once a parking area for caravans and chariots within the city walls but is now filled with fountains and Roman pillars with traditional Arabic music. There is also a smaller inside seating area. Nafoura offers a calm that is in contrast to the bustling maze of streets outside. The food is Middle Eastern but with Armenian and Greek influences and Lebanese salads and dips.

18 Latin Patriarchate Road, Old City
Tel: (02) 626 0034.
Price: $$