Old City

Jewish quarter

jewish quarter
Bonkers Bagels
2 Tiferet Yisrael St.
(02) 627 2590
Under ₪20
Su-Th 9AM-6PM, F 9AM-2 hrs before Shabbat. Motzei Shabbat from 1 hr aftet Shabbat. Closed Shabbat

This restaurant is located between the Hurva Square and the Kotel. The menu consists of a wide selection of bagels and toppings, including vegetables and spreads.

jewish quarter
Quarter Cafe
Tiferet Yisrael St.
(02) 628 7770
Under ₪60

Known more for its scenery rather than for its food, the Quarter Cafe offers a view over the Western Wall and Temple Mount.

jewish quarter
Rami's Pizza
131 HaYehudim

You can buy pizza, calzones, soft-serve ice cream American ice cream and a variety of drinks.

jewish quarter
Tzaddik's Deli
Tiferet Yisrael St.
(02)627 2148

At Tzaddik's you can find deli sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, a selection of drinks, and even Thanksgiving dinner during the appropriate season.

Muslim quarter

muslim quarter
Jerusalem Star
32 El Wad Road
10AM-10PM daily

Not kosher.

muslim quarter
Abu Shukri
63 El Wad Road
(02) 627 1538
Under ₪60
8AM-5PM daily
corner of Via Dolorosa

A small, simple restaurant that is known for its quality hummus and serves a variety of Middle Eastern favorites. Not kosher.

muslim quarter
Nasr Restaurant

An excellent hole-in-the-wall shawarma place inside the Old City with delicious French fries and all the fixings you can put in your pita. Not kosher.

Christian quarter

christian quarter
Amigo Emil
Al Khanqa St.
02-6288090
₪20-60
9AM-10PM daily
El Khanka St. Bazaar (left side as you go downhill)

This friendly place, set on a quiet bazaar street at the edge of the Christian Quarter, is a good choice for a Western-style meal and a break from the bustle of the Old City. You can order chicken wings in barbecue sauce; omelets; old-fashioned chicken soup; meat lasagna; boneless, breaded chicken breast stuffed with Israeli feta cheese; a mezze of Arabic appetizers; or grilled meats. There are special touches, such as delicious carabage halab a wonderful Arabic pastry made by the owner's family; fresh tangerine juice in season; and there's even espresso. As this is a Christian-owned establishment, there's a wine and beer list.

christian quarter
Grand Shisha Bar & Cafe
02-6271507

inside Jaffa Gate as you enter the archway under the New Imperial Hotel. A nice place to spend great time with family & friends. Traditional middle eastern oriental setting and colorful divan seats .Enjoy world and local beers Taybeh, wine, soft/hot beverages,shishas and much more and listen to your favorite music.Internet/wi-fi.Jerusalemite family business since 1954.

christian quarter
Versavee Bistro Bar & Cafe
41 Greek Catholic Patriarchate
02-6276160
08:30 - 00:00
second left past the Tourist Information Office inside Jaffa Gate, into historical Versavee Building (part of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate)

Versavee is a cosy place where you can enjoy and chill, listen to cool music and watch TV. You can enjoy coffees and teas, fresh croissants, fresh juices, apple, grapefruit and pomegranate. Soft drinks, beers & beverages, snacks, munchies, full cocktail bar, tobacco & free wi-fi.

The Old City tempts the taste buds with Arabic, Jewish, Mediterranean and International fare. Visitors on the go can grab food from street vendors, while those desiring a more formal meal can find numerous restaurants scattered throughout each quarter.

Common appetizers and quick treats may include Kibbe, an oval-shaped croquette of cracked wheat filled with meat and onions; Hummos, a chickpea paste with olive oil; Tabuleh, finely-chopped parsley with tomato and cucumber; and Tahini, a sesame seed paste with parsley, oil and garlic.

Main dishes usually consist of lamb or chicken meat with occasional beef, but never pork. Meats can be cooked in a variety of ways, but is most often cooked on a spit. Take-away restaurants offer favorites like falafel deep-fried balls of mashed chickpeas and shwarma lamb grilled on a spit and eaten in flat bread.

Dessert options range from exotic or citrus fruits to sticky, sweet Middle Eastern confections. Baklava is a layered pastry filled with powdered pistachio and covered in honey or syrup. Kanafeh, a recipe that differs throughout the Middle East, is served in Jerusalem as pistachios in a crisp coating of pastry threads.

An issue that may be confusing to many travelers is the issue of Jewish dietary laws, or Kashrut. These laws state that certain meat is considered impure anything that does not chew the cud and have a split hoof, including pork and rabbit, as well as certain types of seafood anything without scales or fins. Animals that are permitted for consumption have been slaughtered according to Jewish religious practices and cleansed of all traces of blood before cooking, allowing the food to be declared kosher. Other complications revolve around the fact that meat and dairy products can never be eaten together in the same meal. In Jerusalem you will find that all types of restaurants can be kosher, not just Jewish ones.

armenian quarter
Armenian Tavern
79 Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate Rd.
(02) 627 3854
₪30-60
Tu-Su 11AM-10:30PM; reservation required F-Sa evenings
from Jaffa Gate, turn right at the Citadel/Tower of David and continue straight down the street past the post office; the restaurant is on the right hand side down a small flight of stairs

Traditional Armenian food in an atmospheric setting: a Crusader period arched cellar complete with indoor fountain, wooden tables and the ubiquitous hand-painted Armenian tiles. Alcoholic beverages available.