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Food at a restaurant by Jay Wennington-

10 Best Non-Touristy Restaurants in Jerusalem

We can talk about many things when it comes to Jerusalem, including its complex political situation, dominant religious status, and its overall diversity.

It would be an unending debate but one thing that many will find easy to agree on is its rich and incredible food scene.

Many visit Jerusalem every year, whether on a religious pilgrimage, vacation, or business trip. We list the 10 best less touristy restaurants if you’re looking for a peaceful, less busy place to eat in Jerusalem.

1. Tmol Shilshom

Opened book, bread and coffee by Callum Shaw-

Picture having some hot tea in cold weather, in a cozy library. That’s the kind of feel and experience this Kosher restaurant offers. Kosher means, it conforms to the strict dietary standards of Jewish law.

 It is a bookstore and café restaurant set in an old rustic building and perfect for book lovers. It can be quite hidden but if you follow the signs from Yaffo Street, you should be able to find it.

It is known to host Israeli authors who sometimes read their books from here. When it was opened in 1994, Yehuda Amichai read from his poetry. Enjoy their top dish, the Shakshouka, which is a Maghrebi dish made of eggs in olive oil and served in tomato sauce and spices.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 9.00 AM TO 11.00 PM CLOSED ON SATURDAY FOR SHABBAT

ADDRESS: YO’EL MOSHE SALOMON ST 5, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

TELEPHONE: + 972 2-623-2758

2. Ishtabach

Baked pastry with fillings by Scott Eckersley-

Situated next to the colorful Machaneh Yehuda market, this Kurdish restaurant serves one of the best prepared Syrian-Kurdish dishes.

Their specialty dish is the Shamburak, a crispy pan-cooked pastry stuffed with minced meat and spices. You can have your choice of meat fillings for the shamburak and that is simply awesome.

Ishtabach is also a Kosher restaurant. You can dine in or have a takeaway.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 12.00 PM TO 12 AM MONDAY TO THURSDAY. OPENS ON SATURDAY FROM 10 PM TO 12 AM.

ADDRESS: BEIT YA’AKOV ST 1, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

TELEPHONE: +972 2-623-2997

3. Jachnun Bar

Image by Nadine Primeau-

If you’re looking for a fantastic vegetarian restaurant after shopping at the Machaneh Yehuda market, then this is where you go.

Enjoy top delicacies such as the shakshouka, pizza malawach (a Yemenite pastry), pancakes, and vegetable salads. Afterward, grab a delicious beer. Take away available.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 9.30 AM TO 1.00 AM. OPEN ON SHABBAT (SATURDAY) FROM 7 PM TO 2 AM

ADDRESS: HAEGOZ ST 30, ISRAEL

TELEPHONE: + 972 2-566-1919

4. P2 Pizza

Pizza mozzarella by Engin Akyurt from

This is a small Italian pizza joint in downtown Jerusalem. The atmosphere is quite casual and the vibe is youthful.

The restaurant also serves fresh homemade pasta and desserts. Wine is available too. The place is relatively small, so seating capacity might be limited on a busy day. They do takeout, however, in case that happens.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 12.00 PM TO 12.00 AM. CLOSED ON FRIDAYS

ADDRESS: KEREN HAYESOD ST 36, JERUSALEM

TELEPHONE: +972 2-563-4805

5. Café Yehoshua

This is a a small but pretty popular non-kosher café in the Rehavia neighborhood. Prepare to dig a bit deeper into your wallet as the prices are higher than most places around here. 

Rich Israeli cuisine, excellent English breakfast, and tantalizing local beer. The shakshuka is a favorite. Lots of tasty non-kosher food, which is rare in most parts of Jerusalem.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 8.00 AM TO 12.00 AM. OPENS ON SATURDAY AT 8.20 PM

ADDRESS: AZZA ST 17, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

TELEPHONE: +972 2-563-2898

6. Kazze

Everything in this dairy restaurant by the street is gluten-free and yet so tasty!  There are a variety of vegan options and the pizza and salads are simply mouth-watering.

Outdoor seating offers you the fresh air of Jerusalem on a calm afternoon. Great for vegetarians and everyone else! Take away available.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 10.00 AM TO 10 PM. CLOSED FOR SHABBAT ON SATURDAYS

ADDRESS: BETSAL’EL ST 7, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

TELEPHONE: +972 79-565-8822

7. Azura

Azura is  a Middle Eastern local restaurant in the heart of Jerusalem, near the Machaneh Yehudah. The food tastes homemade and it is slowly cooked over stoves in huge pots. Very traditional to the Iraqi Kurdish cuisine.

Most of it is already cooked so the waiting time is short. Some of the top delights include the kubbeh hammusta, a Kurdish dish consisting of dumpling soup with a variety of fillings. Take away and delivery available.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 9.00 AM TO 4.00 PM CLOSED ON SATURDAYS

ADDRESS: HA-ESHKOL ST 4, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

TELEPHONE: + 972 2-623-5204

8. Piccolino

Photo by Dan Gold –

Piccolino is located right at the musical square; Kikar Hamusica in the Nachalat Shiva neighborhood. That means you get to enjoy live background music as you savor your meal.

The aroma of freshly baked Italian pastries is too inviting. You can have Italian coffee in the morning, fresh pasta for lunch, and a glass of wine in the evenings as you listen to live bands at the music square.

Take away available. You might want to book a table as it’s usually packed during peak hours.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 10.00 AM TO 10.00 PM CLOSED ON SATURDAYS

ADDRESS: YO’EL MOSHE SALOMON ST 12, JERUSALEM, 9463312, ISRAEL

TELEPHONE: +972 2-624-4186

9. Shanty

Opened in 1993, this cozy cosmopolitan joint on Nahalat Shiv’a is a favorite for locals. It has a particularly trendy bar and is popular for its imaginative and diverse menu. It is a typical stylish Israeli bistro perfect for hangouts with friends.

Savor its steaks, seafood, fish, and great salads such as the ‘Edna Salad with entrecote. The tuna ceviche is a great main dish here. Liquor, both local and international is always ready to serve.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 7.00 PM TO 3.00 AM. CLOSED ON SUNDAYS

ADDRESS: MA’A LOT NAKHALAT SHIV’A ST 4, JERUSALEM

TELEPHONE: + 972 2-624-3434

10. Katy’s

Red wine pouring into a glass by Lefteris Kallergis-

This is a fairly small but pretty popular French bistro just north of Damascus gate, off Jaffa road. It is named after its equally amazing founder, Katy Ohana. The place is a haven for great Parisian cuisine with a Middle Eastern touch.

You could call it a little Paris in Jerusalem. The wine selection cannot get any better! Making a reservation is a wise call if you plan to visit during peak hours.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 11.00 AM TO 10.00 PM. CLOSED ON SATURDAYS

ADDRESS: HA-SOVEG ST 2, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

TELEPHONE: +972 2-623-1793