Finding Kosher Restaurants in Jerusalem’s Old City (Jewish Quarter)

Contributed by: Dani Klein | Last Date of Travel: June 2011

Kosher Info:
The title of this post is kind of misleading in that you’re definitely going to find kosher places to eat in the Old City. In the Jewish Quarter that is. Don’t expect to find anything kosher in the Christian, Muslim, or Armenian Quarters.

(And in case you’re wondering, I took this picture at the Kotel on Yom Yerushalayim this year)

Now, if you’re like me and haven’t been in the Old City in a number of years, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see a whole new row of kosher restaurants right in the heart of “the Rova” on the way to the Kotel (on Tiferet Israel Rd. — don’t try and find this road in your car – it’s for pedestrians only). Having said that, if you do drive to the Old City, there is one major Jewish Quarter parking lot walking distance from all these restaurants, so if you can nab a spot, it may be worth driving, especially if you’re not a big walker.

On my way walking down to the Kotel, I took pictures of the restaurants I found. Please keep in mind that this is as of early this summer (2011) and I may have missed one or two (if I have – please comment below and add what I’ve missed).

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Tags: bbq meat & grill, burgers bar, coffeebagel, holy bagel, jaffa gate, Jerusalem, jewish quarter, keshet hahurva, kosher restaurants, Kotel, marzipan, menorah cafe, minyan at the kotel, moti's cafe, old city, old city restaurants, ophel archaeological park, ramban shul, rami's pizza, shwarma bar, tower of david, western wall

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Activities in Jerusalem in Honor of Yom Yerushalayim

As Yom Yerushalayaim starts tonight – we celebrate the 44 years since Jerusalem’s reunification in the 1967 6-Day War. Celebrations and festivities around the city will be taking place to commemorate this historic day. Here are some ways you can participate today, tomorrow, or whenever you’re in Jerusalem:

• March to the Kotel – hundreds if not thousands of people march to the Old City from all points, both in the middle of the night – arriving at the Kotel in time for Shacharit, and during the day as well – ending with a ceremony at the Kotel. The overnight march is an exhilarating experience, something I partook in 10 years ago, marching from Hebrew University’s campus on Har Hatzofim, all the way through the Muslim Quarter, arriving at the Kotel around 5am – just in time for morning prayers.



• Rikud Degalim (Dance of the Flags) – connected to the March to the Kotel, there is a “Flag Parade” which leads from the center of Jerusalem into the Old City, with everyone following in through all available Old City gates, culminating with a fun ceremony at the Kotel.


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Tags: ammunition hill, givat hatachmoshet, haas promenade, Israel11, Jerusalem, Kotel, migdal david, old city, rikud degalim, tayelet, tower of david, yerushalayim, yom yerushalayim, יום ירושלים

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✈ Keeping Kosher in Jerusalem, Israel

Contributed by: Dani Klein | Last Date of Visit: June 2006

Kosher Info: As capital of the Jewish state, J-town is filled with kosher eateries in almost every neighborhood.

City Center

The Ben Yehuda area is filled with all kinds of kosher restaurants:

• Burgers Bar – amazing huge burgers and great potato cut fries
• Holy Bagel – one of the places to get a traditional bagel, although not as good as New York bagels.
• Cafe Rimon – has a separated dairy and meat section. Huge selection on both sides, large portions and so yummy.
• Sbarro – the Italian eatery is Kosher in Israel and is awesome.
• Burger King – some question the hashgacha
• Also look down many of the side streets in this area, its filled with many places to grab a bite. (especially Italian)

Old City – Jewish Quarter

“The Rova” has a few places to grab food, nothing fancy. Within a few feet from each other exists 2 pizza stores, a falafel stand, and a couple cafes. By the stairs to the Kotel there’s a Holy Bagel, and a couple shwarma places.

City Entrance

There are a number of eateries both inside and outside of the central bus station and inside the Center1 building. In that area you will find a popular shwarma joint called Massov.

Geula & Me’ah Shearim

• Since this is the most religious area of the city, basically every shop is kosher and fairly cheap.

As an additional resource, you may want to check out Jerusalemite.net’s Kosher Restaurant Guide.

In terms of buying food at markets, all supermarkets carry a nearly all-kosher lineup of products.
On Pesach beware if you are Ashkenaz and do not eat kitniyot. Many products are listed as Kosher for Pesach that contain kitniyot. This applies to all of Israel.

Tourist Info: Such a beautiful city and so much to see and do. The Jewish quarter on the Old City deserves a walking tour and obviously a visit to the Kotel. (Is it blasphemous to call the kotel a tourist site?). The Jewish quarter is filled with all types of historical and religious sites, including numerous excavations. Check out the Kotel tunnel tour which runs deep under the Muslim quarter built above. Clostrophobes may not enjoy this tour.
Behind the old city is Ir David or David’s City, an archeological site allowing you to venture underground.
Directly outside of the old city is Mishkenot She’ananim, a beautiful artists village where you will find the Windmill. On the other side is Gan HaPaamon (bell park).

In the center of town the Ben Yehuda area is bustling day and night with tourits, students, and the local youth. There are all different types of shops, bars and restaurants, and be sure to check out the street vendors in the square behind Ben Yehuda. This is by far the easiest place to exchange your currency to Shekels.

Check out the Israel museum which includes extensive collections of Judaica, ethnography, fine art, artifacts, and rare manuscripts. Also see the Shrine of the Book.

For those who are not Chasidic (ultra-orthodox), walk through Geula and Me’ah Shearim. My only comparison is Boro Park in Brooklyn, but not nearly as nice. You cab find dirt cheap sefarim and other Judaica products. Visitor beware: if you plan to enter this neighborhood improperly dressed, there will be numerous signs advising you otherwise. The residents take that rule fairly seriously.

Jewish Info: Jews are commanded to visit Jerusalem 3x a year… no wonder there isn’t a city in the world with more Jewish history or charachter.

Every neighborhood has shuls and when in doubt, head to the kotel for round the clock minyanim. You can probably catch a late Shacharit while others are saying Mincha.

Tags: Israel, Jerusalem, Jewish, jewish community, jewish travel, Kosher, kosher travel, Kotel

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