Good Restaurants in West Jerusalem (Jerusalem)

Focaccia Bar

This long established and popular restaurant is favored by Israelis and tourists alike for its consistent high standards, cheerful ambiance and most of all, for the giant Focaccias. baked in the outdoor, stone oven, the piping hot half-metre Focaccias arrive at your request with a choice of Goats cheese, labane, pesto sauce, olive paste and more. Other dishes, such as steaks and hamburgers are accompanied with homemade bread, and the giant stir-fried salads are perfect for sharing. The desserts are to be relished - try the warm Belgian Chocolate Cake with melting Ice Cream, or mouth-watering Chocolate Souffle (or both!).

Village Green

The owners Barry, Nadine, and Kobi opened the restaurant in 1992 to provide an eatery for the city's vegetarians. The result is a popular, canteen-style restaurant along the busy Jaffa Street that provides wholesome food made from fresh, natural ingredients. The Village Green draws an eclectic crowd which includes religious Jews (its menu is Mehadrin Kosher), healthy eaters, students (who want a cheap, chock-full of vitamins feed), and tourists. The menu includes hot dishes of the day, such as vegetable and seaweed pie, sweet potato quiche, and spinach lasagna. The cream of butternut soup comes highly recommended and Salad is 5 NIS per 100 grams. Chilled water is free, as is the delicious homebaked, whole wheat bread. There is a good range of desserts and herbal teas.

Heneviim 54

This indoor and outdoor restaurant combination, serves refreshing and creative dishes. The fish entrees include the meaty grouper, marinated in olive oil and rose berry vinegar, or a lighter choice the fillet of sea bream with garlic ravioli. Other vegetarian options include endives and fried feta cheese salad with polonaise sauce or homemade ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese. After the meal, head downstairs for a dessert wine at Bar 54, the restaurant's intimate cellar pub.

Chakra

This city center restaurant/lounge is located far enough from the touristy areas to be considered an "Israeli" hangout. A beautiful seating area with huge windows wraps around the entire bar and a nostalgic crystal chandelier dominates the space. The drink line-up is extensive with hundreds of combinations and beer on tap. Whiskey connoisseurs will enjoy 26 different selections plus the finest Vodkas, Tequila and Rum. The food is also impressive with Barbecue Shish Kebab, Fettuccini Alfredo and most extraordinary is the selection of Shellfish choices including Calamari, Shrimp and Mussels.

Mike's Place

This Jerusalem staple has been a downtown favourite for many travellers and live music lovers. Hear music ranging from jazz, blues, acoustic folk, and improvisational grooves from bands like Not Yo Mama, Blue Greene Quartet and Extentra Electric Blues. There are many places to chill both inside on the low-lying tables and outside on the spacious patio. The fare is comparable to most bars in town with some beers on tap and light munchie type food. Surprisingly, there is never a cover charge.

Riff-Raff

Owners Yanki and Shmulik named their cafe after the character in the Rocky Horror Show. Apart from being a very comfortable place to hang out (newspapers to read, an internet, a games machine and backgammon sets), it is open round the clock – seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Is open to gay clients and serves bacon. The clientele varies with the hours, but it's an anything goes place frequented by Israeli teens, European travelers after a bacon and eggs breakfast and drag queens. There is a large bar and 29 different sandwiches are available on either brown or white ciabatta. Fillings include BLT, goose breast, halloumi cheese and avocado to name a few. Credit cards are also accepted.

Orient Express

Orient Express is one of Jerusalem's most popular discos. Situated inside the luxury Hyatt Hotel, it is open 4 days a week to an eclectic crowd. On Tuesdays there is a disco for Russian immigrants, and Wednesdays see local students dancing till dawn. Over 30s can dance to retro sounds on Thursdays, and Saturdays hosts a mixed crowd of over 23s. Music varies each night, with local DJs playing world and theme tunes.

Beni Fish Restaurant

This unassuming little place is probably one of the best known fish restaurants in Jerusalem. The myriad of fish dishes are inspired from Jewish and Middle Eastern specialities. Fried or grilled Red Mullet and Farida fish are just a taste of what is on offer. Kosher shrimps broiled with mushrooms and nuts is a delectable dish and so is their baked trout. To accompany your fish, choose from olives and almond sauce, apple and mushroom sauce, and banana sauce to name a few. The Hungarian soup makes an interesting starter, as well as British-style "fish fingers"—great for kids.

Pinni's Restaurant

This small restaurant's cuisine is derived from places as diverse as Iran, Morocco and Greece. Seated under a warmly lit canopy, dishes on the menu consist of rare concoctions of offal such as veal heart, tonsils, and stuffed spleen. Specialities of the house include sweetbread (tonsils) in wine, grilled yellowtail fish and maillobe (yellow rice with lamb). Desserts are few, but recommended is the ice cream with sesame and caramelised brown sugar. Its homemade ice creams are also served with sweet cherry tomato marmalade. Wines from Chile and Israel are offered.

Pisces

This excellent and refreshingly new Fish and Dairy restaurant, in the Eldan Hotel, has an extensive menu. Choose from Sandwiches, large Salads, Pasta dishes, and Fish entrees. Some highlights include Roquefort Salad, Pumpkin Soup, Spinach Lasagna and Focaccia. Try a Pasta dish or the chef's specialty, something with Seafood. Recommended is the Denise Fillet, a light fish, draped in Pistachio Nuts and a Red Wine Butter Sauce. A reduced priced business lunch is available with an all you can eat Salad bar and a choice of entree.

Inbal Breakfast Buffet

This is one of the least expensive breakfast buffets among the five-star hotels. The seating area is nicely prepared and the spread is equally charming. Choose from a Fruit Platter, various Salads and Baked Wholegrain Breads sprinkled with Oats. For morning dessert-lovers, there are Cheesecakes, dribbled with fresh Berries. Omelettes are made to order and Pancakes with Syrup are available. Coffee is freshly brewed and there are many choices for Tea but drinks, such as freshly squeezed Orange Juice are extra. The food is both kosher and dairy.

Yerushalayim Hakatana (Little Jerusalem)

A delightful outdoor cafe in the gardens of the historic Ticho House. The setting is reminiscent of an English country garden, with surrounding foliage and bright flowers, tweeting birds and green chequered tablecloths. The cafe prides itself on its light, dairy meals and its weekly concerts. On Tu, from 8pm to midnight there is a cheese and wine evening with live jazz (NIS 50) and on Saturdays at 8.30p a buffet with a string quartet playing light classics (NIS 70). Reservations are recommended for both these events. The Jerusalem breakfast, which is served from 10a to midday and feeds two, includes labana (a soft, white cheese), za'atar (a Middle Eastern spice), olives, feta cheese, Israeli salad, homebaked bread, shukshuka (spicy scrambled eggs with tomato), juice and hot beverages. Pasta comes in all sorts of interesting flavours, such as pumpkin ravioli and spinach fettucine. There are six different sauces to choose from to accompany your pasta dish, such as roasted peppers with cream and white wine, roquefort, walnuts, and arugula. The children's menu for NIS 32 includes a pizza or pasta dish, along with a drink and ice cream. Average meal price: NIS 60.