Eating Out in Jerusalem

International food such as Japanese, Thai, Chinese, South American and South African and of course American fast food is available in West Jerusalem. Here, in the downtown restaurants, the lunchtime business menu, served between noon and 4 pm, offers a two or three course menu for about $10. You can drink alcohol with your meal, which you can’t do in the East Jerusalem. Bread, cheese and yogurts, fresh vegetables and fruits are easily and cheaply available everywhere. Fresh fruit and vegetable juice made from local produce is available at juice bars on street corners. The narrow lanes of the Old City are crowded with restaurants where excellent Middle Eastern cuisine is served.

Nightlife in Jerusalem is second to that in Tel Aviv. It comes to life in clubs and bars from Thursday to Saturday nights, after the conservative lot is fast asleep. Alcohol is allowed only in West Jerusalem and some bars in the Old City (the Christian and Armenian areas of the city). The cafes in the Muslim sector serve tea, coffee and soft drinks. The traditional qahwas or coffee houses serve strong Turkish coffee. A hot milk based drink sahlab, spiced with cinnamon, coconut and pistachios is a very popular drink in winter.