Friday evening in Jerusalem. The sun sets, the streets empty out and it feels like the whole city has gone home. Shabbat – the Jewish day of rest – runs from Friday sunset to Saturday night, and in Jerusalem most shops, kosher restaurants and all public transport close. But if you know where to look, the city center has quite a few good restaurants open on Friday night and Saturday, all a few minutes' walk from each other. Here are our favorites, with a map, phone numbers and tips.
- Restaurants open on Shabbat are concentrated in the city center, within walking distance of each other.
- No buses or light rail from Friday afternoon to Saturday night – stay central and walk everywhere.
- Book ahead: places fill up fast on Friday night.
- Saturday breakfast? A few cafés open as early as 6 am.
Which restaurants are open in Jerusalem on Friday night?
All the restaurants below are in the city center, between Jaffa Road, Nahalat Shiva and Independence Park. Numbers match the map further down. Walking times are measured from HaHistadrut Street, between Jaffa Road and Ben Yehuda – roughly the middle of downtown.
- 1
Focaccia Bar
A Jerusalem institution that has been feeding families on Shabbat for more than twenty years. Oven-baked focaccias, pasta, meat and seafood in a warm neighborhood setting. It fills up fast on Friday night – book ahead.
- 2
Zinnia
A second-floor bistro above Music Square in Nahalat Shiva, with a balcony over the street. Starters, pasta, burgers, steaks and cocktails – good for a date night and for a Saturday brunch.
- 3
Barood
A much-loved veteran bar-restaurant in the Feingold courtyard, serving homestyle Balkan-Sephardic food with a true Jerusalem vibe. Perfect for a long Friday night dinner.
- 4
Chakra
One of the best-known veteran restaurants in the city center, facing Independence Park. Classic dishes done right, a long bar and a lively crowd. Reservations recommended.
- 5
Deja Bu
A bar-restaurant at the edge of Independence Park. A beer on Saturday afternoon, a cocktail at night, and a menu of starters, pani puri and diner-style sandwiches.
- 6
Mona
An acclaimed chef restaurant in the old stone Artists' House, with a menu drawing on cuisines from around the world. On Saturday afternoons you can also sit in 'Nagid 12', the same team's wine courtyard.
📍 12 Shmuel HaNagid St, Artists' House🕒 Fri: lunch and dinner (from 18:30). Sat from 12:30
💡 Opening hours were checked in October 2026 and may change, especially around holidays. Always call or book ahead. Note that restaurants open on Shabbat are generally not kosher-certified.
Restaurants open for Saturday lunch
Most of the places above also open on Saturday itself. For a lazy Shabbat lunch we especially like:
- Deja Bu – beer and fries in the sunshine by Independence Park, from 12:00.
- Mona / Nagid 12 – a proper Saturday feast, or a glass of wine in the stone courtyard of the Artists' House.
- Barood – opens at 13:00, made for long, slow lunches.
- Focaccia Bar – open all day and great with kids.
Saturday breakfast in Jerusalem
Breakfast on a Saturday is a challenge in Jerusalem – most kosher cafés are closed. In the city center you can try:
- 7
Zinnia
A second-floor bistro above Music Square in Nahalat Shiva, with a balcony over the street. Starters, pasta, burgers, steaks and cocktails – good for a date night and for a Saturday brunch.
- 8
Cafe Bastet
A café in the Russian Compound, right in the city center. A relaxed spot for breakfast or a Saturday morning coffee.
- 9
Aroma Hillel
The only Jerusalem branch of Israel's favorite coffee chain that opens on Shabbat. Not a gourmet experience, but shakshuka, a sandwich and good coffee from 6 am – exactly what you need before the Old City.
📍 18 Hillel St🕒 Sat 06:00–23:00 - 10
Cafe Bezalel
A neighborhood café on Bezalel Street, on the way from the center to Nachlaot. Breakfasts, pastries and coffee.
Or do it the Jerusalem way: on Friday morning, pick up fresh challah, cheese and vegetables at Mahane Yehuda Market, or pastries at the Ma'afe Yehuda bakery on King George St, and – if your room has a kitchenette – make breakfast yourself. No queue, no waiter, pajamas allowed.
Map: restaurants open on Shabbat in central Jerusalem
How to plan a non-religious Shabbat in Jerusalem
- Book your table on Thursday. Few places are open on Friday night and demand is high.
- Arrive before Shabbat begins. The light rail and buses stop running on Friday afternoon. Taxis still work.
- Go to the market on Friday morning. Mahane Yehuda on a Friday morning is an experience in itself – stalls close about two hours before Shabbat.
- Stay in the city center. The single most important tip: when everything is within walking distance, there's no need to think about parking, taxis or when transport stops.
- Saturday night is market night. After Shabbat ends, the bars of Mahane Yehuda reopen and the city comes back to life.
Keeping Shabbat in Jerusalem
The city center works just as well for Shabbat-observant visitors. The large central synagogues – the Great Synagogue and Yeshurun on King George Street – are within walking distance, and the Western Wall is about half an hour on foot. On Friday morning you can stock up at Mahane Yehuda for all your Shabbat meals. When choosing where to stay, look for a place with a kitchenette, and make sure there's a hot plate, a water urn and a Shabbat-friendly way into your room – at Jako Boutique, for example, every suite has a fridge, a hot plate and urn are ready for you on advance request, and the key is mechanical. More in our guide for Shabbat-observant travelers.
FAQ
Which restaurants are open in Jerusalem on Friday night?
Several good restaurants in the city center stay open on Friday night, all within a short walk of each other: Focaccia Bar (4 Rabbi Akiva St), Zinnia on Music Square, Barood in the Feingold courtyard, Chakra (41 King George St), Deja Bu by Independence Park and Mona in the Artists' House. Book ahead.
Does public transport run on Shabbat in Jerusalem?
No. Buses and the light rail stop on Friday afternoon and resume on Saturday night after Shabbat ends. Taxis do operate. That's why staying in the city center, within walking distance of restaurants, makes such a difference.
Is Mahane Yehuda Market open on Friday night?
No. The stalls close on Friday afternoon, about two hours before Shabbat begins, and the market bars are closed on Friday night. They reopen on Saturday night. Friday morning, on the other hand, is the market's busiest and most colorful time.
Where can I get breakfast on Saturday in Jerusalem?
In the city center: Zinnia (from 10:00), Cafe Bastet in the Russian Compound (from 08:00), Aroma on Hillel St (from 06:00) and Cafe Bezalel (from 08:00).
Where should I stay for Shabbat in Jerusalem?
In the city center, within walking distance of restaurants, synagogues and the Old City – since there is no public transport on Shabbat. Shabbat-observant guests should look for a place with a kitchenette, a hot plate and a water urn.
