The Best Breakfast In The Holy City Jerusalem

Prepping for a day of sightseeing in Jerusalem always starts with a good breakfast. From delicate pastries to all-you-can-eat buffets, there is plenty to choose from in the Holy City.

Considerable investment has been made in tourism over the last decade, with the aim of promoting Jerusalem as a worthy competitor to its beachside neighbour, Tel Aviv, resulting in the city’s culinary scene taking off. Today, more and more fantastic eateries are gaining the attention they thoroughly deserve.

1. Trattoria Haba

Bakery, Restaurant, French, Italian, Kosher, Dessert

Trattoria Haba in Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem.

Trattoria Haba is a popular kosher dairy café and bakery next to the Machane Yehuda Market, which makes it a busy and colourful place to start the day. Created by seasoned chef Michael Katz, the trattoria is well known in the city for its delicious shakshuka, perfect croissants and a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly menu. It might take some time to be seated, but the food is worth the wait, especially for the outside tables, which offer a full view of the activities around the many storefronts in the area. Within walking distance of both the Light Rail and bus stops, Trattoria Haba is in one of the most convenient locations for day trips.

2. Gourmandises

Bakery, Patisserie, Restaurant, French, Pastries

A French restaurant and bakery located in Kikar Hamusica (The Music Square), Gourmandises is renowned for its delicious cakes, pastries and French crepes. Started by Yoel Afriat, a Parisian doctor who abandoned medicine to attend one of the most notable cooking schools in Paris – Lenôtre – this charming dairy bakery is just a 10-minute walk from the Old City and the Machane Yehuda Market. The outdoor seating area is perfectly located for watching the daily live-music performance in the square. Music is also the inspiration for the Gourmandises menu, with every dish named after a famous French musician.

4. Café Kadosh

Bakery, Cafe, Patisserie, Restaurant, Pastries, Dessert, Israeli, Kosher, Coffee

Located just off bustling Jaffa Street, the popular Café Kadosh is in the heart of the Jerusalem Municipality and just minutes away from the Old City and Mamilla Mall. Founded in 1967 by Meir Kadosh, the café is famous for making everything on-site, from cakes to bread and pastries. Its interior has remained unchanged since its opening, but the menu has adapted and grown over time to include new favourites such as beetroot pancakes and brioche croque-madames. Kadosh’s son Itzik and his daughter-in-law Keren now run the café. There is an outdoor area, but you’ll most likely have to queue to get a seat, as Cafe Kadosh is something of an institution in the area.

5. Keshet HaChurva

Cafe, Restaurant, Kosher, French, Italian, Middle Eastern, Israeli

Keshet HaChurva is a kosher dairy restaurant hidden behind a carved wooden door off the plaza of the Jewish Quarter, the most historic part of Jerusalem. It’s also just minutes from the Western Wall and adjacent to the historic synagogue of Churva. Its menu includes Israeli, Arabic, Italian and French dishes. The restaurant has a cosy interior and outdoor seating for 40 people, and is often hired for special events, like weddings and bar mitzvah celebrations, so opening times may vary.

6. Café Yehoshua

Cafe, Restaurant, Kosher, Israeli, American

Bordering the neighbourhoods of Rechavia and Talbia, Café Yehoshua has become one of Jerusalem’s most popular cafés with the young and hip crowd. A chameleon of an establishment, Café Yehoshua is a typical café in the morning, but turns into a restaurant for the rest of the day and a bar at night. It’s an Israeli café with an American diner-style menu, including stacks of pancakes and shakshuka. Served until noon, all breakfast dishes come with a choice of hot or cold drink. For 66 shekels (£14) there’s also a daily breakfast special offer: coffee, a cold drink and two eggs in any style, plus the usual complimentary salads, dips and pastries.

7. Nocturno, Jerusalem

Cafe, Pub, Patisserie, Israeli, French, Vegan, Gluten-free

An upscale restaurant and espresso bar, Nocturno is centrally located between several different neighbourhoods. At the top of Bezalel Street, it’s just steps away from the Gerard Behar Center – a home for independent theatre, music and dance productions – and equidistant from Ben Yehuda street and Nachla’ot. Due to its strategic location and vicinity to the Center, Nocturno attracts a mix of artists and intellectuals. This dairy restaurant serves breakfast until 1.30pm, but the shakshuka and toasted croissant options are served all day. Choose from a French, Israeli or vegan breakfast, or order breakfast on the go with the morning deal of coffee, juice and a sandwich for 32 shekels (£7). Gluten-free options are also available.

8. Caffit

Cafe, Restaurant, Coffee, Israeli, Vegan, Pastries

There are plenty of restaurants and cafés in the German Colony, but Caffit’s original café is a good place to start your day. Since 1987 it’s been serving sandwiches, bagels, shakshuka and sweet pastries to its loyal patrons. Vegan and dairy-free options, as well as a breakfast specially designed for two people to share, are also available. The authentic ‘Jerusalem breakfast’ is a must-try, and includes a traditional Israeli salad served on a sumac-toasted bagel, with a hard-boiled egg, tahini and chickpeas. Outside there is a shaded sitting area under a tree. Caffit is a five-minute walk from the First Train Station and only a few minutes from the trendy shops of Emek Refaim.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.