From its humble beginnings as a wine and cheese stall in Mahaneh Yehuda market, Basher blossomed into a well-known delicacies shop with a wide-ranging, global selection. Since its opening on 2012’s Independence Day, its satellite Basher Resto-Cheese Bar has also become something of a Jerusalem institution. While the capital has come a long way in the past few years in terms of nightlife, especially with the resurgence of the shuk, there was a need for more upscale venues. Basher, onAgrippas Street in the heart of the capital, has filled that void. First reviewed by The Jerusalem Post last year shortly after its opening, I recently had the pleasure of sampling some of its new goodies. Encased in the building’s original Jerusalem stone, Basher’s intimate upstairs – with seating at the bar or at tables, my favorites being the ones in front of the large picture window – and its romantic, cave-like downstairs both benefit from the muted lighting. Contributing to the elegant hush is the furniture, which is fashioned from beautiful woods.

Click here for the full review of Basher in The Jerusalem Post.