I originally started this blog for friends visiting Israel, especially for Pesach, wanting to know about new places to eat. One of my first blog posts back in 2011 was about Eating Well Over Pesach and eight years later, the choice has grown significantly.
With a full week of Chol Hamoed this year, most kosher restaurants will be open for Pesach, although, for those who don’t eat kitniyot, the hotel restaurants are normally the safest option. This guide includes recently opened restaurants for people to try, as well as some old favorites. Most of the information below has been verified directly with the restaurants but if you want to be 100% sure, it is always best to check and I highly recommend making reservations in advance.
Finding Kosher Hametz food the night before Pesach will be limited to restaurants that will be closed over Pesach, but here are some suggestions:
- JLM Sushi, Jerusalem
- Gourmandises de Yoel, Jerusalem
- Anna, Jerusalem
- Harvey’s Smokehouse, Jerusalem
- Sushi Rehavia, Jerusalem (Azza and City Center)
- Taco Luis, Jerusalem
- Hatch, Jerusalem
- Meat Kitchen, Tel Aviv
- Whiskey Bar & Museum, Tel Aviv
- Al Hamayim, Herzliya Pituach
- Como, Herzliya Pituach
- Minato, Herzliya Pituach
My post from last year has some additional suggestions – Why Is This Year Different From All Other Years? Pesach Jerusalem 2018
JERUSALEM RESTAURANTS
- Jacko’s Street (No-Kitniyot) – open for lunch and dinner with a Pesach menu which includes many of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
- Rooftop Restaurant, Mamilla Hotel (No-Kitniyot) – open on Seder night with a Shabbat-friendly menu, for those who want a lighter and cheaper meal in a kosher hotel. During Chol Hamoed, Rooftop will only be open for dinner.
- 1868 (No-Kitniyot; Mehuderet) offers an interesting and diverse menu with a combination of European charm and Jerusalem history. Check out the Pesach menu and full review here.
- La Regence, The King David Hotel (No-Kitniyot) will be open as usual, full review here.
- Scala, The David Citadel Hotel (No-Kitniyot) – serves a modern take on traditional Israeli food and is gluten-free throughout the year, so the Pesach menu should be very similar, full review here.
- 02 Upbeat Jerusalem Cuisine, Inbal Hotel (No-Kitniyot) – a new modern style restaurant with a welcoming atmosphere, check out the Pesach menu and full review here.
- Naya (Kitniyot), Moshav Beit Nakofa – an Asian fusion restaurant in the Jerusalem Hills.
- Kinor Bakikar (No-Kitniyot) – set in Kikar Hamusica with the option to sit in the courtyard, with live music and delicious food.
- Angelica (No-Kitniyot) – a great option for a family dinner or catch up with friends. Open for lunch and dinner, the Pesach menu is available here.
- Touro (Kitniyot) – chef restaurant overlooking the walls of the Old City.
- Café Gan Sipur (No-Kitniyot; Mehadrin) – a coffee shop in Gan Sacher in Jerusalem which includes a varied kids menu.
- Sushi Rehavia (Kitniyot) – the Emek and Shuk branches will be open with sushi and noodles. The only thing missing is good wasabi.
- Waffle Factory (No-Kitniyot) – perfect for families or those looking for something sweet. Their pesach menu is normally amazing so it is worth checking out, full review here.
- Josef Burger (Kitniyot) – the best burger bar in Jerusalem is open for pesach with great pesach buns.
JERUSALEM BARS
- Jacko’s Son (Kitniyot) – the new Asian bar serves sushi, as well as a selection of Pesach cocktails.
- Zuta Bar (No-Kitniyot; Mehuderet) – probably the best option for Pesach cocktails, the small bar is located at the back of 1868, click here of full review of Zuta.
- Mirror Bar, Mamilla Hotel (No-Kitniyot) – once the only kosher bar in town, now there are so many to choose from. Mirror Bar is still popular with the tourists, but locals tend to go elsewhere. They do have a good wine menu, as well as some Pesach cocktails.
TEL AVIV
- West Side, Royal Beach Tel Aviv (No-Kitniyot) – probably the best food and service in Tel Aviv, they will be open as usual for Pesach.
- Mapu, Prima Tel Aviv (No-Kitniyot) – this is Chef Nir Zook’s only kosher restaurant and the menu offers a mixture of tempting dishes with Middle Eastern touches – full review here.
- Yakimono, Hilton Tel Aviv (No-Kitniyot) – as there will be no rice, they will only be serving sashimi, salads and cooked Japanese dishes, full menu here.
- Chloelys, Hilton Tel Aviv (No-Kitniyot) – newly renovated to make it brighter and more modern.
- Lumina by Meir Adoni, Carlton Tel Aviv (No-Kitniyot) – there is a full Pesach lunch, dinner and dessert menu on their website, including gefilte fish.
- Malka (Kitniyot) – Chef Eyal Shani’s kosher restaurant, click here for my review and photos.
- Nomi (No-Kitniyot) – new chef restaurant at the David Intercontinental by Chef Yoram Nitzan. On Wednesday 24 April, there will be a Taste of Michelin dinner, with a menu inspired by chef Stéphane Froidevaux. The terrace of the restaurant will be “nomi bistro” with a family-friendly casual dining menu, including burgers and schnitzel.
- Blue Sky by Meir Adoni, Carlton Tel Aviv (No-Kitniyot) – the fish restaurant with spectacular views of Tel Aviv, will be open with a Pesach menu.
- Fish Market by Meatos (Kitniyot) – an Israeli take on a Greek tavern, with a selection of fish and dairy dishes, full review here.
- Deca (Kitniyot; Mehadrin) – a classic fish restaurant with a variety of raw and cooked fish dishes.
- Nini Hachi (Kitniyot) – good quality kosher sushi, with a separate menu for pregnant women.
- Resto (Kitniyot) – a French meat bistro with authentic French dishes.
- Sefora (Kitniyot) – the new sushi bar by 2C on the 49th floor of the Azrieli Round Tower.
NORTH ISRAEL
- Herbert Samuel, Ritz Carlton Herzliya (No-Kitniyot), Herzliya Pituach – I have eaten there on Pesach before and the food is just as good as it always is.
- Sheldi Dining Club (Kitniyot, Tzohar), Herzliya Pituach – a new cocktail bar with a varied bar menu, from bar snacks to salads, fish and steaks.
- Souvlaki (No-Kitniyot), Netanya – a Greek fish and meat tavern on the beach, by Chef Uri Arnold.
- Moshe Segev Kosher (Kitniyot), Netanya – the kosher restaurant by Chef Moshe Segev, one of Israel’s most successful chefs.
- Haroeh BaCafe (No-Kitniyot), Kfar Haroeh – a tranquil, family-run, countryside cafe.
- Roots (Kitniyot), Akko – a new kosher restaurant by Chef Uri Arnold, in the Old City of Akko. The menu focuses on the Levantine kitchen, offering kosher diners the chance to try some classic Arabic dishes, full review here.
- Gillis Steak House (No-Kitniyot), Moshav Nov, Golan – one of my favorite restaurants in Israel which is normally only open on Thursday nights, Chol Hamoed is a perfect chance to have a meat fest if you will be in the Golan, full review here.
SOUTH ISRAEL
- Michalis (No-Kitniyot; Badatz), Modiin – a simple café in Yishpru Center, with good service and fresh ingredients.
- Nina Bianca (Kitniyot), Tzomet Bilu, Kiryat Ekron – an Italian dairy restaurant near Rehovot.
- Jasper 08 (Kitniyot), Eilat – a cocktail bar/club in the Isrotel Agamim Hotel, by the same owners of Jasper Johns bar in Tel Aviv, with live performances and DJs.
- 5th Avenue (Kitniyot), Eilat – a lounge bar setting with a menu designed by Chef Aviv Moshe, full review here.
Wishing everyone חג פסח כשר ושמח.
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Categories: Holidays, Jerusalem, Kosher, Mercaz, North Israel, Pesach, South Israel, Tel Aviv
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