A Summary of the Best Restaurants to Eat on Friday Night in Jerusalem.

Both locals and visitors often ask me for recommendations for restaurants open in Jerusalem on Friday night for those who don’t want a hotel dinner on Friday night.  There are several excellent Friday night restaurants in Jerusalem to choose from. While this post focuses on high-end restaurants, my previous post is about Shabbat in Jerusalem – Cafes and Diners.

As these restaurants are usually busy on Friday nights, I recommend booking well in advance. It is worth noting that not all non-kosher restaurants in Jerusalem are open on Friday nights. Here is a list of recommendations for the Top 10 Non-Kosher Restaurants in Jerusalem.

1. HaSadna – The Culinary Workshop

HaSadna is the sister restaurant to the famous Machneyuda (closed on Shabbat), with a kitchen specializing in aged meats. There are also plenty of fish and vegetarian options on the menu for non-meat eaters. Like all restaurants in the Machneyuda group, this one has a signature polenta dish and other similarities to its older sister. Still, the menu holds its own, and the restaurant has an entirely different ambiance from the others in the group. Sitting at the large U-shaped bar with a view of the kitchen is always my preference, but there are plenty of stand-alone tables for larger groups or those wanting an intimate meal. The restaurant has a varied cocktail menu that complements the food, and the bar staff is always happy to create bespoke cocktails at their request.  For fellow Gin & Tonic lovers, they have an impressive selection of gins from all over the world and the right tonics and other elements to accompany them.

HaSadna, 28 Derech Hebron, 02 567 2265

2. Mona

Mona is located in The Jerusalem Artist’s House, a historic building that was initially the Bezalel Art School and now serves as an art gallery.  The charming setting adds to this restaurant’s appeal.  The menu changes daily, but some popular dishes remain on the menu most of the time, with seasonal tweaks. Some of these popular dishes include Beef Tartare, Tuna Sashimi, Hanger Steak, and Chocolate Crèmeux. The beautiful surroundings, attentive service, high-quality raw ingredients, and creative dishes make Mona a popular choice with locals and visitors alike.

Mona, 12 Shmuel Ha-Nagid Street, 02 622 2283 

3. Notre Dame Rooftop

Set on the rooftop of the Notre Dame pilgrim guesthouse, the restaurant offers spectacular views of the entire eastern side of the Old City.  The specialty is cheese platters and dishes, but the menu also includes meat and fish dishes.  There are over 40 imported cheeses to choose from for the Cheese Platters, and the Cheese Fondue is a rich and indulgent treat. They have an impressive international wine list and usually have good service. The prices are all in US dollars and on the higher side, but the view makes it worth it.

Notre Dame Rooftop Restaurant, 3 HaTsanhanim Street, 02 627 9177 

4. Chakra

One of Jerusalem’s most established restaurants, Chakra is popular with locals and tourists. Early Friday evening, the European-style restaurant is busy with families, and later, it becomes livelier with many people sitting around the bar area.  In the summer, there is plenty of outdoor seating overlooking Jerusalem’s Independence Park.

Chakra, 41 King George Street, 072 328 1683 

View this post on Instagram

🍋🍋🍋 . . . . . #gourmet #eatintelaviv #dinner #mydinner #tlv #telaviv #restaurant #food #color #enjoy #timetoeat #instatelaviv #gargeran #jerusalem

A post shared by Chakra | צ׳אקרה (@chakrarest) on Oct 16, 2017 at 1:49am PDT

5. Karma

Ein Kerem is full of bars and restaurants that are open on Shabbat, and my favorite is Karma, which is suitable for both the food and the setting. The restaurant overlooks the quaint village of Ein Kerem and has a varied bistro-style menu, including salads, pasta, burgers, sandwiches, steak, and seafood. It is an excellent choice for both day and night, but be careful if you drive there, as parking restrictions apply on weekends.

Karma,74 Ein Kerem, 02 643 6643 

6. Talbiye

Talbiye is a bistro-style restaurant with a lovely setting for an intimate dinner or Saturday lunch with friends. There are several tables outside, and it is a particularly popular venue on weekends.

Talbiye, 5 Chopin Street, 02 581 1927

7. Rooftop Mamilla (Kosher)

If you are looking for a restaurant on a Friday night that serves kosher food, then Rooftop Restaurant, Mamilla Hotel, is a great option. It has a special cold Shabbat menu. It is still the ultimate “Jerusalem” setting with an incredible view over the Old City, but the menu is minimal.

Rooftop, Mamilla Hotel, 02 548 2230 

8. Blend 5

A wine bar and restaurant at the Brown JLM Mamilla hotel, owned by the former owners of Adom restaurant. There is a spacious outdoor area in front of the restaurant, which is usually busy on a Friday night.

Blend 5, 41 Hillel  Street

9. Satya

This is a bistro with a creative menu of fish, seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes. It also has a spacious bar and a large outdoor terrace.

Satya, 36 Keren Hayesod, 02 650 6808

10. Laura

A modern Mediterranean restaurant in the Tantur Hills Hotel run by Chef Johnny Goric. The menu is diverse, featuring Italian, French, Greek, and Levantine classics like burrata, tiramisu, beef tartare, entrecôte steak, kibbeh niya, lahmajoon, sheik el mahshi, halawet el jibn, and layali Beirut.

Laura, Tantur Hills Hotel, 303 Derech Hevron (just before the Bethlehem checkpoint)

Other Friday Night Restaurants

• Amore is an Asian-themed meat restaurant and bar located on King George Street in Jerusalem.
• Brasserie Ein Kerem is a restaurant in Ein Kerem that spans two floors. Its large roof terrace offers impressive views of the surrounding countryside.
• Chota is a small bistro in downtown Jerusalem, co-owned by Chef Ilan Chota of Satya and Chef Denis Turk, who worked with him at both Chakra and Satya.
• Deja Bu is a restaurant and bar in Gan Haatzmaut, featuring a large outdoor area. The menu is varied, but I find it quite overpriced.
• Gatsby is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Jerusalem’s city center, owned by the Machneyuda Group. The menu is designed to complement the cocktails, with food that pairs perfectly with them.
• Mandarin is an authentic Chinese restaurant in central Jerusalem, having been in operation for over 60 years.
• Pundak Ein Kerem is an Italian restaurant in a Spanish building with a large courtyard.
• Sud is a sushi and wine bar in Jerusalem’s city center.
• Zinnia is a diner-style restaurant serving a mix of French and American classics. It takes the place of Zuni, under new management.

For those looking for more informal restaurant options on a Friday night, here are some other posts about where to eat in Jerusalem on Shabbat:

• Open on Shabbat? Where to eat in Jerusalem
• Friday Night Bars in Jerusalem
• Shabbat in Jerusalem – Cafes and Diners
• Shabbat in Jerusalem – Fast Food

Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to receive updates.