Welcome to Scopia LLC - Specializing in You and the Mediterranean.
Tours and travel services in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Malta.
Restaurants in Israel
Here's a list of restaurants in Israel which have received high remarks from my clients.
A word of advice: Many of my clients receive recommendations from friends and family to eat at particular restaurants. "You're going to Jerusalem? You just have to eat at this place!!!" The result is that their entire tour evolves around eating at restaurants costing them a lot of money, while they don't have any time to just enjoy the local flavor and relax a bit. Especially when traveling with kids - there is absolutely no need to keep running to sit-down restaurants. Take the time to walk around town a bit, find a nice kiosk or sandwich shop, buy something simple and your kids (and wallet) will thank you for it.
Abu Gosh
The large Arab Village of Abu Gosh lies in the Jerusalem hills, about 10 minutes from the western outskirts of
Jerusalem. The location of the village made it a main stop along the highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, bringing in thousands of tourists daily (and especially on weekends). The restaurants in Abu Gosh have become sort of a Hummus icon in Israeli gastronomy.
Exit from highway #1 to Abu Gosh and travel along the main street to find most of the popular restaurants, such as the famous Caravan and the Abu Gosh Restaurant. Yet, if you're really looking for that gem of a place, hidden amongst the grape vines and houses of stone, Naura is the place to go. It's down side - the fact that it's not on the main street - is actually it's biggest advantage. The tourist bus drivers don't like going there because of the narrow alleys. Rarely will you encounter crowds of tourists, allowing you to enjoy some fresh mountain air, personal service and fantastic Arab cuisine.
Should you decide you're inexplicably not in the mood for Arab cuisine, just continue on the main street of Abu Gosh westward and you'll reach Moshav Neve Ilan. There, you'll find a large gas station with a restaurant/kiosk. You'll immediately recognize the place as the world famous "Elvis Restaurant and Gas Station", so named because the owner is an avid buff of anything Elvis and has filled the place with authentic statues and memorabilia. It's a great place to visit, even if the food is a bit generic.
Akko (Acre)
The ancient port city of Akko (Acre) lies on Israel's northwestern Mediterranean shore, about one hour north of Haifa (depending on traffic). The city offers visitors just about everything they can hope for in a tourism destination: history ranging from the days of the Phoenicians to the days of the British Mandate, a beautiful fishing port, a bustling Arab market and great food along the way.
My recommendations for eating in Akko are divided into three priorities:
If you're hungry and tired from a full morning of touring, the kids are restless and their iPod is almost out of power, and all you want to do is to sit down and eat something, then the place for you is at the entrance to the market. Here, you'll find about 4-5 small eateries all offering just about the same Arab food with Shish Kabobs, Falafel, French fries, salads and lots of Hummus. It will fill everyone up in a few minutes and you can then proceed to tour the city on full and happy stomachs.
If you've found yourself entering the market, walking down the narrow alleyways filled with tiny shops and fresh fish stands, you'll probably start to get hungry just looking at all the foods, sweets and spices on display along the way. No worries - ask anyone (or your guide) to show you the way to the Hummus area of the market, where there are more than a dozen restaurants specializing in all kinds of Hummus and similar Arab delicacies. The most famous one is "Sa'id" (Sah-eed) but if you happen to be visiting on a weekend or during a Jewish holiday, you'll probably find about half of the Israeli population standing in line to enter the establishment. Most Israelis will swear by "Sa'id" that it's the best Hummus in Israel.
Finally, if you're really into fresh seafood of the highest quality, then Uri Buri is the place for you. The restaurant is located in an old Turkish building in the port of Akko and offers a wide array of delicious seafood brought in by local fishermen, probably just a few hours prior to your sitting down at the table. Uri, the owner and chef extraordinaire, looks a bit like Santa Claus and has been running the restaurant for decades (he originally had the restaurant in the town of Nahariya about 20 minutes north of Akko, but ugly politics pushed him out of town and so he rebuilt in Akko. A family of five can expect to spend about $150 on a meal here, but you will not quickly forget it. Seafood restaurants back home will pale in comparison.
Jerusalem
They say 62.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot. With that in mind, I'd like to say that 83.1% of the global population think Jerusalem, Israel's capital city, is the world's most beautiful city. The amazing thing about Jerusalem is that beyond the city's beautiful historic sites and religious importance, Jerusalem is also home to some of the best restaurants you will find in Israel. From local Jerusalem eateries to seafood, French, eclectic, Moroccan, meats, vegetarian and any other type of taste you're after - you'll find it all right here.
The first restaurant to be mentioned is one that you'll first need and then want. Between the Arch
es is a restaurant that has three good things to offer you: Location, food and ambiance. The restaurant, located right by the Kotel (Western Wall) in the stoned halls of a charming Turkish building, has been beautifully rennovated to offer guests a true Jerusalemite experience of enjoying a good meal between arches and ancient stones. The reason you'll probably first need this restaurant, is that almost everyone who holds a Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem (usually nearby the Kotel), needs a place to feed all the guests after the ceremony. What better place to eat than right at the Kotel? Once you've entered the establishment and tasted the food, you'll understand why you also want to eat here. The location of Between the Arches makes it extremely popular and therefore, reservations are required far in advance, especially for peak seasons, from the end of June through August and late December. I can easily help you do that if you contact me with the number of expected guests, date and time of the event. A small deposit will be necessary and please keep in mind that payment at the restaurant (for groups) is by cash only. Amir the manager awaits you with a smile.
Hidden amongst the streets, museums and government buildings of Jerusalem's Western city, right below the Israel Museum and the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University, is a little gem - the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens. Lucky for you, it's a place rarely visited by other tourists, so chances are you'll be able to enjoy this beautiful place calmly, surrounded by a few loving couples walking around hand-in-hand or the occasional class on a field trip. Inside the Botanical Gardens, there's another little gem - the Caffit restaurant (which unfortunately doesn't yet have it's own website). This restaurant is in an excellent location to rest for an hour or two and give yourself a break between all the sites. Caffit is in an old stone house, overlooking a tiny man-made lake which sometimes hosts swans and ducks. Picture-perfect. The entrance to the Botanical Gardens is from Burla Street and the phone number for Caffit is (02) 648-0003.
If we're already on the subject of hidden culinary gems in Jerusalem, then I'm very pleased to introduce you to a wonderful, quiet and very tasty place called Olive & Fish, located on Jabotinsky Street, about 100 meters west of a major intersection, a stone's throw away from the Inbal Hotel and the King Solomon Hotel. Olive & Fish is actually two restaurants; one which serves fish, dairy and vegetarian meals while the other is a specialized grill. Both are right next to each other in the same building. The special thing about this special place is that the food is so fresh and tasty! Forget the usual restaurants which make the food in advance and serve it according to demand. When you order a salad here, you can actually hear them chopping the vegetables in the kitchen. And when you order fish, you'll probably see the chef throwing a fishing rod into his car and drive away. The rustic look of Olive & Fish gives that extra ambiance we all hope to get when eating at a restaurant in Jerusalem. A small wine bar, wooden tables and stairs that lead up to the galley where you'll find a private room suitable for family and group meals, away from the crowds. This is also a great place to host the Bar Mitzvah lunch. Shir and Rafi, the owners, await you with a warm welcome. Reservations are also possible by contacting Scopia LLC.
More restaurants in Jerusalem will be updated shortly , so come back soon!
Tiberias
The city of Tiberias is located on the western shore of the magical Sea of Galilee (Kinneret). The city and its surrounding area used to be one of the main tourism hot spots in the north of Israel. But since the
early 2000's the city's tourism has taken a downturn and the numbers dropped considerably as tourists began to venture outward to the kibbutz guest houses in the north. Tiberias was left without much of a nightlife. Except for one, die-hard of a gem called "The Lido Beach". This is a private area located about 1 km north of Tiberias, right on the waterfront and includes a dock for cruise boats and several fantastic restaurants all owned by the same family. Most notable of the three restaurants located here is "Decks", a kosher fish and grilled meats establishment with food so fresh and tasty, it will knock your socks off. At the Decks restaurant, it's not "the fresh catch of the day", its "the fresh catch of the hour". Open-fire grills, the lake water just below the deck, the music, good food and wine - what more does one need to say that "life is good"? The Decks is without doubt - A must for anyone touring the area, even if you're not staying in Tiberias.
A word of advice: Many of my clients receive recommendations from friends and family to eat at particular restaurants. "You're going to Jerusalem? You just have to eat at this place!!!" The result is that their entire tour evolves around eating at restaurants costing them a lot of money, while they don't have any time to just enjoy the local flavor and relax a bit. Especially when traveling with kids - there is absolutely no need to keep running to sit-down restaurants. Take the time to walk around town a bit, find a nice kiosk or sandwich shop, buy something simple and your kids (and wallet) will thank you for it.
Abu Gosh
The large Arab Village of Abu Gosh lies in the Jerusalem hills, about 10 minutes from the western outskirts of
Jerusalem. The location of the village made it a main stop along the highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, bringing in thousands of tourists daily (and especially on weekends). The restaurants in Abu Gosh have become sort of a Hummus icon in Israeli gastronomy. Exit from highway #1 to Abu Gosh and travel along the main street to find most of the popular restaurants, such as the famous Caravan and the Abu Gosh Restaurant. Yet, if you're really looking for that gem of a place, hidden amongst the grape vines and houses of stone, Naura is the place to go. It's down side - the fact that it's not on the main street - is actually it's biggest advantage. The tourist bus drivers don't like going there because of the narrow alleys. Rarely will you encounter crowds of tourists, allowing you to enjoy some fresh mountain air, personal service and fantastic Arab cuisine.
Should you decide you're inexplicably not in the mood for Arab cuisine, just continue on the main street of Abu Gosh westward and you'll reach Moshav Neve Ilan. There, you'll find a large gas station with a restaurant/kiosk. You'll immediately recognize the place as the world famous "Elvis Restaurant and Gas Station", so named because the owner is an avid buff of anything Elvis and has filled the place with authentic statues and memorabilia. It's a great place to visit, even if the food is a bit generic.
Akko (Acre)
The ancient port city of Akko (Acre) lies on Israel's northwestern Mediterranean shore, about one hour north of Haifa (depending on traffic). The city offers visitors just about everything they can hope for in a tourism destination: history ranging from the days of the Phoenicians to the days of the British Mandate, a beautiful fishing port, a bustling Arab market and great food along the way.My recommendations for eating in Akko are divided into three priorities:
If you're hungry and tired from a full morning of touring, the kids are restless and their iPod is almost out of power, and all you want to do is to sit down and eat something, then the place for you is at the entrance to the market. Here, you'll find about 4-5 small eateries all offering just about the same Arab food with Shish Kabobs, Falafel, French fries, salads and lots of Hummus. It will fill everyone up in a few minutes and you can then proceed to tour the city on full and happy stomachs.
If you've found yourself entering the market, walking down the narrow alleyways filled with tiny shops and fresh fish stands, you'll probably start to get hungry just looking at all the foods, sweets and spices on display along the way. No worries - ask anyone (or your guide) to show you the way to the Hummus area of the market, where there are more than a dozen restaurants specializing in all kinds of Hummus and similar Arab delicacies. The most famous one is "Sa'id" (Sah-eed) but if you happen to be visiting on a weekend or during a Jewish holiday, you'll probably find about half of the Israeli population standing in line to enter the establishment. Most Israelis will swear by "Sa'id" that it's the best Hummus in Israel.
Finally, if you're really into fresh seafood of the highest quality, then Uri Buri is the place for you. The restaurant is located in an old Turkish building in the port of Akko and offers a wide array of delicious seafood brought in by local fishermen, probably just a few hours prior to your sitting down at the table. Uri, the owner and chef extraordinaire, looks a bit like Santa Claus and has been running the restaurant for decades (he originally had the restaurant in the town of Nahariya about 20 minutes north of Akko, but ugly politics pushed him out of town and so he rebuilt in Akko. A family of five can expect to spend about $150 on a meal here, but you will not quickly forget it. Seafood restaurants back home will pale in comparison.
Jerusalem
They say 62.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot. With that in mind, I'd like to say that 83.1% of the global population think Jerusalem, Israel's capital city, is the world's most beautiful city. The amazing thing about Jerusalem is that beyond the city's beautiful historic sites and religious importance, Jerusalem is also home to some of the best restaurants you will find in Israel. From local Jerusalem eateries to seafood, French, eclectic, Moroccan, meats, vegetarian and any other type of taste you're after - you'll find it all right here.
The first restaurant to be mentioned is one that you'll first need and then want. Between the Arch
es is a restaurant that has three good things to offer you: Location, food and ambiance. The restaurant, located right by the Kotel (Western Wall) in the stoned halls of a charming Turkish building, has been beautifully rennovated to offer guests a true Jerusalemite experience of enjoying a good meal between arches and ancient stones. The reason you'll probably first need this restaurant, is that almost everyone who holds a Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem (usually nearby the Kotel), needs a place to feed all the guests after the ceremony. What better place to eat than right at the Kotel? Once you've entered the establishment and tasted the food, you'll understand why you also want to eat here. The location of Between the Arches makes it extremely popular and therefore, reservations are required far in advance, especially for peak seasons, from the end of June through August and late December. I can easily help you do that if you contact me with the number of expected guests, date and time of the event. A small deposit will be necessary and please keep in mind that payment at the restaurant (for groups) is by cash only. Amir the manager awaits you with a smile.Hidden amongst the streets, museums and government buildings of Jerusalem's Western city, right below the Israel Museum and the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University, is a little gem - the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens. Lucky for you, it's a place rarely visited by other tourists, so chances are you'll be able to enjoy this beautiful place calmly, surrounded by a few loving couples walking around hand-in-hand or the occasional class on a field trip. Inside the Botanical Gardens, there's another little gem - the Caffit restaurant (which unfortunately doesn't yet have it's own website). This restaurant is in an excellent location to rest for an hour or two and give yourself a break between all the sites. Caffit is in an old stone house, overlooking a tiny man-made lake which sometimes hosts swans and ducks. Picture-perfect. The entrance to the Botanical Gardens is from Burla Street and the phone number for Caffit is (02) 648-0003.If we're already on the subject of hidden culinary gems in Jerusalem, then I'm very pleased to introduce you to a wonderful, quiet and very tasty place called Olive & Fish, located on Jabotinsky Street, about 100 meters west of a major intersection, a stone's throw away from the Inbal Hotel and the King Solomon Hotel. Olive & Fish is actually two restaurants; one which serves fish, dairy and vegetarian meals while the other is a specialized grill. Both are right next to each other in the same building. The special thing about this special place is that the food is so fresh and tasty! Forget the usual restaurants which make the food in advance and serve it according to demand. When you order a salad here, you can actually hear them chopping the vegetables in the kitchen. And when you order fish, you'll probably see the chef throwing a fishing rod into his car and drive away. The rustic look of Olive & Fish gives that extra ambiance we all hope to get when eating at a restaurant in Jerusalem. A small wine bar, wooden tables and stairs that lead up to the galley where you'll find a private room suitable for family and group meals, away from the crowds. This is also a great place to host the Bar Mitzvah lunch. Shir and Rafi, the owners, await you with a warm welcome. Reservations are also possible by contacting Scopia LLC.More restaurants in Jerusalem will be updated shortly , so come back soon!
Tiberias
The city of Tiberias is located on the western shore of the magical Sea of Galilee (Kinneret). The city and its surrounding area used to be one of the main tourism hot spots in the north of Israel. But since the
early 2000's the city's tourism has taken a downturn and the numbers dropped considerably as tourists began to venture outward to the kibbutz guest houses in the north. Tiberias was left without much of a nightlife. Except for one, die-hard of a gem called "The Lido Beach". This is a private area located about 1 km north of Tiberias, right on the waterfront and includes a dock for cruise boats and several fantastic restaurants all owned by the same family. Most notable of the three restaurants located here is "Decks", a kosher fish and grilled meats establishment with food so fresh and tasty, it will knock your socks off. At the Decks restaurant, it's not "the fresh catch of the day", its "the fresh catch of the hour". Open-fire grills, the lake water just below the deck, the music, good food and wine - what more does one need to say that "life is good"? The Decks is without doubt - A must for anyone touring the area, even if you're not staying in Tiberias.
