20 Best Places to Eat in Palestine: The Ultimate Culinary & Dining Guide

Palestinian cuisine is an extraordinary expression of Levantine heritage, celebrated for rich aromatic spices, fresh cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, wood-fired hearth breads, and farm-fresh ingredients. From savoring sumac-infused Musakhan flatbreads in Ramallah and slow-roasted Zarb feasts in the Jericho desert to devouring warm, syrup-soaked Knafeh in the old alleyways of Nablus, dining in Palestine is a warm celebration of community and legendary hospitality.

Must-Try Traditional Dishes

Sampling authentic Palestinian dishes offers an unforgettable introduction to Levantine culinary arts.

Musakhan: Palestine's national dish—roasted tender chicken seasoned with fragrant sumac and allspice, served over caramelised onions atop taboon flatbread drenched in local olive oil.
Maqluba: Meaning 'upside-down,' a savory layered pot dish of spiced rice, slow-cooked lamb or chicken, and fried eggplant, cauliflower, and potatoes inverted dramatically before serving.
Nablus Knafeh: A heavenly dessert made with shredded kataifi pastry or fine semolina dough layer over mild un-salted Nabulsi cheese, baked golden, saturated in orange-blossom syrup, and topped with crushed pistachios.
Falafel & Hummus: Crispy golden chickpea patties blended with fresh parsley and garlic, served alongside velvety stone-ground tahini hummus and freshly baked pita bread.
Qidreh: A festive Hebron specialty of spiced tender lamb, chickpeas, and garlic cloves slow-cooked together inside heavy brass pots in wood-fired community ovens.

20 Best Places to Eat in Palestine

1. Al-Aqsa Knafeh (Al-Aseel)

Cuisine: Traditional Palestinian Sweets
Location: Old City of Nablus
Must-Try Dish: Warm Nabulsi Knafeh Na'ama
About the Place: The undisputed home of authentic Knafeh in the heart of Nablus Old Souq. Watch skilled pastry chefs bake large brass trays over open fires for enthusiastic crowds.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Al-Aqsa Knafeh

2. Damascus Gate Hummus & Falafel Stalls

Cuisine: Authentic Levantine Street Food
Location: Damascus Gate, Old City Jerusalem
Must-Try Dish: Warm Hummus with Tatbilah Chili Sauce & Hot Falafel
About the Place: Historic market stalls located inside the Old City entrance, serving smooth daily-whipped hummus, warm faw foul beans, and freshly fried falafel balls.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Damascus Gate Stalls

3. Darna Restaurant

Cuisine: Upscale Traditional Levantine
Location: Main Street, Ramallah
Must-Try Dish: Traditional Musakhan & Slow-Cooked Lamb Maqluba
About the Place: An elegant, beautifully decorated restaurant in Ramallah celebrating authentic Palestinian culinary heritage with silver service, fresh flatbreads, and grilled meats.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Darna Restaurant

4. Afteem Restaurant

Cuisine: Traditional Hummus & Falafel Bistro
Location: Manger Square, Bethlehem
Must-Try Dish: Stuffed Falafel with Onions & Sumac
About the Place: Located steps from the Church of the Nativity, this family-run restaurant has served Bethlehem's favorite hummus and falafel since 1948 in a charming stone building.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Afteem Restaurant

5. Abu Shanab Restaurant

Cuisine: Middle Eastern Charcoal Grill
Location: Hebron City Center
Must-Try Dish: Traditional Hebron Qidreh Lamb
About the Place: Renowned across Hebron for authentic local meat dishes, serving succulent charcoal-grilled kebabs and traditional brass-pot Qidreh cooked in brick wood ovens.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Abu Shanab Restaurant

6. Tanoreen Restaurant

Cuisine: Levantine Mezze & Grill
Location: Beit Jala
Must-Try Dish: Mixed Charcoal Grill Platter & Fresh Tabouleh
About the Place: A picturesque hilltop garden restaurant in Beit Jala, offering expansive valley views alongside elaborate spreads of cold and hot mezze starters and grilled meats.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Tanoreen Restaurant

7. Abu Ali Falafel & Hummus

Cuisine: Local Street Food
Location: Jericho Old Town
Must-Try Dish: Sesame-Crusted Falafel with Tahini
About the Place: A beloved Jericho food institution serving warm pita bread, freshly made sesame falafel, and garlic hummus to locals and travelers visiting the desert oasis city.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Abu Ali Falafel

8. Orjuwan Italian & Fusion Lounge

Cuisine: Palestinian-Italian Fusion
Location: Al-Masyoun, Ramallah
Must-Try Dish: Fresh Homemade Pasta with Local Herbs & Steaks
About the Place: A modern, upscale restaurant in Ramallah's diplomatic district blending authentic Levantine ingredients with Italian cooking techniques and gourmet coffee.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Orjuwan Lounge

9. Zula Cafe & Garden

Cuisine: Cafe & Mediterranean Breakfast
Location: Ramallah
Must-Try Dish: Palestinian Farmer's Breakfast (Manakish, Labneh & Eggs)
About the Place: A lush garden cafe surrounded by greenery, popular for relaxed breakfasts, za'atar flatbreads, fresh juices, and outdoor shisha lounges.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Zula Cafe & Garden

10. The Singer Cafe

Cuisine: Organic Cafe & Light Levantine Meals
Location: Beit Sahour
Must-Try Dish: Fresh Za'atar Manakish & Mint Lemonade
About the Place: A creative eco-cafe built inside a restored stone home, popular among artists and travelers for local coffee, organic salads, and cultural events.
Explore More: Read our full guide to The Singer Cafe

11. Abu Shusha Restaurant

Cuisine: Fresh Seafood & Mediterranean
Location: Jericho Road
Must-Try Dish: Whole Charcoal-Grilled Sea Bass
About the Place: A spacious garden restaurant known for serving fresh seafood, mixed meat skewers, and cold mezze spreads in a relaxed desert garden setting.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Abu Shusha Restaurant

12. Rukab's Ice Cream

Cuisine: Traditional Mastic Ice Cream
Location: Main Street, Ramallah
Must-Try Dish: Traditional Booza (Pounded Mastic Ice Cream with Pistachios)
About the Place: Operating since 1941, Rukab's is famous across Palestine for its unique handmade stretchy mastic ice cream pounded with wooden mallets.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Rukab's Ice Cream

13. Abu Shukri Restaurant

Cuisine: Heritage Hummus & Falafel
Location: Via Dolorosa, Old City Jerusalem
Must-Try Dish: Whole Chickpea Hummus Masabacha
About the Place: World-famous hole-in-the-wall hummus kitchen in Jerusalem's Muslim Quarter, serving velvety hummus to pilgrims and locals for generations.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Abu Shukri Restaurant

14. Damascus Gate Bakery Stalls

Cuisine: Traditional Bakery & Bread
Location: Old City Jerusalem
Must-Try Dish: Sesame Ka'ak Bread with Roasted Za'atar & Boiled Eggs
About the Place: Iconic street bakeries producing ring-shaped wood-fired sesame bread (Ka'ak), served warm with local wild za'atar herbs.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Damascus Gate Bakery

15. Al-Rawahel Cultural Restaurant

Cuisine: Traditional Home-Cooked Cuisine
Location: Jenin City
Must-Try Dish: Freekeh Stew with Tender Lamb
About the Place: A welcoming community restaurant in Jenin highlighting traditional agricultural dishes prepared with locally harvested green wheat (freekeh) and fresh olive oil.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Al-Rawahel Restaurant

16. Hosh al-Syrian Restaurant

Cuisine: Boutique Levantine & Mediterranean
Location: Old Town Bethlehem
Must-Try Dish: Slow-Baked Stuffed Eggplants & Fresh Bread
About the Place: Set within a restored 19th-century Ottoman stone courtyard in Bethlehem, offering gourmet interpretations of traditional Palestinian home cooking.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Hosh al-Syrian Restaurant

17. Snowbar Open-Air Garden Restaurant

Cuisine: Mediterranean Grill & Drinks
Location: Ein Qiniya Road, Ramallah
Must-Try Dish: Charcoal-Grilled Lamb Chops & Summer Cocktails
About the Place: A pine-forest garden sanctuary on the outskirts of Ramallah, featuring outdoor swimming pools, open-air charcoal grills, and relaxing woodland dining.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Snowbar Garden Restaurant

18. Al-Basha Traditional Oven

Cuisine: Bakery & Wood-Fired Flatbreads
Location: Nablus Old Souq
Must-Try Dish: Freshly Baked Meat & Pine Nut Sfiha
About the Place: A traditional neighbourhood stone oven bakery where doughs are topped with minced spiced lamb, tahini, or za'atar and baked directly on stone hearths.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Al-Basha Traditional Oven

19. Al-Fanar Restaurant (Gaza Historic Heritage)

Cuisine: Mediterranean Seafood
Location: Gaza City Seaport
Must-Try Dish: Spicy Clay-Pot Fish Sayadieh
About the Place: A historic waterfront restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean, historically famous for fresh seafood, clay-pot fish stews, and sunset sea views.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Al-Fanar Restaurant

20. Taybeh Winery & Brewery Dining Hall

Cuisine: Farm-to-Table & Local Craft Brews
Location: Taybeh Village
Must-Try Dish: Artisanal Cheese Platter & Craft Brew Tasting
About the Place: Set in the scenic hilltop village of Taybeh, offering tours, tastings, and outdoor dining featuring locally produced cheeses, cured meats, and fresh sourdough.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Taybeh Dining Hall

Featured Image

Traditional Palestinian Musakhan and Levantine Mezze Platter