Jerusalem Hotel — Restaurant in Jerusalem

Jerusalem Hotel – A Hidden Gem in the Heart of the Old City’s Spirit As two traveling photographers from Photolator, we’re constantly in search of places that offer more than just a bed — we seek environments that tell stories, echo with history, and invite us to slow down and truly experience a place. The Jerusalem Hotel, just outside the walls of the Old City, delivered all this and more.

An Authentic Stay Steeped in Heritage Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century Arab mansion, the Jerusalem Hotel is one of those rare places that has kept its soul intact. Stone walls, high arched ceilings, original tile floors, and hand-carved furniture create a timeless atmosphere. Every detail speaks to Jerusalem’s rich cultural tapestry — a blend of Arab, Ottoman, and Mediterranean design that feels both intimate and authentic.

Our room was warm, welcoming, and full of character — a far cry from the sterile feel of modern hotel chains. The thick stone walls kept the space cool even during the heat of the day, and our private balcony offered views of the city’s minarets and domes. At night, the call to prayer echoed softly through the air — a sound we found profoundly moving and grounding.

A Dream Location for Storytelling and Photography Location-wise, the hotel couldn’t be better placed for photographers. It sits just a 5-minute walk from Damascus Gate, the dramatic northern entrance to the Old City. From here, you're within moments of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall, the Via Dolorosa, bustling souks, and rooftops that glow at sunset.

We found ourselves waking early just to capture the golden morning light hitting the Old City’s limestone, and staying out late to shoot under the stars and lanterns. The textures, colors, faces, and contrasts of Jerusalem are like nowhere else in the world — and the Jerusalem Hotel puts you right in the middle of it all.

Hospitality with Heart The team at the Jerusalem Hotel were genuinely welcoming and passionate about their city. From helping us organize sunrise shoots and early breakfasts, to sharing local insights about hidden photo spots in East Jerusalem or lesser-known rooftop views, they went above and beyond.

The on-site restaurant and garden terrace are also a big plus. The traditional Palestinian breakfast (with fresh bread, labneh, za'atar, olives, and local honey) was a daily highlight, and the shaded terrace became our peaceful editing station between explorations.

Sustainable, Local, and Full of Character As photographers who value sustainability and cultural preservation, we were pleased to see the hotel’s commitment to using local ingredients, hiring staff from the community, and maintaining architectural heritage. It’s the kind of place where your stay contributes meaningfully to the local economy and culture.

Final Thoughts from Photolator The Jerusalem Hotel is not just a place to sleep — it’s a lens into the soul of Jerusalem. It’s where old-world charm meets warm hospitality, where every corner offers a frame-worthy scene, and where you feel deeply connected to the place around you.

For photographers, storytellers, and conscious travelers, this is a base camp full of soul and substance. We’ll definitely return — with charged batteries, open eyes, and hearts ready for...

From the outside it looks like an ordinary hotel, but once you step inside it is quaint & charming with the most wonderful antiques & furniture. The owners are pleasant and the staff, especially at the restaurant are friendly and helpful. You receive a free welcome drink on arrival and I highly recommend for the tea lovers, to try the Moroccan tea, made with mint and cinnamon. The hot chocolate and mint tea are also great and the lemonade is homemade, sweet & refreshing. Our room was small but cosy and comfortable with 2 double beds and a bathroom. The restaurant is excellent & the food is fresh and tasty. I would recommend, as a starter, if you love your food and if you can still manage a main meal after, the small array of Middle Eastern salads (eggplant, hummus etc) which is served with pita bread - as a family of 4,we choose the small size, but there is medium and large too. The burgers are great and are served with chips & a salad and the 3 kebabs, which are beef, chicken and lamb are delicious and comes with chips & vegetables. The breakfast is great too - cereals, fruit, hummus, pita, bread, pastries etc. The hotel is in an excellent location - walking to the Damascus Gate takes 5 minutes and then you enter into a bustling and lively market which sells, food, sweets, spices, shoes, clothes etc. Then by foot, it takes about 15 minutes to walk to Jaffa Gate, which has shops é restaurants & I read on another review,that once you enter the gate and turn left, that goes to the Christian Quarter and if you turn right, you enter into the Armenian Quarter, which then leads to the Jewish Quarter which then leads to The Western Wall. As it was a very hot day when we were there, we took The Old City Train from The Western Wall back down to Jaffa Gate. Across the road from Jaffa Gate you will find the Mamilla Mall aka Alrov Mamilla Ave, which is an outdoors and fancy mall. We also took the tram to the Mahane Yehuda market which was great. When we left Jerusalem (by car) we went to the Yad Vashem.

A suggestion would be to put more plugs in the room, especially for charging...

I really wanted to like this place after reading all the great reviews here but came away with slightly mixed feelings.||On the plus side, it is a beautiful old building, and the location is fabulous, just a few minutes walk from the Damascus Gate (the entry into the most interesting part of the old city) and the nearby light rail stop.||My room felt a bit tired and in need of an upgrade though - a decent coffee machine and real cups rather than disposable ones would be a good start. Staff were pleasant enough but didn't go out of their way to be helpful. There's a nice airy restaurant on the ground floor, but in a country with such fabulous food pretty much everywhere you go, I thought the breakfast left a lot to be desired, and for that reason I didn't attempt any other meals here.||I was travelling alone and for a place to lay my head at night, it was perfectly fine and a reasonable price, but it wasn't a place that I wanted to linger in. If I were back in Jerusalem with my family I'd forego the atmosphere and look for something a bit...