Street Food in the Heart of Jerusalem: The Inbal Hotel’s Courtyard Experience

With summer in full swing, getting out and about in Jerusalem, especially in the evening, is a special experience, made even more memorable when paired with food. One destination not to be missed for an evening out this summer is the Inbal’s Street Food Festival. Reflecting the growing popularity of street food in Jerusalem, the festival combines elegance and authenticity for both hotel guests and other visitors. 

The Rise of Street Food Culture in Jerusalem

“Street food; Jerusalem” are words that are increasingly associated with each other. In recent years, travelers and visitors to Jerusalem have been seeking out the city’s street food culture. The heart of this experience is based in the outdoor Mahane Yehuda market, which for more than a century has been the city’s source of fresh produce, meat and dairy products but in modern times is also filled with bakeries, falafel stands and other places for quick bites to eat. Food tours of the market, known locally as “the shuk,” are very popular, with participants sampling a variety of street foods along the way.

Why Street Food Is More Than Just Food

Those seeking out street food in Jerusalem are seeking out not just something to eat, but something to experience and remember, something that will connect them to the city’s past and present. Street food in Jerusalem refers to a wide variety of creations and flavors and reflects the cultural makeup of the city. 

Falafel is probably the city’s most famous street food, followed by shawarma. These foods can be found in almost all neighborhoods and among various cultures. Fried and spiced balls made up of chickpeas are stuffed in pitas along with vegetables, hummus, tahini and other toppings. Shawarma consists of fresh roasted meat also served in a pita, along with sauces and vegetables. Other popular foods include burekas, dough filled with cheese, potato, spinach and other flavors, originally brought to the city by immigrants from Turkey and other areas of the Ottoman empire, where they adopted local empanadas into foods that fit their kosher dietary needs. Along the streets and alleyways of the Old City, fresh bagels made in wood-fired ovens and topped with sesame seeds are ubiquitous and tasty.

The city’s sweets also reflect its varied cultures. From chocolate-filled rolled-up babka cakes with roots in Eastern Europe, to the Middle Eastern honey-soaked baklava and the date-stuffed maamoul cookies, there is something for everyone. Popular drinks include arak-infused cocktails and juices made from local oranges and pomegranates. 

A Gourmet Twist: Street Food at Inbal Hotel’s Courtyard

As the city’s food culture has evolved, street food has taken on a life of its own, including at the Inbal Hotel. All summer, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, the hotel’s courtyard hosts a street food Jerusalem festival. Surrounded by stone walls and filled with palm trees, geraniums and other Mediterranean plants, the elegant courtyard is open to the sky and the light breezes typical on summer evenings. 

Arranged like a market, various stations offer choices of street food. Jerusalem is the main inspiration for the dishes, which are mainly classics with a few unique and modern twists. 

Dishes include falafel with onion and sumac, muhammara (roasted walnuts with red peppers), musabaha (whole chickpeas with tahini sauce), hummus and tahini, creamy labneh cheese, Greek tzatziki yogurt, salmon noodles, vegetarian noodles, and more. There is an abundance of fresh salads, spreads, and meze. A large taboon oven bakes pitas, breads and other fresh treats, including iconic za’atar-topped Jerusalem bagels, pastries filled with Bulgarian cheese; mozzarella with oregano, cherry tomatoes and garlic; and pastries topped with egg.

Desert is a handmade sweet basbousa, a delicate semolina cake soaked in syrup.

The menu is based entirely on fresh foods and ingredients from the Mahane Yehuda market.

All offerings are vegetarian and certified kosher dairy. The menu is a set price of 137 shekels, with unlimited access to the food. Additional desserts and drinks are available for purchase.

A Taste of Jerusalem Without Leaving the Hotel Grounds

For those staying at the hotel, the festival is especially convenient, offering a quality, upscale dining experience with local authenticity.  For guests and visitors alike, the festival shows how the Inbal has emerged as part of the city’s culinary scene. In addition to this festival, the Inbal hosts a beloved winter soup festival and features the chef 02 restaurant in addition to a new and exciting cocktail bar. 

“We’re proud to create culinary and cultural anchors that draw visitors from Israel and around the world,” says Kfir Hadad, Executive Chef of the Inbal Hotel, who designed the festival’s menu.  “Our 2024 summer street food event hosted a record-breaking 20,000 guests. This year, with the return of international tourism, we’re expecting even higher numbers and are excited to introduce visitors to Jerusalem’s outstanding cuisine.”

Planning Your Visit

Reservations are strongly recommended as the festival often fills up, especially later in the week. The last reservations are for 9:30 p.m., although the festival is open until 11 p.m. Guests can make reservations at the front desk, online, or by contacting the hotel.

Come hungry, and leave inspired after experiencing the best of Jerusalem’s street food right here at the Inbal Hotel.