Great food, beautifully presented. Beautiful location with a great view. Friendly attentive service. A great chef’s restaurant bistro. Very European. A really nice experience.
Touro Restaurant
- Price $$$$
- See Kosher Chart
- Accessibility
- Chef Restaurant
- Free Wi-Fi
- For Private Events
- Kosher
- Outside Seating Area
- Reservation Needed
A Historical Dining Experience with Incredible Views
Touro is a kosher chef restaurant in Jerusalem’s historical Mishkenot Shaananim neighborhood boasting a beautiful view of the Tower of David and the Old City walls.
Housed in a unique, historical building that was once home to another famous Jerusalem restaurant, Touro’s equally stunning indoor and outdoor dining spaces make it one of the most romantic restaurants in the city.. On the terrace, you can take in one of the best views in town, and the indoor dining space is warm and inviting while reflecting the ancient, yet modern character of Jerusalem.
The restaurant is named after Yehuda Touro (1775-1854), an American Jewish philanthropist who helped fund the establishment of the Mishkenot Shaananim neighborhood.
An Intriguing Culinary Experience
The menu is a vibrant fusion of Mediterranean cuisine and Asian flavors, featuring meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes made using chef Benny Ashkenazi’s unique culinary techniques and only the freshest ingredients.
Private Events
Touro Restaurant is a great option for events – they cater for up to 120 guests on the balcony or for 20 guests in a private room. It is a favorite among Jerusalem’s best event planners for bar/bat mitzvahs and other small-to-mid-sized events.
Benny Ashkenazi, Our Chef
Chef Benny Ashkenazi is notorious for unique techniques and culinary creations that interweave Mediterranean and Asian influences. His 16 years of experience as a chef in Israel also includes time at Tel Aviv restaurants Isadora, Francesca and Pepe.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 362 traveler reviews“Worth the stairs and then some”
This is a classy “chef restaurant”. The setting is charming, the view impressive, and much of the food prep open to view (which is almost always fun). Of course, these trappings would be worth little if the food and service weren’t worthwhile. Fortunately, Touro clears that bar by a comfortable margin. The Starters were...
MoreThis is a classy “chef restaurant”. The setting is charming, the view impressive, and much of the food prep open to view (which is almost always fun). Of course, these trappings would be worth little if the food and service weren’t worthwhile. Fortunately, Touro clears that bar by a comfortable margin. The Starters were superb. The Arayes Lamb was one of the most delectable things I have ever eaten, and my wife enjoyed her Porcini Soup. The mains were very good. (As I have found in other fine dining establishments, the mains aren’t quite as interesting as the starters). I liked the Hanger Steak best. The Bonbon for dessert was fun and quite good. Our server, Reut, truly could not have been better. Gracious, friendly, and attentive without being intrusive, she not only responded to our needs but anticipated them. We were under a little time pressure (we had theater tickets), and she was able to keep the dead time to a minimum, so that we were able to savor our meal and not feel rushed, but still have time for dessert and get out in time. Not all that easy to find or get to (not for anyone who can’t do stairs easily), but well rewards the effort.
Less“Not worth it!”
We went to Touro knowing it would be on the spendy side since Shabbat was ending in Jerusalem and few restaurants were open, and we were looking forward to a great meal. We were “greeted” by a hostile host who, once we told her we had no reservation, seated us at a counter in...
MoreWe went to Touro knowing it would be on the spendy side since Shabbat was ending in Jerusalem and few restaurants were open, and we were looking forward to a great meal. We were “greeted” by a hostile host who, once we told her we had no reservation, seated us at a counter in a restaurant where, during our 70 minute stay, 20% of the tables were occupied. I would estimate Touro’s temperature to be about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a good match for the chilly reception we got. Our server sold me on a wine other than the one I ordered (no longer available), giving a description that was inaccurate. He replaced the glass after he asked how our meal was, about 25 minutes after he brought the wine. But, to be fair, he was busy waiting in 3 tables while 2 other staff talked with each other and/or on the phone at the same counter where she seated us! Our food was fine, not great, but very underwhelming for what we paid for it. Having had such amazing food everywhere else we’d eaten in Israel, this was surprising. We declined dessert, opting to go elsewhere. As we left, a bunch of very loud people entered the still nearly vacant restaurant (after they were all seated there were still 4 open tables, suggesting that our counter spot was not warranted). The space and view were beautiful and the food reasonably good, but I wouldn’t recommend this place unless money and quality of experience are not of great importance. It had the vibe of a tourist trap where customer experience was not a priority to the owners.
Less“A ten!”