Special Streets and Cafés in the Nazareth Market
The culinary scene in the Nazareth Market is particularly interesting, and includes restaurants, bakeries, and cafés that you must experience.
Liwan Culture Cafe
A charming two-story café housed in a beautifully decorated building, characterized by an eclectic Boho-chic style. Here, you will find ever-changing artworks on the walls, so your daily cup of coffee can have a different ambiance than tomorrow’s. The owner of the place supports local artists and showcases their works alongside freshly squeezed orange juice. The café offers self-service, fresh pastries, and a cultural and artistic atmosphere.
Café Nazareth
You must also visit Café Nazareth. It is the oldest café in Nazareth, established over a hundred years ago. The furniture looks as if it’s from the days of our grandparents, but behind the well-maintained bar, you’ll find the smiling face of the owner’s grandson, Wisam. The old chairs have been renovated and upholstered over the years, filling the small, beautiful rooms with a nostalgic charm, along with the painted floor and decorated walls. Wisam is the third generation running the café; his grandfather established the place in 1914 when he was just a 14-year-old boy. Behind the well-kept bar, he prepares for us a special drink called “Aynar,” a spiced beverage made with cinnamon and chopped nuts, served hot and believed to “restore strength to both men and women after childbirth.” Around the old-timers in the place, people sit down for a lively game of backgammon. In short, this is the café you should visit if you want to diversify your coffee and taste secret beverages.
Located in the alleys of the Old City of Nazareth, Saturday to Thursday, 9:00-18:00, 053-3010355
Café Amani
Just a few steps from Fauzi’s falafel stand, you will find one of the coolest places in the Nazareth Market. At the heart of the market is the gem known as Café Amani. It offers a wonderful and pleasant atmosphere, as well as excellent food and great coffee. The café’s owner, Amani, takes care of every small detail in the place, and you can feel it. It’s a small business with a big heart!
(Located in the alleys of the Old City, 09:00-20:00, 04-614-7170)
Sweet Delights
In Nazareth, there are more than just falafel and churches; there are shops that sell sweets, knafeh, baklava, and cookies. In the Old City, you will find Azmi’s shop for knafeh. There, you can get freshly made knafeh that comes straight out of the pan, with the cheese still gooey and the crunchy vermicelli on top. This is the place in Nazareth where you should indulge in this sweet treat.
If you prefer qatayef, you can find the delicious sweet pastry pockets at Abu Ashraf’s bakery. These popular pastries are filled with chopped nuts or molten jibneh (cheese). They are usually served during the month of Ramadan, but at Abu Ashraf’s restaurant, they fry qatayef all year round.
Located in the Old City of Nazareth, Sunday
Sleep in a 200-Year-Old Room
When was the last time you slept in a room with high, decorated ceilings in a building that looks somewhat like a small palace? Fauzi Azar by Abraham, located in the heart of the Old City, is exactly that. As soon as you enter the old and magnificent building, you will realize that you have arrived at a special place. At Fauzi you will find large windows, peaceful courtyard, and spacious, cozy rooms with high, vaulted ceilings.
This impressive building is over 200 years old and once served as a grand mansion owned by Fauzi Azar.
From the first floor, you can go out to a beautiful inner courtyard with stone arches and pleasant seating corners shaded from the sun. You are welcome to relax on colorful couches and hammocks and enjoy casual conversations with tourists from around the world. On the second floor, you will find the shared dormitory rooms, private rooms, a sitting area, and a kitchen for guests, with a ceiling adorned with ancient paintings and impressive chandeliers. It’s delightful to sit in the large hall with its cascading ceiling, Turkish stone floor, and the enchanting chandelier. You can sit in one of the many seating corners and enjoy a cup of coffee and a tasty pastry from the kitchen. Yes, there is a large kitchen for the guests, including a refrigerator, oven, and kitchenware, so you can also cook and eat there. At 8:00 p.m., there is a happy-hour during which you can get a beer for 5 shekels.
The excellent breakfast served at the hostel includes fresh hummus, tahini, salads, and pita bread with za’atar. For dessert, they serve cakes, halva, dates, and excellent Arabic coffee.
What else should you know?
The colorful streets of the Nazareth Market are active from Monday to Saturday between 9:00 and 16:00.
Most of the shops in the Nazareth Market are closed on Sundays.
Take a tour showcasing the city’s present and past in the Old City!
During the tour which guides you through the Nazareth Old City, you will pass by beautiful corners and receive fascinating explanations, and talk to local business owners.
Where to Park?
We recommend the Ma’ayan Parking Lots—El-Riad, El-Motran, and HaYedidut-Sdeqa.
Bonus: Cafe for Kids
If you’re visiting with children or toddlers and want to have a coffee break and let them play around, meet Café for Kids in Nazareth, which also includes a playground. It is a 10-minute walk from the Old City—Massa Coffee & Kids. A café for kids is simply a genius concept, isn’t it? The place is suitable for children and parents who want a break from the churches in favor of fun games and really tasty coffee. You can spend an hour there and have a lot of fun while the little ones enjoy playing with various games. Parents can also take a break and relax.
Address: Main Street, Nazareth. For contact, call 04-6312881.
