Mahane Yehuda Market
שוק מחנה יהודה
The largest traditional market in western Jerusalem. By day it is a bustling market of spice, dried fruit and bread stalls. By night the graffiti portraits on the shutters appear, and the market turns into a bar and food street.
Mahane Yehuda Market, known to locals as 'the Shuk', lies between Jaffa Road and Agrippas Street. It began in the late 19th century under Ottoman rule and now has about 250 stalls, divided between open-air areas and covered lanes. During the day you can see mounds of spices, dried fruit, olives, Middle Eastern sweets such as halva and nut-filled pastries, freshly baked challah, and many kinds of cheese. There are also many snack shops serving hummus, sabich (a sandwich of fried eggplant and salad), grilled meat, kubbeh soup and Georgian cheese boats. It is great for grazing as you walk. Friday morning, before the Sabbath, is the peak shopping time, and the crowds are at their busiest. After dusk many stalls close, and the shutters reveal the roughly several hundred portraits of people painted by the street artist Solomon Souza. At the same time, bars and restaurants open, and the market turns into a nightlife area popular with young people. Thursday night is the liveliest. There is a security check at the market entrance, so keep an eye on your belongings. Take the Red Line light rail to the Mahane Yehuda station, and the market is about a 20-minute walk from there.
Opening hours
Sun–Thu approx. 8:00 am–7:00 pm (dining until late); Fri until afternoon; closed Sat
Nearby sights
- Ben Yehuda Street
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Knesset
- Monastery of the Holy Cross
- Bible Lands Museum
- Israel Museum
- L. A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art
- Jaffa Gate & Ramparts Walk