Chakra attracts a buzzy crowd for its excellent Mediterranean menu and chic atmosphere. The interiors are spacious and sleek, while the alfresco patio affords leafy park views. The diverse menu features such flavorful dishes as lemon garlic cauliflower, artichoke and reggiano pappardelle and kebabs with grilled vegetables and tahini.

Contemporary and with an unusually innovative design—leafy overhangs star beside an open kitchen—Jacko’s Street is wildly popular. The buzzing restaurant is just steps from the Machne Yehuda market, where chef Zakai Huja shops daily, filling up on fresh produce for each nights dinner. The atmosphere is lively, the service is friendly and the cuisine is spot-on.

Brilliant plating and artistic presentation are the only things Machneyuda and sister restaurant Mona have in common. The former is fun-loving and boisterous, with good food to boot (although fantastic is a better descriptor). The cheeky cocktail menu—with quite a few suggestively-titled beverages—may have been written after its author sampled a few of the spirituous libations, but all are made with skill and care. The dishes retain a sense of humor with witty descriptions and the “best fixed menu ever” (their phrase, not mine). At around 9pm, the music turns up and the party starts.

Hidden within the Jerusalem Artists’ House, Machneyuda’s subdued older sister is as elegant as Machneyuda is audacious. The plates are beautifully presented, and the feel is more welcoming and homey than the raucous atmosphere at Machneyuda. The menu is refined but creative—Israeli with a Mediterranean twist. During the winter, the fireside tables are delightful.