City: Damascus
Top Restaurants in Damascus
Damascus Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Damascus
Having survived thousands of years of successive civilizations from the Egyptians, Greco-Romans, Muslims, Crusaders, Mongols, Ottomans and French to the modern Arab era, Damascus is one of the most resilient and historic cities on Earth. Its ruins lay up to 8 feet deep under its surface and the Old City is home to Roman era ramparts, gates, the Umayyad Mosque and legendary churches including the Chapel of St. Paul. Bab Sharqi and the Souk Medhat Pasha lay on a street dating to biblical times.
Things to do in Damascus
1. Kan Zaman
Overall Ratings
4 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By Pixie_dot - Hertfordshire
You will need a map to find Bet Jabri which is tucked away down an inauspicious looking Damascus alleyway but it is worth hunting out. The restaurant occupies an enormous and very pretty courtyard of an old family home. It is bustling and pleasant and a good stop for a lunch, dinner or just a snack or refreshing drink. We thought the food was very good - it was possibly the best falafel I have ever had. We had a bit of a hiccup with service but I don't know if this was typical of Bet Jabri and there was much apologising after one of our dishes appeared to have been forgotten and had to be asked for a couple of times. Ultimately it didn't spoil our experience at all and I would definitely recommend a visit to Bet Jabri.
2. Gemini Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By Saba A - Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Gemini is located in a perfect place. I loved the place, the service and the food. The staff are very polite and courteous and seem to be well trained. The salad bar is the best in the city with a wide variety of choice and all very fresh with quality ingredients. The food is also amazing. My favorites are the sea food basket (even though its an appetizer, it is more than enough as a full meal for two very hungry people) and their pain perdu.
3. Haretna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By Youssef976 - Aleppo, Syria
What a lovely and cozy place ....
It's an old Arabic house in one of the oldest city in the world.
The food is excellent, delicious with amazing taste.
There is a play ground for kids.
Reach with its appetizers, spices and arabic food specially Aleppian ( from Aleppo ).
Portion in each meal is more than enough.
I love this restaurant and I highly recommended to everyone
4. Al Khawali Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By Mars V - Lochem, The Netherlands
My wife and I visited Syria just before the war began. Al Khawali was the best restaurant we visited in Damascus; and we had dinner here several times. We are very happy to see, that in 2014 a review was sent to describe an experience with Al Khawali. This indicates that the restaurant still exists. And we hope and pray for peace in this country. Deo volente! Kind regards.
5. abu kamal
Overall Ratings
4 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By damascenedame - New York, NY
I greatly enjoyed my two visits to Abu Kamal restaurant, where, as with many upscale restaurants in Damascus, one was hard put to spend 500 Syrian Lira (about $10 USD in June 2009, Exchange rate=47 S.L.=1 USD) for a feast - it took effort to eat our way through that much money, and we ate well, in terms of both quantity and, most important, quality! The Hummus with meat is an all-time favorite of mine and the grilled fish was superb, a rarity in landlocked Damascus - hard to describe it - all i can do is urge you to eat there! :-)
6. Naranj
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 146 reviews
Reviewed By symusa - Damascus, Syria
a restaurant that was converted from an ancient warehouse to a very attractive old style restaurant and is located in the middle of the oldest street in the old town of Damascus that links very popular two ancient gates (The Straight Street which was mentioned tin the bible). very good food and beverage of eastern and western wide choices, surely suite friends , families, couples and business gathering. high standards with high prices.
7. Four Seasons Hotel - Al Halabi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Experience Syrian fine dining in this luxurious, intimate restaurant. Al Halabi features the best of the Aleppo cuisine of northern Syria, with specialties that combine European culinary sophistication with the excitement of Eastern spices. The well-appointed atmosphere reflects traditional Syrian character. Enjoy live traditional music at Halabi on Thursday and Saturday nights.
Reviewed By Martin Z - Switzerland
This very good restaurant within the Four Seasons Hotel premises is apparently predominately utilized for big events and meetings. It indeed has a very unique and Syrian traditionally, beautiful designed interior, built for big gatherings. It seems a legendary, frequently busy location and well appreciated by the guests.
8. Bakdash
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 92 reviews
Reviewed By Damien S
Set in the famous Hamidiyya souk, Bakdash still beats its homemade ice cream the traditional way. They love to see foreigners (especially in the present climate) and will even to ask you to come and help make the ice cream. Very popular place
9. Beit Sitti
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Dimashqi2020 - Southwest Gulf Coast, Florida
Make sure u visit on Thursday or Friday evenings. The have a nice singer and great huka (argeeleh) on those nights. I enjoy my time there every time. They can mprove on the food a little bit, but the ambiance on these evenings make up for everything.
10. Al sediq
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By ThomasfromDamascus - Damascus, Syria
If you want one of the best and most famous Shawurma Plates in all of Damascus you must try the Alsediq Restaurant!!
The Alsediq Restaurant is located in the Kanawat District just off of Khaled Ibn Al Walid Street near the Old City in Damascus. The entrance is down a small alleyway and is one of the most unimposing restaurant entrances you will ever see. The walk to this great restaurant along one of Damascus’s oldest Souks is great and a photographers hot spot!!
This specialized Shawurma restaurant is open only for Lunch as it caters to the many shop owners from the surrounding shops and stalls.
There are many tables within the restaurant and you are greeted warmly. The main dining area has many plants, both real and plastic, and in the center it has have a nice old Arabic Water Fountain. The open ceiling is covered with plastic so it is a bright with natural light all lunch long!
I suggest you get there early so you have a great table as all tables are either reserved or occupied soon after opening. They do have a separate dining room for the extra and late customers, but it is not as nice as the main dining room!!
Alsediq Restaurant is noted for its’ Great Shawurma Plates. This is still the only Shawurma Restaurant that heats the meat by Charcoal!! The plates come with a nice salad; mixed pickles; great Arabic Bread and a desert. In the winter months they serve a nice Lentil Soup in addition to the above. The price is still very, very reasonable and the service is very fast and polite.
This Damascus restaurant is well know, has a great reputation and is a must visit while enjoying a great Lunch!
