This past weekend (mid-June 2021) we got to stay at the St Raphael Resort, a 5-star resort in the upscale area of Limassol. We were invited to stay for three nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

Because we live in Limassol, at a 10-minute drive from the resort, we were able to combine a couple’s vacation with a family one. During the day, Maya was in the nursery, so that way we could enjoy some couple’s time, and in the afternoon she would join the vacation, and on Saturday she was with us all day.

A little about the resort

This is a very high-end resort that extends over a huge area and is located right next to the St Raphael Marina.

The resort has two bars, six restaurants, four pools (one for the little ones!), a kids’ club, a spa, a gym, a playground, lawns, and a stunning beach.

Our room

We got a room with a view to the sea. I think it was a room with one of the most beautiful views we’ve had. The view was to both the sea and the marina, as well as the lawns and the resort’s pool. The room itself was very large and we asked for a sofa bed for Maya (actually Mayush and I slept in the luxurious double bed and Roman slept on the sofa bed LOL).

The room also has an armchair with a table, dresser, closet (with a mini fridge, coffee stand, and a safe), bathroom with a bathtub and two really nice bathrobes, which is one of my favorite things in hotels 🙂

And it had a terrace with a stunning view.

The pools at the resort

The resort has several pools. One for the little ones, another indoors in the spa complex, and two other large pools, one of which also has a water slide for children. Next to the pools there are sun beds and in one of the pools there is a bar and in the other there is a restaurant open for lunch – Splash restaurant.

Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel is a very varied buffet and you can sit inside or outside on the terrace overlooking the pool.

For those who suffer from food allergies, next to each item you have detailed which allergens it contains. And there is also food that is suitable for vegans and at the cornflakes stand there is also a stand with soy milk, coconut, and almonds.

The restaurants

There are six restaurants in the resort and we ate at five of them (one of them for breakfast and the other by the pool). There is also a Meze restaurant that we did not eat at because it is only open on Wednesdays and Fridays and there was no place when we wanted to order. 🙁 I recommend ordering in advance because from what we saw it looks good and there isn’t  much seating.

Anyway, one of the two restaurants we loved the most was Seashells, a high-level vegan restaurant by the sea. We are not vegan but really like vegan food and this restaurant was very good.

Roman ordered pasta in a creamy sauce with pesto and I ordered a “noodles” salad and of course white wine as well. The dishes were excellent.

Cyprus does not have many vegan restaurants and certainly not at such a level, so it is good to know that there is such an option for vegans.

The other restaurant was the Sailor’s Rest Lounge Bar Restaurant, an upscale restaurant of which I saw really good reviews even before we got to the hotel. First of all, the design of the restaurant is amazing and elegant and the location by the sea is perfect for a date. The food was so delicious! We ordered fish carpaccio, salmon sashimi, black mussels, and two sushi rolls (I highly recommend the rolls we took: Red dragon and Sailors crispy). And of course we also ordered local white wine. In short, this restaurant is highly recommended.

Of course the resort also has room service, which is something we always like to do while on holidays and we ordered a pizza one day.

I think it is most profitable to stay in the resort on a half board or all-inclusive basis.

The bars

The resort has two fun bars. One is the pool bar where, what’s fun about it is that its seating is in the water, so it’s really nice to sit there and have a cocktail.

And the other bar is one that opens in the afternoon and unfortunately we did not get to drink there because we were with Maya. But we sat on the terrace of the bar because you can also sit there during the day and I went into the bar to photograph it just as it opened and it is really beautiful from the inside.

What to do with children at the resort

There are the pools, of course (one pool with really shallow water for the little ones), there is a water slide in one of the pools, a playground, kids’ club, beach with water sports like a pedal boat, jet ski, and more… And occasionally there are activities for kids like different games or dancing.

Serenity Spa

Because we were guests of the resort, they let me experience their flag massage at the Serenity Spa. The massage is called Serenity Holistic Journey and is a very relaxing massage that works on all the senses. The spa is of a very high standard, with a pampering waiting room and the treatment room as well. The massage bed was super comfortable and had an excellent sound system. The massage itself was very special, with a combination of warm oil, warm towels, a kind of back peeling (or something like that); in short, it was a relaxing and pampering experience.

The spa complex also has a gym, indoor pool, hairdresser (and sauna and jacuzzi that were out of service because of the coronavirus).

The area of ​​the resort

The resort is located in an area called Pyrgos. This is a luxury area in Limassol with some very high-class hotels and luxurious restaurants. There is a great beach and marina and also some simple and delicious restaurants. This is a great area to go on a vacation and those planning on exploring the area are advised to rent a car (there is free parking for resort guests).

In conclusion, our holiday at the St Raphael Resort was exactly what we needed. After almost two years during which we did not get to go on vacations, this resort came to us right on time :). The service there is excellent, and the atmosphere is really relaxed and suitable for both couples and families. We really enjoyed both being alone and with Maya and the truth is we did not want to leave.

When we moved to Zikhron Ya’akov, it was clear to me that I had a very important task, to check the restaurants and write a detailed post about the recommended restaurants in Zikhron Ya’akov for you.

We have not checked all the restaurants yet, but have already gone to enough so that I can write the post, and of course will also update it as I go. I must point out that there are not a lot of restaurants (compared to what we were used to in Tel Aviv) but it is not always the quantity that determines the place, but the quality, and here we’ve found some good quality and very tasty restaurants.

Tishbi Winery – Restaurant, meats, and bakery

On the border of Zikhron Ya’akov and Binyamina there is an amazing culinary empire called Tishbi Winery.

We went there two days in a row. Why? Because there is a lot to do in the complex and we did not get to try everything on Thursday, so we went back on Friday (and some things are only open on Fridays, anyway).

What will you find in the winery complex?

• Dairy restaurant with a special atmosphere under the vines, where you can have breakfast or enjoy a chef’s lunch (the menu has starters, fish dishes, pastas, pizzas, and salads)
• A bakery with a unique wood oven, there you will find sourdough breads, croissants, and brioche bread (the bakery is open all week)
• Wine and Chocolate Store – The store sells the famous Valrhona chocolate, as well as wines, brandies, olive oil, and jams that they produce. It is possible to take a winery tour that includes a visit with wine and chocolate tastings at a cost of 55 NIS per person. On Fridays there are tastings without a tour
• On Fridays there is a compound outside with a smokehouse and a hamburger place

We were invited to lunch and for starters we chose Carpaccio Dennis and a beer pastry with Camembert cheese, for the main course a sea bass fillet and Khachapuri. Each dish was insanely delicious!! We could not decide which one was the winning dish because everything was too delicious. For dessert we took a cheesecake with white chocolate and berries and coffee (highly recommended).

When we finished the meal we went on a tour of the winery in a group with three other people and there we learned about the winery itself, the wine production process, and then at the store we did a wine tasting with chocolate. It was the first time I got to be at a wine tasting with chocolate and the truth is it was a great combination.

On Friday we returned to the winery to enjoy the meats. We debated between a smoked meat sandwich and a hamburger, and in the end we ordered a rib sandwich, which was amazing.

I recommend you to go for a few hours and if possible then for two days ?

Address: Road 652 between Binyamina and Zikhron Ya’akov

The place is kosher

Baalachin – A home-style restaurant for Ethiopian food

We really like Ethiopian food and long before we moved to Zikhron, I remembered that a friend of mine told me we must come try Agra’s food. We had planned to come to try it but somehow in the end we didn’t make it, so as soon as we moved here, the first place we went to was Balachin, and ever since then we have wanted to go every Friday.

The meal is in the yard of Agra’s house and from the second we arrived we knew we would never want to leave because the yard is stunning, well maintained, and really fun to sit there. Agra was a lovely and kind hostess and brought us a blanket to put on the grass so baby Maya could play on it.

After the food arrived we got even more excited because it was excellent! We got injera (gluten-free Ethiopian bread) with a variety of dishes on it, as well as a cheese on the side that she made. The meal was very satisfying (we could not finish everything) and very healthy and tasty. At the end of the meal Agra served us Ethiopian coffee and special bread for dessert. Oh, and the cost of such a meal for a couple costs 70 NIS so it is also a great price.

It is possible to make a closed meal for a large group, so if you are looking for an idea for a special meal for a group of friends or family, this is a great option. The place is only open on Fridays (preferably call before)

Address: HaNarciss 7

For reservations and inquiries 050-8995638

Naama’s House in Zikhron Ya’akov

A friend of mine recommended me Naama’s House in Zikhron Ya’akov and of course I immediately wanted to check it out. Naama invited us over, so I went there with baby Maya. Roman had to work and could not join.

Naama’s House is a stunning house from 1882 with its original brick walls and ceiling. She hosts vegan / vegetarian private meals (of course even those who are not vegan or vegetarian like me, will love the food). The way the food was served was really nice and the taste even more.

I will not give you details of what we ate because Naama prepares different things each time, but I will say that each dish was insanely delicious and really special. The meal includes several entrees in the middle of the table, a main course for a person, and two desserts.

We tasted two vegan desserts that were so delicious we finished them straight away and the truth is that Mayush was primarily responsible for this ?

In short, for those who are looking for a vegan / vegetarian meal at an amazing house, Naama’s House is highly recommended!

Phone for reservations 058-7039171

Nachman BBQ and Batya sandwich

A week after we moved to Zikhon Ya’akov, Roman had a craving for smoked meat. It made me laugh because I did not understand where he would find a smoked meat restaurant now and suddenly after a few minutes of searching he found the Nachman BBQ restaurant, which is located just a few minutes’ walk from our house. The restaurant is located in the pedestrian zone. You can sit there and order food or take a takeaway sandwich of smoked meat from Batya Sandwich. We decided we wanted to take a sandwich and go for a picnic in the Yuyul garden next to the pedestrian area.

I did not have high expectations of the sandwich but as soon as we ate it we were amazed. We took the brisket meat which is non-fat and comes out excellent due to its slow cooking. The sandwich was in a soft, fresh bread with tahini and every bite was a delight. If you like meat then just go there and I’m sure you will fly for it too.

In addition, we ate at the restaurant twice and loved the meats they offer!! We ate brisket, chorizo, and asado and everything was amazing.

They also have hummus, vegetable patties, eggplant, salads, crispy potatoes, and more. So even those who do not eat meat will be able to find things to eat there. The restaurant has a lovely courtyard and it is possible to do events there as well.

Oh, and they also have really delicious desserts (there is a tasting plate of excellent little desserts). In short, definitely a great meal option for those who come to Zikhron Ya’akov

The restaurant is open Monday – Thursday
Phone for sandwiches 054-554-4760
Address: Hameyasdim 37

Adma Restaurant

We did not get to eat yet  at Adma Restaurant due to the second lockdown that has not yet ended, but we did get to get two very tasty picnic baskets from them and enjoy them in nature on a double date with my sister and husband.

There are three types of baskets in price ranges of 110 NIS -320 NIS. The classic basket is especially suitable when staying in a B&B in the area and the other two baskets are suitable for a more pampering picnic.

Followers of the blog will be given a special benefit of a free bottle of orange juice for a classic breakfast
And a free addition of salmon for a stylish breakfast

* Please note that you came through the blog traveling outside the box
*You can order the baskets throughout the week (also Friday-Saturday)
* There is also a vegan-option

Address: Ma’ale Harishonim 8

Uma Bar Restaurant – Sushi restaurant

I got many recommendations about Uma Bar Restaurant, so we had been waiting to see if it really is that good. And now I can tell you, “yes” 🙂 There is excellent service, a good atmosphere, and delicious food.

The truth is that all the dishes on the menu sounded good and I’m sure we’ll go there many more times to try something different each time. In the meanwhile we tried the Ceviche Dennis (highly recommended), Hanoi Salad (was very tasty but did not remind me of Vietnamese flavors), Ban Asado in slow cooking (yummy-yum), and Sushi Marciano (I like it again). There are all types of special rolls and we took the Marciano because that is what the waitress recommended and it was very tasty.

In the middle of the week there is a business menu of 15% on the entire menu so for those who live in the area it is worth coming on weekdays.

Address: Hanadiv 29
Unfortunately on Friday they are closed and on Saturday they only open in the evening.

Shuli’s hummus

On Friday noon the well-known Hobbit Bar in Zikhron has Shuli’s hummus. Fun atmosphere of the bar during the day with good music.

There are hummus, falafel, French fries, and salads. I took the Nofar salad (I had to choose it because it’s my name :)). It is a vegetable salad with egg and chickpeas, and Roman had a Masabacha and falafel. We both loved the dishes and agreed that they have delicious hummus that we would recommend for hummus lovers.

Address: Hameyasdim 44
Shuli 050-9011900

Tishbi Restaurant

Tishbi Winery has a restaurant in the pedestrian area and a restaurant in the winery itself (which I mentioned at the beginning of the post). We went to the restaurant in the pedestrian zone for breakfast. The double breakfast is very worthwhile because it includes both dishes, two glasses of wine, and two glasses of a hot beverage. We took the smoked salmon breakfast, which included bread, eggs (we had poached eggs), a cherry tomato salad, smoked salmon, and cream. We had two glasses of white wine, which was excellent, and finally took a cold coffee.

Closed on Saturday

Hameyasdim 16 – Tabun Restaurant

In the first lockdown of the corona we had gone to look for an apartment in Zikhron Ya’akov. It was forbidden to sit in the restaurants so we ordered takeaway from the Hameyasdim Restaurant 16.

I remember it well because we sat down to eat the burgers and fries in the parking lot next to it, which didn’t sound like something great, but baby Maya fell asleep for an hour and a half so we had a quiet picnic and we really enjoyed ourselves. It was good both because Maya was sleeping and also because the burgers were really good. The second time we requested a delivery from there to a hotel we were in and it was great.

If you fancy a burger, I highly recommend this restaurant, but they also have many more types of meats as well as vegan dishes.

Address: Hameyasdim 16

Zikhron falafel

It is considered the best falafel in Zikhron Ya’akov. I must confess and say I do not like falafels, but Roman does and he said they were really tasty.

Address: Hameyasdim  60
Closed on Saturday

Cafe Restaurant Mataim

I also recommended Mataim in a post about recommended cafes in Zikhron Ya’akov because it is also a café, but I also will mention it here because it is a great option for a restaurant in the middle of the week or on Friday for those looking for something in the open air, delicious, kosher, and dairy.

Address: Ramat Hanadiv Zikhron

In conclusion, in Zikhron Ya’akov you will find great restaurants and a good atmosphere. The vast majority are closed on Saturday so I recommend arriving in the middle of the week or Friday. We enjoy exploring the culinary side of Zikhon Ya’akov and the truth is that we plan on exploring the area as well because we have heard that in Binyamina and Pardes Hanna Karkur there are many more great options. Of course I will update on this in more blog posts.

About a month ago we moved to Zikhron Ya’akov and we have already managed to try a lot of cafes (this actually is not very surprising because I really like them).

Happily, we discovered that there are a lot of good options here and that was another thing that made me realize that we made the right choice in moving here. LOL

Also on trips abroad one of the things that always made me fall in love with a new destination was when we would find good cafes in the area, so it was important for me to live in a place like this. I was a bit disappointed to leave Tel Aviv because it has great cafes, but I was surprised to discover that there are also many great options here and we live close to the pedestrian zone, so most of them are at a really short distance from our house.

The best coffee – Nichaoch Cafe

When I found out that the best coffee shop is a minute from my house I got really excited and after tasting it I was thrilled. Nichaoch Cafe is a small and simple cafe (with seating inside and out) and as soon as you pass by it you will smell the excellent aroma of roasting coffee beans and you will want to enter it right away.

So, yes, in this cafe the coffee is roasted and there is also the option to buy the coffee to prepare it at home. Plus there are pastries, cakes, and cookies (I really like the little bourekas they make and the chocolate balls). There are also savory pastries and toasts.

A little tip: if you live in the area, there is an option to purchase a ticket for 10 coffees and then get 2 free, which is really worth it 🙂

Address: Hameyasdim 61
Kosher place, not open on Saturday

Feel like in nature – Mataim Cafe in Ramat Hanadiv

Now with the situation of the corona, most of us prefer to sit in spacious places and outside, so when we went to Mataim I realized that it is a great choice these days, and the truth is that it is a great option in general because it’s really beautiful there and they offer great food and coffee.

Mataim is located in Ramat Hanadiv (a 10-minute drive from the pedestrian zone). You will find a variety of breakfasts there, as well as food like pastas, sandwiches, and salads.

I went there with my sisters for breakfast and we ordered the vegan breakfast (the vegan omelet was delicious), a quinoa salad with cauliflower (highly recommended), and the Sabich focaccia, which was also excellent.

On another occasion I went there with Roman for coffee and dessert (we ordered the Pavlova, which was light and tasty, but I’m not really a fan of Pavlovas :)).

Outside there are lawns, so it has both a beautiful view and allows children to be entertained, for those who come with their family. There is also the option to sit there on mats on the grass and eat, for those who want to feel like they’re at a picnic.

Address: Ramat Hanadiv
Kosher place, not open on Saturday

Instagram design and great desserts – Cafe Tamar

Kosher cafe and patisserie – Cafe Tamar, which opened a few days ago in one of the alleys of the pedestrian zone, is completely on the list of recommended cafes in Zikhron Ya’akov. At first you will want to take photos and upload them to Instagram because its design at the entrance is beautiful and colorful, and after you order coffee and dessert there you will fall further in love with it.

We ordered a cold coffee and a plum cake that really surprised me. It was an apple crumble-style cake, only it was with plums and it was excellent. We also tried the macaroons, which were delicious. Highly recommended.

Address: Hameyasdim 52 Leitner Yard
Kosher, closed on Shabbat

Great view – cafe restaurant Hotel Maimon

I really like to drink coffee in front of a beautiful view (well, who doesn’t like that?), and when my friend sent me pictures from there, I just knew we had to hop in for coffee, and the truth is now I want to go back every day. Why? There is a beautiful terrace with stunning sea views. Another advantage is that the place is open on Friday evenings and Saturdays (now with the corona situation and the care that there will not be many people, you should call beforehand and find out if it is possible to reach the hotel if you are not a guest as well).

We ordered a cold coffee there, which was fine, on Saturdays there is no espresso machine so the coffee was instant coffee. We will try to go in the middle of the week and check how the coffee is from the machine. There is also breakfast at the buffet and we plan to go there soon to check out how it is.

Address: Zahal 4
Open on Saturday

Combined with art – Anecdota Cafe

In the heart of the pedestrian zone there is a charming art shop that is also open on Fridays and Saturdays, which is called Anecdota. It has a cute coffee stand with some chairs outside. There is great coffee and there are also chocolates in different flavors. We ordered cold takeaway coffee and chocolate toffee, which was delicious, and we went to sit on the bench opposite and felt like we were abroad. The store itself has really beautiful things (gifts, applied art, home decor items, Judaica, and jewelry) so it’s well worth going there for shopping and coffee 🙂

Address Hameyasdim 52
Open on Saturday

Feel like in Paris – Boulangerie Cafe

In a side alley of the pedestrian zone you will find the Boulangerie Cafe. There is a charming patio and a variety of cakes, cookies, pastries, and a Knafe dish made in a stone oven.

There is also food like lasagna, quiches, and pizzas.

Address: Hameyasdim 51
Kosher place, not open on Saturday

Tourist atmosphere – Gotcha Cafe

At the beginning of the sidewalk in an abroad-like atmosphere you will find the Gotcha Cafe. I think it is a great place to go to for coffee or a glass of wine when you come to Zikhron Ya’akov on the weekend.

A little tip: the prices for takeaway are half the price of the restaurant, so there is an option to go there for coffee and then take takeaway to go to the Tiyul Garden, which is a two-minute walk away, and have a picnic on the grass 🙂 I really liked their salmon salad.

Address: Hameyasdim 59
Open on Saturday

As you can see, there is a broad selection of great cafes in Zikhron Ya’akov and I am sure that in time I will discover even more and will be able to update this post 🙂

Many times on Saturday we want to sit in a nice and special place to enjoy delicious food and good coffee. We have several cafes that are open on Saturdays near our house in Zikhron Ya’akov, but we decided that from time to time we would go and explore other areas close by.

We discovered some places we really liked and I decided to share them with you because I believe everyone is looking for good places to eat and drink on Saturday. Of course I will update this post every time I discover a new worthwhile place, but in the meantime here are the cafes we’ve loved.

Cafe Bagolf in Caesarea

Have you ever dreamed of being rich and having a subscription to a golf club and sitting down to drink coffee there? Lol. Well, maybe not everyone has dreamed of it, but it seems cool to me. I have never been to a golf course (only in mini golf, which is a completely different world :)). In short, when I googled a place that is open on Saturday not far from us, I found Cafe Bagolf, a cafe located inside the golf course in Caesarea, so of course I wanted to try it.

We went there without booking a place and discovered it was a mistake because the place was blown up. Luckily there was a place close to the terrace so we could see the view from inside, but the whole situation means it is very important to book a spot in advance and if it’s not too hot, then I highly recommend to request a place on the terrace.

Roman had eaten before we went there and was upset because there was a rich variety of breakfasts that sounded really good. He ordered coffee and an almond croissant and I ordered the worker’s breakfast, which included a bagel, herring, market vegetables, Labaneh with eggplant, an egg, and a hot or cold drink.

The meal was very tasty and we loved the location, so we’ll surely be going back again in the future.

Zipora Cafe Agala – in Moshav Aviel

Sometimes I really want to drink coffee in nature, in a relaxed place, and do nothing, and that is exactly what Zipora Coffee is for. It’s a very cool cafe because it is actually a coffee cart in front of Aviel pond, with a lovely view.

There is shaded seating and they serve not just coffee, but also really tasty sandwiches, I ate a sandwich with beets and cheese, which was excellent, and they have some delicious cookies. It is simply mandatory to take the peanut butter cookie, which is addictive, so see you have been warned.

Many get there on the way because there are hiking and biking trails in the area, but we went there specifically (a 15-minute drive from home) and just sat there and enjoyed the chill atmosphere that matched exactly with what I was looking for.

Schwartzman Dairy in Bat Shlomo

Let’s start with the fact that Bat Shlomo is a charming moshav with a stunning view and bike paths (which we have not been able to try yet, but it will happen) and it also has the Schwartzman Dairy.

A dairy that is open all days of the week, that has a variety of dishes, and in fact you can also enjoy delicious food, wine, and desserts. We’ve visited several times and once we bought takeaway cheeses and took them to a B&B. We really liked their laffa (taboon bread) stuffed with old-fashioned goat cheeses.

They also have an excellent knafeh dessert, great wine, full meals of cheeses with vegetables, olives, and more that can suit a couple and family. The seating is outside, the atmosphere in the place is very pleasant, and when we were there on Saturday, there was a performer playing the violin.

I like to live in flat areas because in winter it is less cold and there are no strong winds. Plus, it’s easier to explore the place with Maya’s stroller without finding yourself in the middle of a tough climb up a mountain. But Zikhron Ya’akov is unusual in my eyes, because it is so beautiful here that I decided that despite its location on a mountain, I want to live in it (maybe in the winter I will regret this decision –lol-, but in the meantime I feel that way).

The fact that Zikhron is on the mountain is a big advantage in terms of the landscapes it has and what I liked to discover is that there are lots of stunning viewpoints. I am constantly discovering new observation points, so I will probably update the post many more times here, but in the meantime I have collected some impressive viewpoints for you.

My recommendation is to take a takeaway coffee or a fruit smoothie, a good book or a camera, a cell phone with headphones, or just go there with nothing and sit on a bench to enjoy the view ?

A viewpoint on Tzahal Street – Gan Rivka and Dov Litner

I discovered this place after we returned on foot from the Beit Maimon Hotel. The hotel is right next to this garden and the view from there is one of the most beautiful in my opinion. It is a view of the sea, combined with flowers and palm trees. To the right of the garden is an area of ​​stunning sunflowers. And it’s also worth walking around Tzahal Street because it also has very beautiful houses.

Arrival instructions

A viewpoint from Kibbutz Maayan Zvi – Mitzpe Sagi

Mitzpe Sagi, where the navigator Sagi Reches from Kibbutz Maayan Zvi and the pilot Yair Rachmilevitch, who fell in a plane crash, are commemorated. I was recommended this viewpoint by a follower from Instagram.

Arriving at the observation point – park the car by the pool and on the right you will see a checkpoint with a sign for the observatory. There is a walk of a few minutes in a natural forest and then you reach a bench from which the beautiful view is seen. We decided to have a little picnic there towards sunset and brought cherries, cheeses, and coffee with us.

Directions to the pool.

Observation points Mitzpe Yehuda Zimroni

This is an observation point located in front of the Eden Inn Hotel. I got to see it many times from the car so one day I decided to stop there and was really excited about it. There are a few benches and the place is clean and well maintained (unfortunately there are some viewpoints which are dirty, especially because of cigarette butts). There is a beautiful view of the fields and mountains.

Arrival instructions

An observation point near the monument to Yaakov Marvitsa

I discovered this place on the way to a meal at Naama’s house . Turning from Wine Street to Hameginim Street will suddenly reveal this stunning view that in a moment makes you feel like you are abroad. There is one bench there but it is enough.

Arrival instructions

Jabotinsky Street viewpoint

Sometimes in the afternoon Roman and I go out to get some fresh air with Maya in the cart. One of the places we like to go to is Jabotinsky Street. Both because it is relatively close to our house and because there is a really beautiful view from there, as well as an observation point that is fun to sit in.

Arrival instructions

An observation point in Givat Eden

We have been to Givat Eden several times already because there is Agra who cooks Ethiopian food in the yard of the house every Friday. Any way in the direction of Givat Eden, there is Ben Gurion Boulevard. Along the entire road there is a sidewalk with benches overlooking the sea and the fishing pools. I recommend getting there to do a challenging walk uphill (or downhill) and on the way stopping for a scenic break ?

Arrival instructions

In conclusion, in Zikhron Ya’akov there are many monuments and viewpoints with benches that allow you to enjoy the views. Of course I will continue to update the post with more beautiful viewpoints as I discover them.

Half a year after we started the blog we started traveling every month to a different destination around the world (we have been following this habit for almost three years), but recently I’ve become 32 weeks pregnant and it was time to take time off from going abroad and basically take a break from flying for a time. I hope with the baby we can go back and fly and travel a lot, but for now we have decided that this break is good too and it will allow us to travel more in our country Israel.

This time we decided to take a trip to Acre, which is one of my favorite cities in the country. I grew up in Kiryat Bialik (10 minutes drive from Acre) and so I visited Acre a lot, but the truth was that I always did the same things and didn’t really research it.

So, before we went there this time, I did some preliminary research on what to do and was honestly surprised by how many things to do there are in the old town. We were there for two days and it left us with a taste of more.

We took the trip in the beginning of October 2019.

Trip duration: Two days.

Tips before traveling to Acre

SIM card

I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.

Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.

The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.

Car rental in Acre

We came to Acre by car and parked for free near the lighthouse. I think this is the most convenient and fun way to travel. Car prices are low and the roads are easy to drive.

You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.

Attractions in Acre

You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and Viator.

Where to stay in Acre

We slept at the Zidan Sari suite. Scroll down to read more about our stay there. You can search for places to stay in Acre via Booking.

A bit about Acre (Akko)

The ancient city of Acre lies on the Mediterranean Sea in northern Israel (Between the Krayot and Naharia), it’s a magical mix of tiled streets which have seen Byzantine, crusader, Muslim and Ottoman rulers. It has a vibrant Arabic market; Amazing boutique hotels; renowned hummus restaurants and even better fish restaurants.

Where to stay when visiting Acre

It’s the first time we spent the night in Acre and it was truly an incredible experience. I found us the Zidan Sarai suite which I booked through AirBnB. The suite itself is in the alleys of the old town, giving a homey and local feeling. From outside there’s nothing to let on the beauty of the suite, but upon entering it the first word is simply “wow!!!”.

I’ll start from the beginning and explain about the suite. It belongs to the Zidan family, run by the Arabesque hotel. The advantage to that is that the hotel’s reception allows you to check in and leave your bags there if you arrive early and want to go out into the city (You can do the same thing upon check-out). You can also eat at the hotel for another 100 shekels for a couple. I personally recommend the breakfast. The price is definitely worth what you’re getting (Salads served to your table, breads, eggs per order, eggplant in Tahini, cheeses and orange juice).

Additionally, the hotel has a rooftop balcony you can go up to with some coffee and baklawas (Also included in the breakfast) and enjoy the sea view. You can also stay at the Arabesque hotel (We didn’t get to see the rooms there, but I’ve seen its great reviews).

The Zidan Sarai suite

Anyhow, after walking around town, Moein came to take us to the suite. The suite is huge! About 80 square meters, belonging to a family. It was used as a carpentry by the family before they decided to set up a guest suite there. They built it in 4 years, with attention put into every detail. There’s a kitchen, living room, Turkish Hamam (Unique experience of this suite), bedroom and huge shower with two showerheads (So as a couple, each of you can have his own showerhead :))

Where to eat in Acre? Restaurant recommendations

Uri Buri

This is one of the most recommended and well-known restaurants in town and for good reason. We ate there a few years ago and remembered the meal as very good, so we decided to come back. The restaurant is located across from the sea and it’s recommended to book there in advance. We went during dinner.

There’s a varied menu of fish and seafood, as well as vegan and vegetarian options. You can go for a tastings menu, which is what we went with. The concept of the tastings menu is that you tell the waitress if you have any food allergies or preferences (I let her know I was pregnant) and the chef accommodates you accordingly. Different dishes keep coming out without you knowing what they are, and as soon as you’re full – you ask them to stop sending them out.

We were there for about three hours. The meal was amazing, and despite us being full by the end- we still wanted to try more. For guests of the arabesque hotel and the suite there’s a 10% discount there, which is nice.
The meal cost us around 500 shekels including a glass of wine, tea, dessert and a tip. Map

Romin restaurant

An Arabic restaurant in the middle of the market. You’ll find fish, meats, seafood, salads and hummus there. Roman had two lamb skewers with chips and many salads (For 95 shekels) and I had a vegetable and chickpea salad. Service was good and the salads were tasty. Roman said the skewers were really good.
In conclusion, a great option for those who want to have a meal with different salads and meat or fish.

Sambousek and pita with Zaatar stand

This stand is also in the market and you’ll find different sambousek there made on the spot, zaatar pita, Druze pita and whole wheat pita. The sambousek with Bulgarian cheese and zaatar was amazing (15 shekels). It was so good we decided to take a few home, we also bought whole wheat pitas which were really great.

Hummus places – Sa’id and Sohilla

This time we didn’t get to eat at any hummus restaurants, as its not recommended during pregnancy, but there are two places you should know. The famous Sa’id hummus (Map) is in the heart of the market and there’s always a line, and Sohilla hummus (Map) is on the street before the entrance to the market, and to be frank I’ve been having hummus there since I was young and I think it’s really successful.

Things to do in Acre (Akko)

I was surprised to discover how many things you can do in the old town. We purchased a combined ticket from the Arabesque hotel for 60 shekels per person (Cheaper than over the counter), which includes entrance into all the museums and the templar’s cave, so if you’re planning on visiting them it’s highly recommended. The old town is really small (500 square meters), so you can reach everything by a short walk and get a lot done in one day. Opening hours for all the attractions in ancient Acre.

Acre’s central market

This is one of the city’s main attractions and I personally love this market. You can find spices, souvenirs, coffee, clothes, desserts, restaurants, natural juice stalls and many smells of just about everything. While the fish smell isn’t the best thing in the world (In my opinion at least :)) but it’s part of the experience and you can find many treasures there, like natural olive oil soap, great olives, quality olive oil and more. The market is open every day, with opening hours changing during the holidays.

Turkish bazaar

Built during the 18th century and abandoned in 1948 when the old town was conquered by the IDF. The market was clothed for many years, and recently the municipality decided to re-open it after restoration. Today you can find art galleries, cafés and restaurants there. Many young chefs opened their restaurants there and beyond that, the place itself is beautiful and photography fans will surely enjoy the market – as it’s very photogenic.

The market is open every day from morning till afternoon.

Acre port

When I was a kid, I loved to jump between the rocks in the port itself and to watch the fishermen. There’s also the possibility to take a cruise on a speedboat or a ship (We didn’t do it this time, but I remember enjoying it in the past).

Around the port, many cafés, galleries and restaurants opened over the years and there’s a beautiful view of the sea.

Watching the swallows at sunset from the hotel rooftop

One of our favorite things on this trip was the swallow experience at night. I don’t know why, but towards sunset (When we were there it was around six twenty), suddenly many swallows appear, flying in the sky and cats on the rooftops try to catch them (And sometimes even succeed). Moein recommended we go up to the hotel balcony to watch this phenomenon and it was a great recommendation. We made ourselves coffee at the hotel entrance and went up to the balcony. Even if you’re not guests of the hotel and you ask to go up, they’ll likely agree as they are really nice there.

The Templars’ Tunnel

The Templars’ Tunnel is an underground tunnel under the Acre streets. The height of the tunnel is about two meters and at some points even less than a meter and a half. Let’s say that for Roman, who’s almost 2 meters tall, it’s a challenge – and with the pregnancy, crouching wasn’t the simplest for me. So, keep that in mind, but it’s definitely a nice experience and the section with the low ceiling doesn’t last long. It’s open all day long.

Roaming the alleyways

The old town is filled with alleys and we enjoyed just walking them with no special purpose. We discovered something new every time, a unique shop or a pretty photography spot. The people there are really nice and helpful and if you get a bit lost, you can always open google maps and save a marker such as your hotel.

Unique shops

Another thing we discovered while wandering in Acre’s alleys are special shops, like 192ART (Map), a handmade item shop by Galilee women. There are dishes, decorations and more, and everything is really colorful and pretty. If you’re looking for a nice gift for someone you love or just something for yourselves, this is a great place to visit.
By this shop you’ll find a jewelry shop from old coins, Meran Shavit. You have to enter this one, as it’s amazing how creative people can be. They made ring like jewelry from old coins and the prices aren’t too high either.

Chipping and stone sculpting workshops in Almadrasa

During our wandering in the Old City, we came across a structure with a sign for stonework and sculpting workshops on it. We decided to go inside and found an impressive workshop with lots of statues of stone and a lovely guy named Amar who is a craftsman and the owner. He explained to us a little about what he does and said he also gives private lessons to groups that book in advance.

The cost of an hour-and-a-half workshop is about NIS 120 per person, working with marble. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do the workshop, but it looked really nice and I’m sure we will try it in the future. Even if you don’t plan on taking the workshop, you should check out his art as it’s really beautiful.

Museums in old Acre

Treasures in the walls museum

This museum is in the heart of the eastern wall of ancient Acre. Its purpose is to conserve the historic legacy of the city and recreate authentic visages from the past. What I liked about this museum is the exhibit of craftsmen from the city’s past. You can see how the shops and their owners looking, such as the shoemaker, the dentist and more… You can also see professions that no longer exist such as hatters and leatherworker. It’s worth a visit.

Turkish Hamam museum – Hamam Al Basha

The Hamam Al Basha museum is a combination of visual, static and dynamic elements and a soundtrack that combines the Hamam vibe into Acre’s stories. About every quarter hour begins a show which allows you to learn about the period when the Hamam was built, who built it and to what end. The Hamam is built from several rooms, each with its own unique story.

It’s an experience fit for children and adults alike and we enjoyed it a lot.
At the entrance you get an electronic player for the duration of the visit. You can choose between Hebrew, English, Arabic, French, Russia, German, Spanish and Italian.

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The knights’ kingdom

An electronic player can be obtained at the entrance to the Knights Museum as well (this is included in the entry price and it is highly recommended to take it, as it is an important part of the museum experience). The place is suitable for both adults and children and includes stories and explanations.

The player is automatic and plays the appropriate part based on the location you are in, so you do not need to touch it or type numbers like some museums. You just walk through the huge fortress and every time the story of where you are is played.

A bit about the museum, beneath the fortress building built by the Ottoman ruler are the remains of a Crusader Hospitaller Citadel. Archaeologists have exposed the Crusader fortress over the decades.

The halls that were unearthed underground are also called the Knights’ Halls and thus allow a glimpse into the lives of the Crusader knights who lived here centuries ago.

By the way, outside the old town are the Bahai gardens which I’ve visited in the past, however we didn’t get around to them on this trip.

In conclusion, Acre is one of Israel’s unique cities. It has a fascinating history, magical alleyways, local markets, great restaurants and it’s on the shoreline. I recommend visiting it for at least a day trip, and I possible then overnight, since that allows for a different experience and there are many worthwhile boutique hotels and suites there.

It’s been a long time since we’ve vacationed in a Zimmer in Israel. Honestly, ever since we started flying aboard every month (Three years ago), we didn’t have much time left for vacations in Israel. My advanced pregnancy forced me to stop flying, but on the other hand it made me come back to traveling in our country, which is luckily stunning. This time, we decided to go to Moshav Amirim in Galilee for the weekend. I was debating where we should go, but as soon as I came across this Zimmer I felt it was exactly the place for a beautiful and relaxed weekend.

In short about our weekend in Amirim, Vacation in North Israel

• We stated in Or Bereshit zimmer – You can book it through Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb (search for other accommodations )
• We went during the last week of October, 2019
• We came by car
• Moshav Amirim is a vegetarian moshav
• There’s plenty to do around the moshav (Good for both those looking for a restful weekend and those interested in nature and trekking)

Amirim Moshav, a vegetarian moshav in northern Israel

Before I tell you about the Zimmer itself, I’ll start with moshav of Amirim. This is the first time I’ve ever been to it, but I’ve heard a lot about it (especially from my vegan friends) and now I understand why. It’s hard to believe, but Amirim was founded in 1958 from an ideology for a healthier, more environmental place (in my opinion the founders were pioneers in their approach). The entire moshav is based on vegetarianism and all crops are organic (because the community decided not to spray them with any chemicals).

The moshav has excellent vegetarian restaurants and a great selection of high quality Zimmers. Some of the Zimmer owners have other businesses, such as carpentry and glasswork workshops, spas and more.
We really enjoyed the moshav’s atmosphere and felt it was just the calm and peaceful vacation we had needed.

Where did we stay in Amirim? Or Bereshit Zimmer

The zimmer we went to is Or Bereshit, a stunning zimmer with a view of Galilee.

What I liked about it especially is that it’s got a heated private pool, year-round (About 29 degrees Celsius), so it was nice even late into October. Additionally, the zimmer itself is beautiful. The zimmer is made of wood, with a round jacuzzi inside and a twin bed, kitchen with appliances, small living room and a bathroom. The zimmer was exceptionally clean and with great attention to detail, in both design and refreshments. We had a bottle of wine, chocolates, fruit, milk in the fridge and a tea extract. There’s also an espresso machine, a small fridge and a microwave.

The zimmer had an extra room with two single beds (So it can easily accommodate families, as well). The owners, Shalom and Debbie, were very lovely. They recommended restaurants to us and Shalom even helped us repair an issue with our car on Saturday night.

The stay doesn’t include breakfast, but you can get an excellent one delivered to you for an extra 120 shekels per couple (Let Shalom know at what time you’d like to have it a day in advance).

Where to eat at the moshav Amirim?

Yishay’s place

A must visit restaurant for hummus and shakshuka lovers (directions) . The only downside to it is that it’s closed from Friday afternoon until Sunday. Otherwise, we’d go more than once!
It has got a green view and fresh air. The owner was very nice and made everything on the spot. We ordered shakshuka and hummus with sprouted legumes and an Israeli salad with falafel. Everything was delicious and filling, but that didn’t stop us from getting the chocolate souffle with coconut and cream cheese. It’s called “Heaven” and it’s true to its name. Chocolate lovers mustn’t miss this dessert.

El Galil restaurant

The El Galil restaurant is an Arabic vegan restaurant (directions) with a structured menu including spreads as a starter (Around eight of them, if I recall). Each one was better than the last (There were white beans, hummus, pepper spreads and more), alongside delicious buns. We didn’t want to fill up on the spreads but we couldn’t stop eating them.

Next, we were served a small root vegetable and lentils soup, then four different dishes were brought out tableside: Mujadara, Siniya, an eggplant and tomato dish and Maqluba with a vegetable salad. Everything was vegan and extremely delicious. Let’s say you mostly likely won’t be able to finish everything, it’s a very filling meal. After the meal we got tea and two small baklavas.

Helen’s café

Upon first arrival, we felt like having a coffee, and found Helen’s café (directions). The place belongs to a lovely woman, with some seating outside. There’s a food menu, but we mostly wanted coffee, though we were tempted to have some of the apple pie that she said had just come out of the oven. The pie was excellent, served with vanilla ice-cream. This is definitely a great place for coffee and cake.

What is there to do in Amirim Moshav?

There are many things to do in Amirim, we didn’t get to do many of the attractions, but we’ll surely try them out next time. You can take a carpentry or glass working class there (Debbie, our Zimmer owner, owns the workshop as well). You can get a spa treatment or book one at your zimmer. You can do pretty much any pampering activity you want at the moshav (Including manicures and pedicures).

In the summer and over the holidays, every Friday there are different concerts at the open amphitheater.

Attractions near Moshav Amirim

Amirim is in an excellent location. It’s near Tzfat, Rosh Pina, Carmiel, Ma’alot and many other settlements in the area. It’s close to different treks, such as Tzalmon, Parud and Amud rivers.

A great attraction nearby is the Hula nature reserve (directions). We were at the lake in the past and rented a bike there, using them to travel, which was really nice. It’s also possible to trek there or rent a vehicle for a short trip to the lake.
You can also visit Monfort fort and lake in Ma’alot.
Within 40 minutes you can even reach Acre or the Kineret on the other side.
In the summer you can visit Jordan and go Kayaking.
In short, there are always more attractions and things to do in the area.

Shirat Roim – House Of Cheese, Yeshuv Lotem

A 20-minute drive from Amirim is Lotem. In it can be found a cheeses dairy farm, where you can buy worldwide award-winning cheeses and on Friday there is also a brunch served there. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can simply arrive, while during midweek you have to make a reservation in advance. Beyond the cheeses there is also olive oil, various spreads, honey and jams for sale. A little tip: After buying cheeses and olive oil, we ordered a home-made cold cider and went out for a drink outside in the lovely view.

Lotem winery

Opposite the dairy farm is the Lotem winery, which is a perfect place for wine and food in front of a great view.

In the winery you can go on a tour or wine tastings, or you could just sit on the terrace and order excellent wine and food. Roman had an excellent dish of meat there. He also ordered a slice of butcher’s cut, which was successful and baked sweet potato and Greek salad. In my opinion, the sweet potato was really delicious. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to taste the wine but Roman ordered two glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon Solo (red wine) so he was probably pleased with it.

It is advisable to book in advance, but the balcony cannot be reserved. So, if you want to sit outside, we recommend getting there around opening hours (around 11 am) especially if you are a group of several people.

A stop on the way to Amirim – Dalit El Carmel

We drove to Amirim from Tel Aviv and decided to stop on the way at Dalit El Carmel. Up the road to the local council, there are several places selling Druze pita and other Arabic delicacies. We decided to stop at the first opportunity and It was excellent. We had Druze pita, stuffed vine leaves and grilled eggplant. If you have the time, it’s of course recommended to go onto Dalit El Carmel itself and travel the area a bit (There are many interesting shops there) and you can have some Knafeh there.

Shopping in the Galilee – Yarka area

On the way back from Amirim we decided to stop at Yarka, a Druze settlement in west Galilee (A half hour drive from Amirim), there’s a huge shopping center there for adults, as well as baby things. There’s also a large trampoline park and more attractions.

In conclusion, Moshav Amirim is an excellent spot for a calm vacation, especially the Zimmer we visited. Due to my advanced pregnancy, we came there to eat and rest, and not so much for the walking trails and attractions, but the moshav area is filled with things to do, and anyone can find the attractions befitting his style there.

We always love discovering new destinations, and honestly, we’ve always been interested in traveling to the Baltic countries. So when we received an invitation from the Vilnius Tourism Office in Lithuania to visit, we felt it was a great opportunity to explore a new city.

In this post, you’ll find the itinerary we followed during our four days in Vilnius, and you can also read a detailed post about all the recommended things to do in Vilnius.

About Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital city of Lithuania. It feels more like a small town because everything is green, there’s hardly any car traffic, it’s very peaceful, and you can walk everywhere. The city is full of impressive architecture, interesting history, parks, museums, and markets, and there is a lot to see and do.

It’s also a surprisingly great culinary destination. We ate at some of the best restaurants we’ve ever been to worldwide (there’s a detailed post about all the restaurants we tried in Vilnius), and not only that—if you visit in summer, like we did, you can enjoy almost endless daylight. Sunset was at 10:40 PM and sunrise at 5 AM! We found ourselves leaving a restaurant at 10 PM and still having daylight—it was a real pleasure. Oh, and taxis there are super cheap; our rides in the city cost between €1.5 and €3.

In short, Vilnius turned out to be an amazing city that we’d love to visit again. Next time, we plan to rent a car and explore all of Lithuania (I also visited Kaunas in October, about an hour away, and really enjoyed it).

Where to stay in Vilnius?

We stayed at Hotel Vilnia . It’s a new four-star hotel in a central but quiet location. We really liked the hotel and our room was excellent—luxurious, spacious, with a balcony overlooking a park. For more details on our experience at the hotel, see here.

How to get around in Vilnius

We mostly walked around the city because it’s very pleasant and everything is close by. When we got tired, we took taxis since they are very cheap. We used the Yango app for taxis and also found a local app called ETaksi, but we preferred Yango and were very satisfied.

We also took the Hop-on Hop-off bus twice, which is a great way to hear about the city’s history via audio and visit places we might not otherwise see. Thanks to the bus, we discovered Belmontas, a beautiful natural area with waterfalls, bridges, and walking/biking trails about 10 minutes from the city. There is also a public bus system for getting around.

SIM card in Vilnius

SIM cards are very cheap and easy to find. I recommend buying a local SIM card instead of a data package. We bought a SIM card for €4 with 4 GB of data at a convenience store in the city center. If you see a Narvesen convenience store, you can find SIM cards there.

Vilnius City Card

The city has many museums and attractions, and if you plan to do a lot, it’s worth buying the Vilnius City Card for 1, 2, or 3 days. This card gives you discounts and free entry to many places. For example, the gondola ride cost us €1 instead of €8, and the Hop-on Hop-off bus was free for two routes; adding a third route costs €3. It’s definitely worth it for anyone who wants to explore the city extensively. There is also an option for a card including free public transport.

Detailed itinerary in Vilnius

Day 1: City tour, Georgian restaurant, city stroll, chef’s restaurant

We started the day with breakfast at Hotel Vilnia.

City tour
We went on a city tour—the first time we did a tour in Hebrew abroad. Usually, we join free tours based on tips, but this time we did a private 2-hour tour with a guide named Dani. If you want a Hebrew tour, you can book a private tour through Dani’s company Jerulita. For group tours, there are free tour companies in the city like FreeTour.

Lunch at a Georgian restaurant
After the tour, we asked Dani where to eat and he recommended Georgian House.

City stroll
After lunch, we wandered around the city on foot. It was very pleasant to just walk around aimlessly.

Orange juice
We went back to the hotel to rest and found a fresh orange juice stand nearby. We bought juice and enjoyed it on the balcony with ice from the hotel restaurant.

Dinner at a chef’s restaurant
During our trip, we visited two amazing chef restaurants: Amandus and Sweet Root. Both offered fantastic tasting menus. for a glass with ice and enjoyed our orange juice on our room’s balcony.

Day 2: Bike ride in the park, gondola ride, Museum of Illusions, street food market

We started the day with breakfast at the hotel.

Bike ride in the park
We rented bikes from the hotel for €3 per hour and biked in Bernardine Park across from the hotel.

Gondola ride
We checked the Vilnius City Card perks and saw a 50-minute gondola ride included. We bought cherries at a supermarket on the way and headed to the gondola departure point.

Lunch – Portuguese restaurant with Indian touches
Before the trip, I read some recommendations about a restaurant called Gaspars, and we decided to try it. It turned out to be one of the best restaurants of the trip. Seafood lovers will enjoy it, and even those who don’t love seafood will find great dishes.

Museum of Illusions
I researched the city and found many recommendations for the Museum of Illusions.

Coffee break
We continued exploring the city and stopped at a café called Post Scriptum for iced coffee. No special recommendation for the coffee itself, but it was nice to sit outside and relax.

Street food market
After a rest at the hotel, we went to the Open Kitchen street food market, which only operates Fridays and Saturdays, so don’t miss it if you’re in Vilnius on those days.

Day 3: Bus tour, Belmontas hike, grill restaurant, another bus tour, local restaurant

We started the day with breakfast at the hotel.

Hop-on Hop-off bus tour
With the Vilnius City Card, we could take a free bus tour. We chose the green route to Belmontas because I was a bit tired (traveling while pregnant!). The bus ride was about 30 minutes with audio guides about the sights.

Belmontas area
When we arrived at Belmontas, we decided to get off and explore rather than stay on the bus. The area is beautiful, with waterfalls, bridges, and walking/biking trails. We took photos and explored.

Red route Hop-on Hop-off bus tour
After lunch, we took a taxi (about €4) back to the hotel, rested, and then took the red route on the bus.

Dinner at a local restaurant
We went to Leiciai, a medieval-themed restaurant with a live band playing Lithuanian music. Great atmosphere. The tasting menu costs €25 per person—come hungry.

Day 4: Fairytale café, Trakai city tour including castle tour and pedal boat ride

Fairytale café
We skipped hotel breakfast to visit Augustas ir Barbora café, recommended on Instagram. Perfect for photos and delicious food.

Trakai city tour
We took a bus tour to Trakai. There are two tour options: an audio tour without castle entry (€20) and a guided tour including the castle (€35), with a Vilnius City Card discount. We chose the guided tour, which included a 30-minute bus ride, a one-hour castle tour, and free time in town. We quickly realized one hour was not enough and decided to return on our own instead of with the group.

Lunch
We ate at Bona restaurant by the lake. We ordered Kibinai, a local stuffed pastry—I had cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, Roman had mussels. We enjoyed the food and lake view.

Pedal boat ride
After lunch, we rented a pedal boat for an hour (€10). It was a lot of fun.

Later in the afternoon, we wanted to return to the hotel by taxi rather than bus but couldn’t find available taxis on the apps. We ended up joining an Italian seniors’ organized tour back.

Dinner at a Chinese restaurant
We were tired after the hot day in Trakai and ate at a Chinese restaurant close to the hotel called Mian. I had noodles, Roman had soup, and we were both happy.

This trip was a huge pleasure! We discovered a peaceful and beautiful city with lots to do. Before the trip, some asked if five nights would be too much, but honestly, it felt like we didn’t have enough time for everything.

I hope my post helped you. If so, I would love for you to comment here, and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask them in the comments or message me on the blog’s social media: Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more information about Lithuania? I have more posts about Lithuania on my blog.

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In June 2019 we traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania. We were invited by the Vilnius office of tourism for a five-day tour of the city and were thrilled, as Lithuania has recently become a popular destination for Israelis, due to low-cost flights by WizzAir.

Before we arrived in Vilnius, we received our invitation to Hotel Vilnia. When I read the reviews about it and viewed the pictures, I was really excited. The reviews were excellent and the hotel looked really charming. When we arrived at the hotel, it turned out that there was a reason for such good reviews, because this was indeed an excellent option for sleeping in Vilna.

About Hotel Vinlia

A new four-star hotel which is already a credit in its favor because everything there is clean, modern and great looking. The hotel was built in a 19th-century building and is really beautiful on the outside. The hotel also has a bar restaurant and guests receive a 10% discount there. Bicycles can be rented from the hotel at a cost of EUR 3 per hour. There are also various rooms and a breakfast restaurant. There is also room service that operates according to the restaurant’s working hours.

Rooms at the hotel

We received the upgraded room with a balcony facing the park. I strongly recommend taking this room type because the difference in prices compared to the classic room is minute, and the room was really pampering. Let’s start with the room being clean and spacious. There is an armchair, a dresser with a coffee and tea set and glasses. There is a mini bar and a chair for those who want to work, and above there is a TV hanging on the wall. The shower room had a bath and two sinks (I love bathrooms with two sinks, it always gives me a luxurious feeling) and a toilet.

There is a super comfortable bed (you have been warned that it will be hard for you to get out of it in the morning) and on the bed are bathrobes and spa shoes (among my favorite hotel items). And of course, the crowning glory was the wonderful terrace that was really fun to sit in. It had a green view and although the road that passes there is a main road, there is almost no traffic, so the atmosphere still felt quiet and soothing there. In general, there is almost no traffic in Vilnius, and this makes it a very peaceful city. By the way the sunset from the balcony was amazing and the fun part was that it was at 22:40 at night!!

The location of the hotel

One of the good things about the hotel is its location. It is centrally located, very quiet and comfortable.

Where is it located? It is in the old town opposite Bernardine Park and this means you can cross the road and find yourself in a beautiful park. We rented bicycles from the hotel and rode around the park with them. At the entrance to the park there is also a stand of freshly squeezed orange juice and an ice cream parlor, and these were great options on the hot days of the summer. A few minutes’ walk from the hotel there are some good restaurants like a vegan bistro and a great Chinese restaurant. If you continue walking for another two minutes, you can reach the square of the central cathedral and a central boulevard where you can find restaurants, cafes, bars and shops.

If you go to the other side of the hotel then you will reach the famous church in the city that looks like a castle. St. Anne’s Church

And if you walk a little further, you will reach the second area of ​​the old city that crosses the river Vilnia and there you will find restaurants, bars and cafes as well.

You can essentially reach anywhere by foot from the hotel, but If you are tired of walking, there are bus stops right next to the hotel and you can also book a taxi because the taxis in Vilna are super cheap (average cost in the city between 1.5 euros and three euros).

Breakfast

Our stay at the hotel included breakfast, which is a great start by itself. The meal is a buffet, you’ll find vegetables, fruits, cheeses, hams, different breads, a healthy corner with dried fruit, granola and cornflakes and a section with hot food such as steamed vegetables, sausages and different stews. There was also a daily quiche and some baked goods and a few types of egg dishes. There’s no egg station, but you can have the staff ask the kitchen to make an egg any way you want. There’s also a coffee machine for instant coffee, Americano, cappuccinos and more. There are also several jugs of juice. I think it was a good breakfast, with everything you need in the morning. It’s not unique, but definitely satisfying.

We stayed at the hotel for five nights and were bummed we had to leave. Everything was great and I highly recommend anyway coming to Vilnius to get a room there. The price is great for what you get and the location is a true winner.

Some of our trips I consider to be very successful thanks to their culinary aspect. Sometimes we even chose our destination based on the local cuisine… For example, one of the reasons we love visiting Asia is the amazing Asian cuisine. Our trip to Vilnius was by invitation from Vilnius’s tourism board, and prior to our flight (We flew with WizzAir company) they sent us an itinerary which included meals at two chef’s restaurants, as well as one local restaurant.

When I looked up the reviews for these restaurants, I found them to be exceptional, and so I was intrigued as to what our experience there will be. I can already tell you that Vilnius turned out to be a surprising culinary gem.

The reason I decided to write a post about these restaurants is that each one of them was high class and amazingly delicious! Let’s just say we came back happy and satiated from this trip, and I can’t wait to go back there and try more restaurants.

Our recommendations for restaurants in Vilnius

Amandus restaurant

In a single word – Wow, and in two words – Huge wow!! This is one of the best restaurants in Lithuania and with good reason. Every bite there will surprise you and excite you with unique, special flavors. We went there for a tasting’s menu. We’re big fans of tasting meals, and we don’t like browsing the menu beforehand, as we enjoy being surprised by each new dish. There wasn’t a single disappointing dish there, everything was really high quality. The presentation was unusual and one of the things I liked was that the chef himself brought out some of the dishes and told us about them. The service there is an easy five stars.

I don’t want to tell you much about the dishes we had, as I’d rather not spoil the surprise and I can say we had fish soup I’m still thinking back to even now. It was the winning dish that day, and not an easy choice. If you’re looking for a restaurant to bring a celebration to your palate, I highly recommend this one.

The meal starts at seven o’clock and lasts at least two hours. It costs 55 euros a person, or 85 euros when served with matching wines. It includes five small appetizers to start, three courses and a unique dessert. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Sweet Root restaurant

This restaurant is a three-hour culinary experience of colors, special presentations and local flavors. The restaurant is on the top restaurants in Vilnius list.
It’s known for dishes made of exclusively local produce, meaning the menu changes to reflect the season and the available ingredients. Each dish is a bite or two, and every new dish is different from the last.  You’ll find small dishes made of many different components, and thus you’ll experience a unique combination of flavors.

This restaurant had perfect service, as well, and the atmosphere was great. We sat there for over three hours and were intrigued by every new dish, what it looked like and what it was made of. A dish I really liked was an onion stuffed with buckwheat and many other ingredients, which when mixed together created a lightly sweet and very enjoyable taste. Another great dish was the eel.

While dishes are small, but there are so many of them – you’ll definitely not leave hungry.
If you’re looking for a restaurant for a modern, local culinary experience, this is the place for you. The meal costs 75 euros a person, with an additional 55 euros for matching wines.
The meal had 7 dishes, but the counted 15 different “tastings” (As there are some dishes comprised of several small portions).
Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Both restaurants require reservations in advance, and should be informed two days in advance if you have any food allergies or ingredients you avoid.

Local bar – restaurant Leiciai

As soon as you walk into this restaurant, you’ll feel the local atmosphere, as if you’ve gone back to the middle ages. You’ll be able to enjoy authentic, as well as modern, Lithuanian cuisine and a wide variety of local beers. We had a tasting’s meal there as well, and I start by saying you should come here hungry, as you’ll need a lot of room for all the food and beer.

The meal started with a plate of local cheeses and sausages, and herring salad. We then received cold beet soup (A very famous Lithuanian dish on hot days), and then a few main dishes like baked potatoes with different feelings (Another famous local dish).

The meal included 5 beer tastings and a local dessert at the end of it. During the dessert stage we were already too full, but I saw on their menu that they have a pie they make in house; on that day it was a berry and yoghurt pie. I couldn’t skip trying it. So, we asked for it in addition to the dessert. I must say it’s one of the best pies I’ve ever had. I’d recommend it even if you’re quite full. The meal costs 25 euros a person. Definitely a restaurant worth coming to and trying the Lithuanian cuisine. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Gaspars – A Portuguese restaurant with Indian touches

This was one of our favorite restaurants this trip and we actually wanted to go there a second time, but unfortunately didn’t get the chance. If you’re seafood fans, I highly recommend this one. They have super tasty dishes with fresh ingredients and reasonable prices.

We took three entrees and a main course to share. For entrees, we ordered crab soup which was amazing with delicate flavors, a shrimp dish that ended too quickly because it was so delicious, it was a little spicy and sour, and a chicken tikka with yoghurt that was excellent, but the other two were more special.

For a main course we ordered an octopus dish that was the best octopus I ever ate. The octopus was soft and the sauce excellent! In short, this restaurant has left us a taste for more and I think it is a restaurant that must be visited by anyone in Vilnius.

The price range of the first courses was between 4-11 euros and the main dishes were between 11-46 euros. They also had a portion of curry, which is the flagship dish, which unfortunately we did not taste because we were already full. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Georgian House restaurant

We received a recommendation from our guide, Danny, who gave us a tour of the city. We wanted a recommendation for a Georgian restaurant because we saw there were a lot of them in town and he said this one was the best. The truth is, we did not try any other Georgian restaurants there, but this one was so good that there was no need to look for any others.

We ordered a salad with Georgian goat cheese that was refreshing and successful. After that, I ordered Khinkali (Georgian dumplings) filled with mushrooms and Roman ordered them with meat stuffing. I think the mushroom stuffing was extraordinary. I recommend you go to this restaurant especially for this dish. Roman also ordered a huge lamb skewer and he was very pleased with it, but he had to work hard to finish it because the Khinkali was filling all by itself (five big dumplings).

We also ordered Georgian lemonade which had a phosphorescent green color and its flavor reminded licorice. I was less excited by its taste but others may enjoy it. The Khinkali dish cost around 7 euros, salad cost around 7 euro and the skewer around 15 Euros. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Mian Chinese restaurant

This restaurant was about 50 meters from our Hotel, Hotel Vilnia. On our last night we passed there on our way to the hotel, the smell was so good we decided to have dinner there on the spot. The menu had many good sounding dishes, but I decided to go for noodles with beef and Roman had noodle beef soup.

Both dishes were really good and satisfying, the noodles themselves were really high quality. The price for each dish was about 7 euros. For those looking for quality Chinese food instead of fast-food, this place is recommended. They also have Bao buns on the menu (Steamed buns with different fillings) and spring rolls. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Belmontas Waterfalls grill restaurant

This restaurant is in a magical place called Belmonto. A 10-minute drive from the city center you will find a perfect place with waterfalls, hiking trails, bridges, lots of nature and various restaurants. We spent half a day there and did a short walk and lunch at a restaurant with a waterfall view. This restaurant specializes in grilling and Lithuanian dishes. Roman ordered ribs that were excellently spiced (I usually do not like ribs but these ones I really liked).

We also ordered a Greek salad that was good and I ordered a sausage dish (it was a children’s dish but it was large and tasty). If you are in the area then this could be a great option for lunch or dinner. The price range of the main courses was around 10 euros. Restaurant’s website and Directions map.

Open Kitchen – a food truck court

On Fridays and Saturdays from about four to ten o’clock there is a compound of street food. The complex also has music and lots of seating. You will find burgers, beers, Vietnamese food, Turkish food and more. There is not too much selection there but there aren’t many people either and it is definitely a fun place to visit for dinner or just to get a snack and pass the time with nice music and a fun atmosphere. The prices are cheap there, for example you can find a dish of French fries for two euros or a Vietnamese Pho soup for 5 euros. Website link and Directions map.

Augustas ir Barbora – a fairy-tale cafe

A coffee shop that we came to following a recommendation we received on Instagram. After viewing pictures of the café and reading reviews I knew we had to visit it for both the photos and for the food. The recommendation turned out to be great, as the coffee house was lovely.

We arrived there for a light breakfast and I chose a healthy breakfast of natural juice, coffee and muesli with yogurt, fruit and granola. I really liked the meal; the fruit was fresh and the crunchy granola was not overly sweet. I think it’s a great place for breakfast or coffee and an afternoon snack. There are cakes, pastries and sandwiches. It is definitely worth a visit, especially for those who are looking for Instagram-able dishes. Link to Café and Directions map.

As you can see we managed to check out a great deal of restaurants in the four and a half days we were in Vilnius, that’s what happens when traveling with a pregnant woman in her second trimester and a tall man who likes to eat endlessly 🙂 Every restaurant we were in was a hit and therefore we declared Vilnius one of the most surprising culinary destinations.

If you are looking for a special occasion meal or just to be pampered, then the chef’s restaurants were amazing! If you want a restaurant of a very high standard that’s not too expensive at the same time, then Gaspars will be perfect for that. I also highly recommend going to have the Khinkali at the Georgian restaurant and go to the open kitchen if you are there on Friday or Saturday.