Luciana: A Taste of Italy Steps from Jerusalem’s Old City

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Just steps from the ancient walls of the Old City, tucked into the upper level of Mamilla Mall, sits a cozy yet grand Italian restaurant with decor lifted straight from a Roman trattoria.

Walk in and a water fountain, glass wine cases, and a dessert display catch your eye immediately. Luxurious decor, a spacious floor plan, and golden sunset light streaming through the room set the perfect mood for a date night or a special family meal.

Opened in 2007 by chef Aviram Dotan and his partners, Luciana takes its name from the Italian word for “light” –  a fitting nod to a restaurant built on warmth and hospitality. Since then, it’s grown into a small chain, with branches in Ashdod, Ma’ale Adumim, Modi’in, and Mevaseret Zion. Still, the Mamilla flagship reigns supreme, thanks to its location and its theatrical, old-world design.

Luciana serves kosher dairy Italian cuisine built around a simple idea: home-style Italian cooking, dressed up for a special occasion. Fresh in-house pastas, thin-crust pizzas, citrusy salads, and a dessert case you can’t walk past without stopping, that’s Luciana’s DNA.

Starters and Small Plates

We began with the arancini – fried risotto balls filled with gooey mozzarella, perched on a pine nut pesto. Followed by sea bream ceviche bruschetta bursting with citrus, a refreshing bite against the Jerusalem summer heat. A thinly sliced sea bream sashimi, served in a yellow tomato gazpacho with oregano, made for the perfect palate cleanser between courses.

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Pasta, Perfected

Next came the pastas, starting with beet tortellini in sage butter, white wine, and parmesan, truly a combination that let the beets’ natural sweetness shine. Then, shimeji mushroom tortellini in a red wine and crème fraîche sauce stunned with its depth and umami.

The day’s special, a lemon-butter spaghetti with broiled, crispy-skinned salmon, hit every note at once: juicy, acidic, and creamy. The black truffle pizza is also a must-order, packed with a deep, earthy flavor on a thin crust that’s practically irresistible.

Back at the dessert case, I was captivated by the burnt Basque cheesecake with wild berry compote, and could only wish I’d saved room for the tiramisu and lemon meringue pie.

By the time the last plate was cleared, the sun had dropped behind the Old City walls, visible just beyond Mamilla’s promenade which serves as a quiet reminder that you’re dining in one of Israel’s most singular settings, where centuries-old stone meets a menu that could hold its own in Milan.

With Old Jerusalem as its backdrop, the ambience of Italy inside, and a menu brimming with standouts, there’s no better place to satisfy an Italian craving in Mamilla. Whether it’s a date night, a family celebration, or a well-earned meal after a day exploring the Old City, Luciana delivers an experience as memorable as its food.

📍 Luciana (Mamilla)

• Location: 8 Mamilla Boulevard / Mamilla Mall, Jerusalem
• Hashgacha: Rabbanut Yerushalayim Mehadrin (Dairy / Chalav Yisrael)*

*Kashrut status is subject to change over time. We always recommend verifying current hashgacha certification directly with the venue before visiting.