old city

Basti Pizza: The Original Slice of Jerusalem’s Old City

If these stone walls could talk, they’d probably ask for another slice. Tucked away in the heart of the Christian Quarter, just steps from the Via Dolorosa, sits Basti Pizzawidely celebrated as the oldest pizzeria in Jerusalem’s Old City. Since 1927, the Basti family has been serving up comfort food to weary pilgrims, local shopkeepers, and curious explorers.

Eating here is an immersive history lesson. While the world outside has shifted through empires and eras, Basti has remained a constant, family-run sanctuary. The vibe is gritty, authentic, and exactly what you need after a long morning of navigating the limestone labyrinth of the Holy City.

Check out the video below.

Rat-a-tat-tat

It didn’t take long. I reclined, alone, in the ever popular Coptic Guest House in Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter. David Abulafia’s heavy tome on the Mediterranean Sea began bobbing above my head. It sank to my chest, then to the floor. Overwhelmed by the obscurities of Luwian hieroglyphs and two weeks of pilgrim responsibilities, I slipped beneath the waves, a human Akrotiri. I was exhausted. Darkness fell.