Naranj Restaurant

In Al-Qaymariya, right beside the Mariamite Cathedral, stands a two-storey stone building: black and white ablaq courses from the street, arched glass fronts below, a terrace above. Naranj opened here in 2007 and has been a standard address for foreign visitors ever since. It is named after the bitter orange tree that grows in Damascene courtyards.

Getting there

Enter at Bab Sharqi and follow the Street Called Straight west; where the Roman arch stands, turn north into Mariamite Cathedral Street. It is half a minute on foot from the cathedral. The restaurant sits directly on the Christian quarter walk, so it falls into place as a lunch or dinner stop if you are doing that route.

What to order

Syrian cooking, laid out as a wide mezze. Sword kebab, stuffed vine leaves, lamb with bulghur and lamb manakish arrive on large platters. Fruit and dessert come at the end of the meal as the house’s own offering; they are not on the bill, so leave room. Alcohol is served and arak is on the list.

What it costs

Around 15-20 dollars a head, drinks separate. That is the upper band by Old City standards: move two streets away from a landmark and prices drop noticeably. Two zeros were dropped from the pound in January 2026, so pound prices in older sources look 100 times today’s figure — check at the table.

When to go

Open daily from 09:00, closing at 24:00; some sources give 01:00. The upstairs terrace is where you sit in summer. The crowd gathers at dinner; you can call ahead if you want a table held.