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Jerusalem With Room to Breathe

Coffee, Ofaimme’s farm table, a serious park, the old rail corridor, a popsicle at the far end of the tracks, First Station. Stones optional; oxygen is not.

LeaveStart at Birma if you want coffee before Sacher. Eat at Ofaimme if that is breakfast or lunch. Reverse it if the children are already vibrating.
MealsBirma for coffee and pastry. Ofaimme for the must-eat farm-to-table meal — reserve if you can. Popsicle along the Park HaMesila path if you walk it. First Station for a sit-down when energy crashes.

Simply Divine / Barbush is near the shuk, not this German Colony walk. Yad Vashem is heavy — discretion for kids.

  1. 20 Emek Refaim, German Colony. · Restrooms. · coffee.

    CoffeeJerusalemBrett visitedCheck before driving — hours not verified

    Birma Coffee

    My favorite coffee in Jerusalem, tucked into the German Colony with pastries and enough courtyard space to let the children breathe.

  2. Farm-to-table café and farm shop just down from First Station, near Birma. MUST eat breakfast/brunch/lunch. Reserve if you can. Google share is the pin. · Restrooms. · breakfast.

    RestaurantJerusalemBrett visitedCheck before driving — hours not verified

    Ofaimme café & farm shop

    MUST eat breakfast, brunch, or lunch — farm-to-table café and farm shop in the German Colony.

  3. The pressure-release. Plan time. · Restrooms.

    ParkJerusalemBrett visitedCheck before driving — hours not verified

    Sacher Park

    The correct pressure-release in a dense Jerusalem day: lawns, slides ~40 feet high and ~70 feet long, sports, picnic space, hours to burn.

  4. Stroller-friendly rail corridor from First Station along the old tracks.

    ParkJerusalemBrett visitedCheck before driving — hours not verified

    Park HaMesila

    The old rail corridor as a stroller-friendly exhale — walk, scoot, and ignore the Old City for a mile.

  5. Kids’ stop at the far end of the walking path. Open all week including Saturday. Skip if you are already sitting down at First Station. · Skip if tired.

    CoffeeJerusalemBrett visitedCheck before driving — hours not verified

    Park HaMesila popsicle & juice bar

    Popsicle stand and juice bar at the far end of the First Station walking path — a kids’ stop on Park HaMesila, open Saturday.

  6. Food, shops, parking — the area, not the popsicle stall. Direct access to the tracks. · Restrooms. · dinner.

    Maker / shoppingJerusalemBrett visitedCheck before driving — hours not verified

    First Station

    Food, shops, and a direct on-ramp to Park HaMesila — the easy Jerusalem evening when everyone is done with stones.

  7. Quiet garden near Jaffa Gate if you still have Old City in you. · Skip if tired. · Restrooms.

    ChurchJerusalemBrett visitedCheck before driving — hours not verified

    Christ Church Jerusalem

    Historic church, garden, cafe, and a quiet sitting area when the Old City has used everyone up.

Open in the field guide