Culinary tour of Acre – through the alleys of Israel's oldest city
Technical details
Tour times
By arrangement.
Price
A tour of the market can be a colorful and surprising experience if you keep an open mind and get to know the people, places, and smells behind the stalls. Most of Acre's vendors are known for their serious expressions and unwelcoming demeanor at first glance, but after a short conversation, you discover their generosity and their desire to tell you about the place...
A tour of the market can be a colorful and surprising experience if you keep an open mind and get to know the people, places, and smells behind the stalls. Most of Acre's vendors are known for their serious expressions and unwelcoming demeanor at first glance, but after a short conversation, you will discover their generosity and willingness to talk about their place and its history, and of course, to offer you a taste.
Tour structure:
Marwan's Old Spice Shop
A culinary tour begins in Acre in the alleys of the Old City, where you meet Marwan right at the start. Of course, it depends on the sea conditions, because Marwan often prefers to go fishing off the coast of Acre and return with succulent fish for dinner.
Marwan Kurdi continues the business of his grandfather's grandfather's grandfather... and so on, with a Danish mother and an Akko father. Marwan speaks many languages, and so do his spices.
There are spices here that cannot be found anywhere else, which Marwan mixes himself, such as paprika with sun-dried tomatoes, his special ras el hanout, and chai that will not leave you indifferent.
The entire store is decorated with beautiful items, and just looking at the various items can keep you entertained for a long time.
Marwan Adib, always cheerful and smiling, patiently explains the different spices and even dictates excellent Asian recipes! Guaranteed!
Hummus Fadi
Everyone in town knows Fadi. Fadi is located right next to the Al-Jazar Mosque, and if you walked down the street and Fadi didn't invite you to his place, you probably didn't walk down his street!
Fadi hosts like a king, with fresh, authentic hummus every day. The place also offers skewers, salads, chips, and kebabs.
There is a homemade dish that varies from time to time, similar to majadra and other stews, and generally, Fadi Adam is very welcoming. He will gladly provide anything his guests may need, give them what they want, and show them the way!
The Parasol
A small stand in the city's alleys reveals visitors to a unique falafel, larger than the one we know, with different spices.
Mohammed puts a special spicy pita and amazing preserved lemon in it, and together they make an excellent bite.
Next to the small stand, we discover Muhammad's mother, who is the big boss and owns a restaurant serving home-cooked food, hummus, and skewers, all of which are fresh, delicious, and incredibly clean!
Erin Abu Hamid - Kurdish in Abu Al Hamid Hummus
Don't be misled by the name of the place and the story of Arin's life, who is indeed the wife of Marwan from the spice shop.
At the end of the walled promenade, near the Acre lighthouse, right where the waves crash, there is a small, blue, quiet, and charming corner. This corner was built by Arin's father, where he served hummus – Hummus Al-Abad Abu Hamid.
In addition to hummus, there were skewers, French fries, etc. When Arin took matters into her own hands, after a career in the Ministry of Education of about 12 years, working with at-risk youth, she decided, 'I will no longer serve hummus, French fries, and salad." "I will bring the authentic Akko breakfast, the home-cooked dishes whose recipes have been preserved for generations.".
And indeed, here at Arin you will taste the most wonderful things you have never known – tharidi, which is chickpeas with garlic, roasted almonds, pita bread pieces, yogurt, and samna (clarified butter); mufreka – a kind of egg salad from the Acre breakfast with parsley, onions, baharat, and olive oil. Maska – chickpeas with eggplant, tomatoes, and onions. And much more.
The Malabi House - Tina's Malabi
Tina, born in Acre, always dreamed of having her own place, a place where she could share her amazing malabi with others, host people, and most importantly, make others happy.
In 2018, she managed to fulfill her dream, renovating a small warehouse that belonged to her family with her own hands and turning it into her own small, sweet empire.
She kept her grandmother's recipe for malabi, the malabi she remembered, which she loved from home and couldn't find anywhere else. She decorates the malabi with toasted coconut, berries, and lots of love!
The Bahá'í Gardens of Acre
There is so much more to see and taste in the Old City, but it is important to remember that there are the Bahá'í Gardens at the northern entrance to the city.
The Bahá'í Gardens in Acre are the most important and sacred site for all Bahá'ís around the world. The gardens in Haifa come second to those in Acre.
Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í faith and the author of its religious texts, was exiled to Acre. One of his places of detention in Acre was here in the Bahá'í Gardens, so when he passed away, it was decided that a garden would be established in his memory here, in the house where he lived, with his tomb, of course.
The Bahá'í religion was founded in 1844 in Persia by Ali Muhammad Shirazi, who called himself the Báb, the gateway to a new and better world. The principles of this monotheistic religion are that everyone is one and everyone is different, and that there is equality among all peoples and all species.
Guide details:
Gili Dror
I have always loved traveling. Short tours and long trips, far and near, what could be more fun than breathing fresh air and gazing at the horizon? After a first career working with computers, in 2015 I finally became a tour guide who loves the country, especially Haifa and the Galilee!
Today, I invite you to discover our country and open your hearts to the sights, people, hidden corners, and strong flavors. I believe that there is nothing like an experience that combines our senses to connect us to this place.
Additional information and frequently asked questions
Acre Market opening hours on Saturdays
The market likes to nap, but it also likes to take lunch breaks. I recommend starting your tour no earlier than 9:30 a.m. and no later than 2:30 p.m., so that most of the stalls and people will be there to tell you about and sell you their wonderful wares.
What else is in the area?
The Knights' Halls, of course, with their enchanted garden and endless fascinating underground spaces that hold the story of the Hospitallers and the Crusaders in general.
You can visit the Ottoman Turkish baths, and we recommend visiting the Templar tunnel, which was only discovered in the last decade.
Culinary in Acre
Not just hummus!
Acre, known for its high-quality hummus restaurants, has in recent years begun to open establishments serving modern Arab Galilee cuisine. One example is the wonderful Turquoise restaurant, which serves delicate and unique dishes from Arab cuisine.
Almarsa Restaurant serves fresh fish, ceviche, carpaccio, and a variety of wonderful Mediterranean dishes. And of course, there are the old favorites, such as Uri Buri Restaurant, which was and still is a magical place to stop for lunch or dinner.
Is there a vegan food tour or market?
All food on the tour is vegetarian, and vegan tours can be arranged in advance.
Can people who are sensitive to gluten and/or lactose eat on the tour?
It is important to inform the guide before the trip about any specific sensitivities or allergies.
It is possible to tailor the tour to accommodate the above sensitivities, but it all depends on the level of sensitivity and sterility required for that participant.
Is the tour kosher?
The tour can be kosher without certification, but the market in Acre is open on Saturdays, so there are no kosher certificates for businesses in the Old City.
Parking
Hof HaSusim parking lot – you can almost always find parking there because it's a large lot.
Public transportation
You can get there by bus or train. If you're coming by train, get off at the Acre station and then take a bus or walk to the Old City.
