Piccolino, the kosher dairy Italian restaurant on Music Square in the heart of Jerusalem, will close its doors at the end of October after 35 years. The Bibi, Yazdi and Dahan families, who own the restaurant, announced the decision in an Instagram post on Tuesday night.
A Family Restaurant for 35 Years
Nava, the owners’ mother, opened the family’s first restaurant 35 years ago. Her husband, Yoska, came in nearly every morning, sat at the entrance and greeted guests, telling visitors from around the world the story of the family and offering a blessing or a piece of advice. Children married at the restaurant, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren grew up around its tables. Both parents have since passed away, and the family wrote that the tradition they left behind guided them throughout.
In the announcement, the owners said nothing dramatic happened and that they still love the work. They simply feel it is time to rest and spend more time at home. The restaurant stays open through the end of the month, and the family invited customers and employees from every generation to come one more time. In their words, “You can close a restaurant, but you can’t close 35 years of life.”
Through Terror, War and Covid
Piccolino operated through the years of terror attacks in central Jerusalem, multiple wars, the coronavirus lockdowns and security emergencies. It became known for community work as well. The restaurant employs new immigrants and people with disabilities, opens its doors free to IDF soldiers every Friday, and donates leftover food from Fridays and events to a yeshiva and an institution for at-risk girls. In emergencies the owners turned the space into a donation center and looked after lone soldiers.
The Menu and the Setting
The restaurant is housed in a historic Jerusalem stone building, with outdoor seating in a courtyard on Music Square, where classical, jazz and world music concerts take place. The Italian dairy menu includes fresh pasta, pizza and focaccia from a stone oven, fish dishes and desserts, with Italian coffee and breakfast in the morning. Pizzas can be ordered with vegan cheese. Live music plays in the courtyard through the day and evening, and private rooms are available for events. Locals and tourists also knew Piccolino for its Friday buffet.
Piccolino Jerusalem Details
Piccolino is a kosher dairy Italian restaurant located at 12 Yoel Moshe Solomon Street in the Nachlaot area of Jerusalem, Israel, on Music Square. It is open Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM and on Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and closed on Shabbat. The kitchen closes at 2:00 PM on Fridays. The restaurant holds a Mehadrin kosher certificate from the Jerusalem Rabbinate and Religious Council. The last day of operation is at the end of October 2026.
