Inspired by European design models, this handsome railway station was built in 1892 as the Jerusalem terminus of of the Jaffa–Jerusalem railway line. It was in almost continuous use until 1998, when the line from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem closed. Recently restored, it opened in 2013 as a shopping and entertainment complex.
As well as hosting popular restaurants and cafes including Adom and Fresh Kitchen, the station has a juice bar, a branch of the Vaniglia ice cream chain, the Up Stairs bar and a number of shops. It also has a busy entertainment program: daily one-hour yoga sessions are held at 7am from Sunday to Thursday and at 8am on Friday and Saturday (20NIS); there's a farmers market every Friday from 9am; and in summer the land on the northern side of the station is transformed into a sandy 'beach' complete with wave simulator (50NIS per hour).
Check the website for details of events held here. These include outdoor screenings for the Jerusalem Film Festival in July, and plenty of summer concerts.
