No visit to Syria is complete without stopping at the dessert shops that have passed their recipes down for generations. From golden kunafa with its soft layer of cheese, to Damascene ice cream made the traditional way right before your eyes, every sweet here carries a story decades in the making.
What to Try
Kunafa: Crispy shredded pastry over a layer of cheese, soaked in warm syrup and served fresh straight from the tray to your plate.
Arabic Ice Cream (Bakdash): Made with mastic gum emulsion and hand-pounded with wooden mallets, giving it a uniquely stretchy texture you won't find in any other type of ice cream.
Maamoul: Pastries filled with dates, walnuts, or pistachios, available year-round despite their traditional association with holidays.
Tip: Order kunafa while it's hot, straight from the tray — that's the secret to its perfect taste; once it cools, it's simply not the same.
Practical Information
Well-known dessert shops are concentrated around the old markets of Damascus and Aleppo, often a natural stop during a walking tour of the old city. It's best to try desserts from long-established, locally renowned shops, as they tend to stay most faithful to the original recipe.
Ready to taste the sweetness of Syria?
📩 Contact us to plan your trip with a program that includes a tasting tour of the most famous Syrian dessert shops.