Azure is one of the latest additions to the constantly expanding restaurant scene in the city of Ramallah. It is housed in an elegant villa in a quiet residential neighbourhood that is a stone’s throw away from the city centre. The whole house was completely remodelled to accommodate a coffeeshop/bar and a more formal dining room. The garden has been nicely landscaped and has a shaded area for outdoor seating in warm weather. The restaurant has its own parking lot - very spacious and also well landscaped.

Some walls of the original building were knocked down and in their place now stands an airy combination of glass, steel and stone.

The coffeeshop/bar area has several tables with multicoloured chairs that evoke a Scandinavian designer’s touch. A not-too-large bar divides the room and creates a more intimate area on the other side. This section has red leather benches against the wall and a few black tables. Both sections have LCD screens on the wall playing a carefully selected mix of music, often complete concerts of legendary bands or singers, such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.

The restaurant has its own menu and the coffeeshop/bar area has a different menu featuring lighter fare. Patrons with a bigger appetite seated in the bar area can order dishes from the restaurant menu. The coffeeshop menu offers snacks such as breaded shrimp, Thai beef skewers and fried calamari, hamburgers, and Gaza cheese-stuffed peppers. There is also the cheese platter with a good selection of imported cheeses - a perfect accompaniment to the many wines on offer.

The restaurant menu features more elaborate dishes that are very nicely presented. In addition to home-made soups and a good selection of salads, main courses include lamb chops, beef fillet with blue cheese, and chicken breast with mango and a coating of coconut. There is a selection of pasta dishes and several offerings of fish, including the classic fish and chips. Azure also has a kids’ corner with such favourites as pasta, hamburger and fish and chicken fingers with fries. For dessert there are several cakes on offer as well as crème brûlée.

Prices are reasonable and the service aims to please. Reservations are recommended, especially on Thursday nights when the place gets very busy.