46 Best Nightlife in Israel

Many of the cocktails here are lit up with a fiery uproar, and some come with garnishes straight out of a toy shop. It's definitely worth watching the skilled bartenders do their stuff in a room that takes you straight back to the 1920s. Small dishes are served with a bit less drama and include beef tartare, crispy calamari, and house-made fried kale chips (hard to find in Israel). In true speakeasy fashion, the bar is expertly hidden inside a small boutique hotel, on a side street near the northern end of Rothschild Boulevard.

Set within the American Colony Hotel, this in-the-know place has the feel of an intimate wine cellar, with small tables, quiet corners, and a mix of languages that makes you feel far away from all the political problems of the day. It's open only during the winter months, but from June to October you can enjoy the same well-made cocktails at the outdoor Summer Bar.

Helmed by the geniuses behind Machneyuda restaurant and housed in an old factory, this is a temple to the craft of cocktails on the outskirts of Jerusalem's First Station shopping and dining complex. The drinks—mixed with outstanding homemade syrups and juices—change frequently, but if it's on the menu try a celery daiquiri. Tapas-style dishes emphasize expertly prepared seafood and include a sea-bass bruschetta, seafood curry, and smoked octopus.

Head to the hidden back entrance of a somewhat lackluster hotel lobby and discover this colonial-British-themed playground run by five of Tel Aviv's top mixologists. Nightly specials enhance the standard menu of 150 precisely concocted cocktails. Drop in for happy hour every night from 6 to 8 pm, when the "special price" cocktails are particularly appealing, or reserve for late night, when you may be sitting next to the city's top chefs.

Across from the New Gate of the Old City, this rooftop eatery offers an unrivaled vista of Old Jerusalem and the hills beyond. Take it all in while nibbling on some of the 45 local and imported cheeses and sipping one of the 85 wines. There's also a rather pricey menu, but the best reasons to come here are the drinks and the view.

A great watering hole with a gritty edge, Sira features a variety of music spun by DJs. Open until the wee hours, it's one of the most fun places in the city to dance. Here you'll find a hodgepodge of students and young professionals who gather on weekend afternoons.

Showcasing Israeli vintages is the name of the game at this beautifully designed underground wine bar in the Sarona complex. An innovative automated pouring system allows you to taste 40 different wines from Israel and further afield using a prepaid smart card. Tastings are available by the sip, half glass, or full glass. If you particularly enjoy a certain wine, you can purchase a full bottle. The kosher menu features expertly prepared modern Mediterranean dishes.

This austere open space in the center of town once served as a cistern and a storage area, but today the Distillery is the center of Jerusalem's art and alternative music scene. During the day it's an artists' workspace, and at night it's a performance space where you can get Palestinian beer on tap and dance alongside throngs of art students. Try to make it when local DJ mini-celebrities Tali Ben Itzhak or Markey Funk are on the lineup.

A not-for-profit music center, Yellow Submarine offers performances by emerging artists alongside major Israeli and international rock and pop artists, as well as a smattering of free events throughout the calendar year and lunchtime shows as well. A decent bar also serves salads and other light fare.

Owned, operated, and across the street from the well-regarded Machneyuda restaurant, this vibrant bar serves smaller versions of the classics served there. It's good for a drink before dinner or before hitting the town. It is definitely worth trying your luck here if getting a reservation at Machneyuda doesn't work out.

This stylish neighborhood bar has the feel of Prohibition-era New York City. The suspender-wearing bartenders specialize in excellent mixed drinks. Order a spicy apple martini to go alongside the expertly crafted bar food.

This alternative pub is a relaxed meeting place for musicians, writers, and artists. Old concert announcement posters in Arabic decorate the walls; seating spills from a lofted indoor space onto a small outdoor plaza. You can grab a plate of sushi next door, and then wander over to Al-Jisser to listen to one of the frequent live music acts or to watch a film screening.

This Manhattan-style lounge bar offers a rare combination of classy food, cocktails, and dancing in the same space. Seats in the lounge circle the DJ booth, where top local and international DJs, and occasional live-music performers, hold forth. A full dinner menu is available from the upstairs fine-dining restaurant, along with craft cocktails like Say Hello 2 Heaven, a fresh, citrusy concoction of champagne, gin, black mint, lemon juice, and fresh basil.

You can choose from 15 beers on tap and five local brews in bottles at this bar in a finely preserved former home with much of its original tilework. This laid-back spot attracts a more mature crowd in the evening. Old-timers may remember a similarly named Attica, but don't be put off; this is a different place.

Aptly named for a small fish that's a staple of the city's old-time restaurants, Bar Barbunia draws a mixed crowd that ranges from fishermen to financial planners. It manages to be both smoky and cheerful, and the music tends toward classics from the '70s. The bar is small and can get extremely busy so don't be surprised if the party spills out onto the street.

Paying homage to a certain neighborhood in Brooklyn, Bushwick is known for its lively atmosphere and excellent cocktail menu. The bar is situated on the ground floor of the trendy new Fabric Hotel and, apart from serving breakfast to hotel guests, is also a popular spot for sipping a morning coffee or chilling over afternoon drinks. Don't miss the Rhubarbara Streisand or the wild and smoky Here Comes the Tiger. They're brought to you by the team of mixology maestros behind the immensely popular Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar.

At this place to see and be seen, especially in summer evenings, the sparkling cocktails and creative small plates draw attractive customers to a packed outdoor patio. Be adventurous and taste one of the cocktails made with a local product, such as the anise-flavored arak.

Join Ben-Gurion University students for a beer, pizza, and burgers at Coca Bar, behind the student dorms.

The Colony Bar at the hotel of the same name opens nightly to both guests and visitors. Grab a drink in the heart of the German Colony, right on the boulevard; the location can't be beat. This classy, intimate bar caters to a more mature crowd.

The lovely Duke is a civilized, old-world Irish pub with good draft beers, other libations from whiskey to wine, and a menu with such standbys as fish-and-chips. Bottles on display and plenty of dark wood add to the convivial atmosphere.

Set in the German Colony, Haifa's first sushi bar turns into an attractive pub at night. It's the kind of place where everyone seems to know everyone else. A side room with sofas adds to the casual ambience.

An unmarked door opens to a library with bookshelves that slide apart to reveal a bar inspired by the Roaring '20s. Eager young bartenders mix classic cocktails and drinks of their own creation, accented by crushed star anise, arak liquor, absinthe, or honey syrup.

This chef-bar located around the corner from Machneyuda serves Mediterranean-inspired cocktails and tapas.

One of the oldest bars in Tel Aviv, the Monastery is a gritty, down-to-earth pub that's popular with a slightly older after-work crowd, as well as with students later in the evening and on weekends. The kitchen serves up some fine food, too.

Hebrew for "Neighbor," Hashchena is a youthful bar steps from the Machaneh Yehuda market that greets you with hanging laundry and a wall of beer cans from around the world. There are plenty of local and imported brews along with a satisfying food menu.

At this neighborhood tavern rich with history, the regulars tend to be older and mellower. Groups of friends congregate outside in the beer garden or inside at the small bar while enjoying jazz or blues.

The name means "The Record," a nostalgic tribute by the three young, musically inclined owners. This is a great place for beer, especially during happy hour. There's live music, occasional dance parties, and a back room where international soccer games are screened.

This place mainly attracts students and an eclectic crowd of young, bohemian, and open-minded people. The bar is split in two, with an alley down the middle that's ideal for kicking back and enjoying a pint. Order a burger and fries, or try some of the excellent homemade hummus.

A two-level subterranean courtyard adorned by local graffiti artists draws bohemian music addicts and casual partiers for alternative music, not to mention fresh baked pizza and mojito slushies. Any night of the week you can find a relaxed crowd enjoying either a live band or an international DJ playing hip-hop, soul, or electronic music. The vibe changes over the weekend, as Tel Avivians come to celebrate the end of the working week and party the night away. 

Formerly known as Borderline, Lamsa has a delightful summer garden and a huge screen for watching soccer games. In winter, seats are plentiful inside the century-old building. This Palestinian place is a great spot to try anise-flavored arak from Ramallah. It's also connected to Pasha's, a reliable source for great Middle Eastern cooking.