Like New York, Tel Aviv is a city of that never sleeps. It runs on art, “craft,” cuisine, culture, history, and of course, nightlife around the clock, making it a must-see destination. To refer to Tel Aviv as party central may be aggressive; although, the vibrant nightlife will have you party hopping all. night. long.
Follow this guide for the best night out in the non-stop city. Catch up on sleep another time.
From 10 PM to 1 AM
ARIA Lounge
Aria is a true ‘one-two punch’ in central Tel Aviv. Begin with a contemporary Israeli dinner upstairs, then move downstairs for drinks (or vice versa). The ground floor lounge boasts an elegant cocktail bar serving both sweet and sour ‘tails plus select plates from the chef’s kitchen. Savor Aria’s signature, well-shaken sour made with Courvoisier, orange curacao, Amaro Montenegro, lemon juice, thick maple syrup, and egg white, while a local DJ spins chill beats in the background.
Nahalat Binyamin St 66, +972 3-529-6054, ariatlv.co.il, @ariatlv
Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar
Pass by the main desk of the Imperial Hotel and enter a creation of acclaimed Tel Aviv bartenders. Together, they “crafted” Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar, a hidden temple to the lost art of the cocktail. The revolutionary cocktail menu is categorized by flavor preference: fruity, bitter, smoked, spirited, and so on. Go for the glamorous Gold Fashioned, “fashioned” with Highland Park 12 single malt, Vida mezcal, and Bols Genever; stirred with Falernum, added drops of Angostura bitters, and peppered with gold dust on top.
Plates are Asian-colonial-inspired, and tunes vary from swing jazz at half-off happy hour – yes, half-off from 6:00 to 8:00 PM – to rock ‘n’ roll come late-night hours when most of Tel Aviv’s bartenders come cruising through for a closing nightcap and real conversation.
66 HaYarkon St, +972 73-264-9464, imperialtlv.com, @imperialtlv
Speakeasy Rooftop on Rothschild
Some speakeasies are subterranean; others are set high above the street. This speakeasy rooftop bar sits on Tel Aviv’s iconic Rothschild Boulevard. To enter, one must climb a couple of flights for fun cocktails and fresh beats overlooking the city. Guzzle the Green Gin (and tonic) – an herbal combination of sage, green cardamom, lemon peels, and lemongrass; built in a balloon-shaped chalice. You might need two hands to handle – and that’s what she said.
Rothschild Blvd 24, speakeasy.co.il, @speakeasy.tlv
From 1 to 4 AM
KULI ALMA
Kuli Alma is the reason why indoor-outdoor, multi-use spaces are popping up all around town. Planted (literally) in an arcane courtyard with wild palms and vibrant street murals, the bohemian hangout expands into white-cube gallery rooms used for rotating art installations, a steamy dance floor with DJ performances of various genres – from electro to Bollywood – and hidden clothing shop for authen-tique finds. Spiked slushies are a must-order. There is also vegetarian Israeli food, which keeps partygoers from never leaving.
Mikveh Israel St 10, +972 53-531-8560, kulialma.com, @kulialma
Sputnik Bar
Follow the trippy lights down a slim alleyway into a psychedelic galaxy. Named after the first Russian artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik is split between multiple spaces – the main one being a cosmic courtyard complete with convincing cocktails and comfy couches. Chill, chat and check out the current artist lineup; sometimes a live acoustic act or top DJ behind the turntable. The laid-back locals tend to lounge until the sun ascends.
Allenby St 122, +972 52-642-6532, facebook.com/sputnikTLV, @sputnikbartlv
After 4 AM
Radio EPGB
By now, you should’ve realized that most party entrances consist of a lengthy, progressively cool alleyway leading to an eclectic underground space. Radio EPBG is another unsuspecting spot worth experiencing. It’s a concealed world of musical mayhem, mixing cool live music, diverse DJ hits, and noisy karaoke together. Await a random student (or celeb) singing from the corner stage. Crazy dance-moves from boisterous boozers to follow.
Shadal St 7, +972 3-560-3636, facebook.com/radioepgb, @radioepgb
Under52
After refueling with drunchies along Allenby Street, crash Tel Aviv nightlife’s best after-hours club, Under52. Expect everything into the wee hours of the morning, including long bathroom lines – *clears throat* Fill up on mojitos as the dance floor fills and the day progresses.
Hours of Operation: Open ‘til the last customer…
Nahalat Binyamin St 52, +972 54-200-9203
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