Neat or dirty, zesty or with spice-infused foam, Tel Aviv’s burgeoning cocktail scene offers world-class drinks that will be the only thing to keep you sane come the summer heat. Usually nested within hotels or restaurants, here are the best places for a cocktail in central Tel Aviv.
Arguably the best cocktail bar in Tel Aviv, the Bellboy at the B Berdichevsky Hotel is located in a small street off of Rothschild Blvd, a few minutes walk from Tel Aviv’s HaBima Square. With a menu comprised of almost only signature cocktails and a signature style straight out of the movies, this is the place for the adventurous drinker in search of a creative glass.
Located inside the Imperial Hotel, the Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar is the king of the local cocktail scene; the oldest of the new generation of Tel Avivian mixologists, it has already been ranked among the best bars in the world. With a great Asian-meets-tapas food menu with dishes like Kim Jong Shrimp, the Imperial offers a great mix of Tel Aviv fusion cuisine and stunning cocktails with foam and spices—try the smokey Puff Puff Pass for deep flavors.
Located inside the The Norman hotel, the Library Bar is just another thing this hotel does well. Besides its amazing rooms, this boutique inn also boasts one of the city’s best brunches. Like everything else in Tel Aviv’s “Grand Budapest,” the Library Bar is stylish, with a 1940s-style bar and an impressive list of classic, as well as experimental, signature cocktails. There’s even afternoon tea if that’s your thing.
One of Tel Aviv’s best-kept secrets is part restaurant, part café, part bar, and 100% Italian. Perched on a beautiful corner just off of Rothschild Boulevard and very popular with locals, the Cicchetti shifts from fancy restaurant to cool cocktail bar as the night progresses. With the best Italian menu in central Tel Aviv, the Cicchetti is great place if you’re here on business or just want to go out with friends.
Considered one of Tel Aviv’s best restaurants, the Asian culinary experience known as Taizu is also one of the cities finer cocktail bars. With an eclectic styling and far out menu, Taizu is the place to go to splurge. The menu is offered as a gradual progression of Asian dishes inspired by the different elements, but don’t limit yourself to the food; let the barman craft you a liquid journey to accent the culinary one.
Tel Aviv’s longest standing cocktail bar, 223, offers everything you would expect a cocktail bar to offer in a stylish setting. With numerous events geared at cocktail lovers and a party every other week, head to 223 for some fun, laughs, and a good time you might not remember the next day.
Following the success of 223, a number of its founding partners set out to bring the cocktail zeal to Tel Aviv’s foodies. Bringing the best of fancy bars to local restaurants, the Social Club offers solid cocktails for the young and flashy, exactly what you need to add a kick to what will be one of the best party-like dinners you’ll have in Tel Aviv.
Located at the other end of the city, in the young and trendy Florentine neighborhood, sits the Cocktails & Dreams bar. Reminiscent of a coffee shop in Amsterdam but inspired by a bar in India, this low-key dig is super chill and offers great drinks, with an obscenely lucrative happy hour, so make sure to swing by if you’re in this part of town.