Tel Aviv has long been an international cocktail powerhouse, but where is it really worth having your next drink? We delved into Ontopo’s booking and demand data to map out the most sought-after cocktail bars in the city. The list before you doesn’t rely on passing trends, but on the places that Israelis vote for with their feet (and liver). From dark and intimate bars to sparkling rooftops – here are 9 must-stops for alcohol and atmosphere lovers.
And in practice, what’s worth knowing
| # | Place name | Style/Atmosphere | Area in the city |
| 1 | Spicehaus | Pharmacy for alcohol | Dizengoff |
| 2 | Jewel Bar | Luxurious and intimate | The Promenade (Jewel Boutique Hotel) |
| 3 | Fantastic | Visual fantasy | Tel Aviv Port |
| 4 | De Facto Lounge Bar | Wine and cocktail bar | City center |
| 5 | Supreme Room | Luxury on the boulevard | Rothschild Boulevard |
| 6 | 7to1 LAB | Cocktail lab | Neve Tzedek |
| 7 | Goat | Mysterious and dim | Rothschild Boulevard |
| 8 | Cappella | Party at height | Ha’arbaa complex |
| 9 | Guest Room | Neighborhood speakeasy | Gan Ha Hashmal |
1. Spicehaus
The Spicehaus, Dizengoff’s iconic cocktail institution, has returned to its new-old location just across the street and looks and feels better than ever. The timeless concept of a “pharmacy for alcohol” is strictly maintained: the bartenders are dressed as pharmacists, and the cocktails are served in laboratory glassware, brown glass bottles, and smoky test tubes. But it’s not just a gimmick – mixologist Yotam Shila has created a menu that is both accessible and sophisticated, one that makes every sip feel like a particularly successful scientific experiment.
The move to the new location has breathed new energy into the place. The space is exquisitely designed with antique medicine shelves and warm lighting that creates an intimate yet vibrant atmosphere. Alongside the alcohol, the kitchen has undergone a serious upgrade with a young chef who brings precise bar dishes designed to accompany the drink and not weigh it down. This is the perfect place for an ice-breaking date or an evening with friends where you order a giant “punch bowl” and share the potion.
Must-try dishes: Clover Club cocktail with London Dry Gin, Lillet Blanc, natural raspberry and fresh lime, alongside charred brioche bruschetta and salt-baked Bloody cabbage
📍 Address: Dizengoff 116 (opposite the old location), Tel Aviv-Yafo
2. Jewel Bar
Inside the boutique hotel “Jewel”, hides a real gem that feels like a well-kept secret of connoisseurs. The Jewel Bar offers an elegant escape from Israeli reality towards a luxurious international scent. The design combines velvet, gold and dim lighting that creates a feeling of an exclusive lounge in London or Paris. This is the ideal place for those looking to drink a drink of the highest standard in relative peace, without the crowding and noise of the neighborhood bars.
The menu, built by mixologists Or Asulin and his partners, presents real masterpieces. Each cocktail here is a story, combining quality raw materials and meticulous presentation. The service is personal and attentive, and the overall atmosphere is one of true pampering. If you are looking for a place to impress on a date or close a deal over a drink facing the sea, this is the place for you.
Must-try dishes and drinks: The Smith The Bellhop cocktail, based on Tanqueray gin with apples and basil, is a must for fans of fresh flavors, or the sophisticated Lobby Whisper. Alongside the drink: fish tartare in a crispy “cigar” with corn cream – a beautiful and incredibly delicious dish, or sea bass fillet with charred fennel and asparagus on the plancha.
📍 Address: Hayarkon 84 (Jewel Hotel), Tel Aviv-Yafo
3. Fantastic
The name of this place does not lie – it is a Fantastic experience that takes you on a journey to Wonderland. The bar, located in the lobby of the Port and Blue Hotel, is designed in a theatrical and breathtaking way, inspired by fairy tales and enchanted forests. Every corner here is photographed wonderfully, from the huge chandeliers to the velvet furniture. But the real show begins when the drinks arrive.
At Fantastic, the cocktail is not just a drink, it is a visual experience. The drinks are served in crazy serving utensils – from boxing gloves to glasses in the shape of animals and doll heads. This is a place of pure escapism, which combines a crazy tea party with a sexy night bar. If you want an evening that is both an outing and a show, with a happy and slightly crazy atmosphere, this is the destination.
Must-try dishes and drinks: The famous Hulk cocktail served in a giant green glove is an experience you can’t miss (especially for the story), and if you’re coming with a friend, try the Rain Dance which changes daily and is perfect for two. With a drink: pumpkin skewer with pistachio chimichurri or a special and delicious shortcrust pastry.
📍 Address: Zidon 3 (Port and Blue Hotel), Tel Aviv-Yafo
4. De Facto Lounge Bar
On the quiet Ness Ziona Street, hides the De Facto Lounge Bar, a place that quickly became a hot gem in Tel Aviv’s nightlife. This is not just a bar, but a chef-restaurant bar with a particularly high energy. The place cleverly combines the meticulous culinary skills of Chef Hai Tzarum with the atmosphere of an emerging party. The designed space, the excellent music (there is a live DJ) and the beautiful crowd create a sexy and liberated vibe.
Unlike regular neighborhood bars, here the food is just as central a player as the alcohol. The menu is creative and daring, with dishes that are fun to share, and the bartenders concoct complex cocktails from surprising ingredients. This is the perfect place for those who want to eat well, drink well, and maybe end the evening with a little dance by the table.
Must-try dishes and drinks: The unique Ness Ziona Sour cocktail, which combines whiskey, roasted wheat, sour beer and red wine foam, or the Jerusalem Negroni based on gin. In the food section: their famous cabbage gratin dish that has become a Cult (mandatory!), and a soft and comforting Kubana that will absorb the alcohol.
📍 Address: Ness Ziona 7, Tel Aviv-Yafo
5. Supreme Room
On Rothschild Boulevard, in the most central location there is, the Supreme Room offers an entertainment experience that is larger than life. This is a mega-bar located inside a boutique hotel, designed in an impressive Art Deco style with high ceilings and a huge bar. The atmosphere here is of “seeing and being seen”, with a well-groomed crowd and rhythmic music that intensifies as the night falls.
Chef Michael Gertofsky triumphs over the menu, creating a menu inspired by hot Mexican-Latin. This is not just another regular bar menu, but a celebration of intense flavors, spiciness and freshness. The cocktails complement the experience with lots of tequila, mezcal and tropical fruits. If you are looking for a happy, colorful and luxurious place to open the weekend, you have come to the destination.
Must-try dishes and drinks: Chili Gin cocktail with floral liqueur and hot chili or the sweet Pink Pleasure. With a drink: refreshing dishes such as red tuna sashimi with caramelized orange and Greek yogurt or spicy white fish yakitori.
📍 Address: Rothschild Boulevard 22, Tel Aviv-Yafo
6. 7to1 LAB
Welcome to the lab of Neve Tzedek. The 7to1 LAB is not just another bar, but an institution for alcohol research and development. The unique concept here is molecular and scientific mixology: the bartenders use centrifuges, vacuum distillations and long infusions to produce flavors that cannot be found anywhere else. The bar itself is located in the center of the space as a stage, and the guests sit around it and watch the “scientists” at work.
The atmosphere is elegant and sophisticated, and the whole experience feels like a chef’s tasting of the world of alcohol. The menu is divided according to flavor profiles, and each drink is a complex creation that took days to prepare its ingredients. This is the place for serious cocktail lovers looking for the next thing.
Must-try dishes and drinks: The signature Fake Champagne cocktail – a brilliant creation combining gin, lychee, and ingredients that undergo a special process to perfectly mimic champagne, or the delicate Lychee Martini. Food: The menu is meticulously Japanese in style, try the Tuna Yoka (red tuna in miso) or handmade gyoza.
📍 Address: Ahad Ha’am 1, Tel Aviv-Yafo
7. Goat
The Goat on Rothschild Boulevard is where mystery meets luxury. Already at the entrance you feel like you are entering another world – a dark, sexy and dim bar, carefully designed with elements of wood and metal. The atmosphere here is completely escapist, a place to disconnect from the outside world and sink into a night of fine alcohol and good beats.
The menu draws inspiration from Asian and Japanese cuisine, both in food and drinks. The cocktails are complex and combine exotic raw materials, and the food is intended for sharing alongside the drink. As the evening progresses, the music intensifies and the place takes on the vibe of an exclusive party.
Must-try dishes and drinks: Dark N’ Stormy – classic and smooth or the light and bubbly Inferno Spritz. In the food section: Yellowtail sashimi with tomato ponzu sauce or one of the Japanese skewers that come in 2 clean and delicious pieces.
📍 Address: Rothschild Boulevard 24, Tel Aviv-Yafo
8. Cappella
On the 14th floor of the Ha’arbaa Towers, the Cappella offers an experience that is above and beyond – literally. This is a luxurious bar-lounge that takes advantage of the high location to provide one of the most beautiful views of Tel Aviv. The transparent walls, high ceilings and modern design create a feeling of floating above the city.
The place starts the evening as a regular restaurant and bar, and slowly turns into a lively party with a beautiful crowd and high energy. Mixologist Ziv Edelstein is in charge of the alcohol field, and Chef Shahaf Shabtai (known from Nitan Thai Restaurant) is in charge of the kitchen, bringing colorful and sexy Asian dishes. This is the perfect place to celebrate a birthday or special event when you want to feel on top.
Must-try dishes and drinks: Middle Eastside greenish and arousing, or the rich Cider Old Fshioned. In food: potato wedges with Japanese barbecue and green onion or salmon yuzu honey in white miso steamed in coriander.
📍 Address: Ha’arbaa 28, Tel Aviv-Yafo
9. Guest Room
In the heart of the Gan Ha חשמל neighborhood, the Guest Room manages to maintain its status as one of the best and most loved bars in the city. The almost hidden entrance leads to an intimate, warm and embracing space, which feels like a living room of friends who really (but really) understand alcohol. The vibe here is a neighborhood and relaxed “speakeasy”, without pose but full of style. The place is small, the staff is extremely professional, and the music is always in the right vibe.
The uniqueness of the place is the ability of the bartenders to hit your taste even without a menu (“Dealer’s Choice”), but even the permanent menu is full of flashes of brilliance. This is the place to come to in flip-flops or heels and feel the most comfortable in the world, with a drink in one hand and a pizza slice in the other.
Must-try dishes and drinks: The local and famous version of Bloody Mary is one of the best in the city, rich and perfectly spiced, and for rum lovers – don’t miss the Dark N’ Stormy combining dark rum, ginger, lime, and soda. For a midnight hunger: a thin, crispy bacon pizza that goes great with any drink, or small portions of olives in wine, vine leaves, and pickled okra.
📍 Address: Mikveh Israel 26, Tel Aviv-Yafo
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