Nightlife & the Arts in Jerusalem

The Holy City is not as staid as you might think, even though over half its residents—ultra-Orthodox Jews and the Arab community—do not partake in Western-style entertainment and arts. You can combine a great meal or tasty snack with a concert, pub, or dance bar for a lively evening out on the town. Thursday and Friday nights are the hot times for bars and clubs and late-night shows; classical music and dance performances tend to avoid Friday nights, and take place over the rest of the week. Check out listings in English-language publications and free booklets, which you can find in hotels.

Nightlife

While Jerusalem can't compete with Tel Aviv in terms of the number of nightlife attractions, locals insist that what the city lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. Pubs, bars, and nightclubs in Jerusalem tend to be more relaxed than those in Tel Aviv—they're friendlier, more informal, and often less expensive. As in Tel Aviv, the nightlife scene in Jerusalem starts very late: some places only begin to fill up after midnight, and most pubs are open until the early hours of the morning.

The Arts

Classical music is the capital's strong suit: it's worth checking schedules of ensembles and main venues ahead of time. Artists in other musical genres pass through from time to time, but Jerusalem is seldom their main focus. Dance performances are infrequent, and English theater is very rare.

For English-language schedules of performances and other cultural events, consult the Friday weekend section of the Jerusalem Post and its insert In Jerusalem; Friday's "The Guide" of Ha'aretz's English edition; and the free weekly and monthly booklets available at hotels and information bureaus.

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