46 Best Bars in Israel

This is a vibrant spot to experience the local music scene. Live music is on offer almost every night, featuring the widest possible mix of musical offerings, from solo singers to bands blasting indie rock in Arabic. There's a cozy bar upstairs.

In the lobby of the elegant Norman Hotel, the stately 1940s colonial-style Library Bar is ideal for refreshment at any time of day. This posh refuge serves a traditional English high tea by day and pours wines from one of Tel Aviv's most luxurious wine lists throughout the evening. Aperitifs with complimentary snacks are served during happy hour, Monday to Thursday from 6 pm to 8 pm. Look out for the bar's art and fashion evenings, which bring together the city's tastemakers for cultural conversation.

This fun, laid-back nightclub has an indoor dance floor and an outdoor garden area. Every night of the week has a different theme, including gay, mainstream, hip hop and reggaeton. Lima Lima is especially popular for its LGBTQ+ nights, which include Monday's Hip Hop nights and the Sunday night Eurovision party. The latter is a must for fans of the mega-camp European pop extravaganza that is the Eurovision Song Contest.

This well-stocked bar with multiple locations throughout the city appeals mainly to the over-thirty crowd. Live sports on TV, live music, and its location on the promenade facing the beach make it popular with tourists.

This lively sports bar and live-music destination offers a friendly oasis with an American vibe. Families as well as nightlife seekers will feel equally at home with the menu of more than 70 sandwiches and salads, burgers, and burritos.

The country's most authentic Irish pub is—no surprise—run by an Irishman, Robert Segal. Live music reverberates on Friday afternoon. There's a full menu, including such Emerald Isle favorites as shepherd's pie and beef stew.

This cultural and entertainment center features deaf and blind performers. Shows can be combined with a pre-performance snack at the BlackOut Restaurant (eating in the dark) or Café Kapish (ordering in sign language).

Looking for all the world like an American sports bar, Paddy's stocks more than 50 kinds of international beers, including 16 on draft. Everything here is big: the food menu, the wooden patio, and the bar, said to be the largest in Eilat. On game nights you have your choice of nine screens, or you can pass the time upstairs on one of the four pool tables. Bands play twice a week on summer nights.

One of Haifa's oldest and most reliable pubs, the cozy Pundak HaDov (The Bear Inn) tends to fill with enthusiastic sports fans cheering on their favorite teams in front of four big screens. The menu has ample choices for snacks and full meals.

A fully stocked bar, frequent live music, and a pub menu with burgers, fries, and salads make this an excellent place to grab a drink steps from the historical sites of Bethlehem. The menu is mostly Western, except for sushi and a selection of flavors for the shisha water pipes. Check out Rewined's other branches in Jericho and Jerusalem as well.

A must for wine lovers, this pleasant spot is not only a good place to sample local varietals but also a great source of information about the wine industry. The bar stocks local wines from both well-known and up-and-coming vineyards, all at reasonable prices. Enjoy the wine alongside creative smaller plates like the sweet potato and onion fritters, or more substantial homemade pasta dishes.

Live music is the claim to fame at this very popular pub, where the shows kick off most nights at around 10:30 pm. The crowd includes people of all ages, and they hang out around the bar or dance until last call.

Named for a beloved toy store that previously occupied this space, Toy Bar is a multilevel club with cozy couches for conversation, a great selection of local DJs, and massive flat-screen TVs for live performances and keeping an eye on the game.

Part of the trendy HaTachana train station compound, this tapas bar evokes a Latin atmosphere with its sultry mood music. Sangria and other Spanish-style beverages are the theme of the large outdoor bar, where you may be lucky enough to catch some live music.

With an impressive selection of whiskey from every corner of the globe, Whiskey Bar & Museum (bar, museum, and restaurant, actually) showcases more than 1,000 different bottles, all of which you can sample and buy. Set in one of the historic tunnels built under the Sarona district by the German Templers in the 19th century, the space is steeped in history, having previously been a local winery and, more recently, home to the Israeli secret service, Mossad. The menu features a selection of kosher dishes designed to pair well with whiskey, including charcuterie and desserts.

This intimate, inventive craft cocktail bar is situated cozily in back of 1868, with an accompanying menu of the Zuta burger, beef tartare, a Caesar salad with cured red tuna, and other treats.