Beer Bazaar- It’s always Israeli Craft Beer’oclock

The hallmark of a good craft beer is the distinctive local flavor it adds to the base of grain, hops, yeast and water. Israeli craft beer, virtually nonexistent until a decade ago, now is available in more than 100 styles. The taste of Israel inside each bottle hints of locally sourced herbs and fruits such as mint, rosemary, date, passionfruit, mango or citron.

In 2013, Beer Bazaar opened their doors for the entire craft beer enthusiast community. Originally opening a small hut in the middle of the exciting Machane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem and Carmel Market in Tel Aviv, their goal was to provide three local drafts on tap and a place to find local beers by the bottle. Over the past two years, they have expanded to four Tel Aviv locations.

My favorite Beer Bazaar is located on Yishkon street next to the Carmel market. This Beer Bazaar branch serves over 7 drafts on tap featuring a few house brews made off-premises and an assortment of local beers. Their drafts cost 23 NIS for a third of a liter and 29 NIS for half a liter.

With over 100 beers from dozens of Israeli microbreweries to choose from, there’s something for everyone who likes beer and wants to try one they can’t find elsewhere. Since many Israeli microbrews are sold close to the breweries, it may be more difficult to find a Jerusalem brew like Shapiro’s Stout in Tel Aviv, so a central location to sample Israeli beers is a nice way to drink your way around the country without spending hours on the road. You can drink Bazelet from the Golan or some passion fruit infused brew from the Negev without leaving the same barstool. All bottles at the bar cost 26 NIS, a fair price compared to other local bars.

Recently, Beer Bazaar implemented a new Happy Hour at all their locations. Between 5PM-8PM, when you order a draft beer you receive a bottle of one of the 6 crafted beers brewed by Beer Bazaar. While I tend to prefer to enjoy a 1+1 happy hour deal, I also enjoy having craft beers at home which would be tough to find at your local supermarket.

For those looking for some food while drinking your beers, Beer Bazaar provides different Israeli theme bar food options. Their menu consists of fish entrees, pizza, meat sandwiches and healthier options such as grilled eggplant. While their food is tasty, I come here for the craft beer.

Whether you are trying o take a break from the craziness of the market or enlighten friends with the advancement of Israeli craft beer, Beer Bazaar is a great place to knock back a few beers during the day or at night.

Locations:

BeerBazaar Machane Yehuda :Etz Hayyim St 3 Jerusalem ( KOSHER)

BeerBazaar Yishkon: 36 Yishkon Tel Aviv

BeerBazaar Levinsky 13 Zvulun Street Tel Aviv

BeerBazaar Basta Rambam 1 Tel Aviv

BeerBazaar Rothschild Rothschild Boulevard 142 Tel Aviv

Hours: Sunday- Thursday : 10AM-12AM and Friday 10AM-7PM

Taqueria- A Mexican Oasis in the Heart of the Desert

With summer around the corner, beach days just beg for authentic tacos and margaritas. Tel Aviv is filled with bustling cafes, restaurants and falafel stands, but there seems to be a shortage of authentic Mexican and Asian foods. This is where Taqueria comes in; a Mexican restaurant in the heart of Tel Aviv.

You can choose to sit either outside or inside, which is an intimate space with colorful chairs that match the collage on the wall. Color is scattered artistically throughout the restaurant, highlighted with various pots of cacti and succulents. High wooden ceilings with paneling, ceiling fans and a combination of low hanging light bulbs and deck chairs (hanging over the first-floor balcony) all add to its sleek, modern-contemporary design. The specials of the day are written on a large chalkboard on the wall, take note and give them a try! The atmosphere buzzes in the evening, when it comes alive with its dimmed lighting and cool beats, a great place to sit, drink and eat with friends. We recommend giving yourself at least 20 minutes ahead of time as there is always a queue. They don’t provide the option of making reservations ahead of time, except on Fridays.

Nachos have been hard to find here in Tel Aviv. Usually, they just come as chips and salsa. Anyone from abroad will tell you that chips and salsa are surely no replacement for the wonder of real nachos; fresh melted cheese on hand-made corn tortilla chips, topped with an assortment of guacamole, sour cream, pickled jalapenos, salsa, cilantro, and green onions. Taqueria’s nachos (39 NIS) do not disappoint.

When it comes to ordering the main course, people first think about burritos and tacos, I recommend trying their quesadillas for a change.  Taqueria offers four different types of quesadillas: Classico (cheese, cilantro, spring onions and jalapenos -28 NIS), Pollo Plancha ( chipotle marinated chicken breasts, cheese, cilantro, spring onions and japenos-34 NIS), Camrones ( Adobo marinated shrimp, cheese, cilantro, spring onions and japenos-36 NIS) and the vegan quesadillas.

Despite mainly ordering burritos at Taqueria for years, after being recommended, I tried the less heavy and delicious fish or carne asada tacos. The Pescado Frito (fish) Tacos were the first to grab my attention; beer-battered cod served with fresh guacamole, salsa verde, tartare, cilantro and cabbage. Unlike other Mexican restaurants in Tel Aviv, when you order tacos at Taqueria, you can decide between either a corn or flour soft tortilla. These were perfected sprits of lime and a bit of Taqueria’s smoky salsa. The fish was delightfully moist and appetizing and the guacamole was dazzling and fresh, a creamy additional delight to the crispy fried fish.

Taqueria’s beloved burritos are served in a tightly wrapped foil and then cut in half. Prepare yourself to make a mess with the foil as there is no way to keep this neat presentation an art piece. Each burrito is generously packed with the choice of vegan option/ vegetarian option/marinated steak/ pulled roasted marinated chicken/slow cooked pork/marinated shrimp in lime and tequila, filled with rice, black beans, lettuce, Salsa Roja, cheese and sour cream. Each burrito is worth the price of 39 NIS.

Whatever dish you try, again, have it with a frozen margarita – they are strong and flavorful and incredibly refreshing. Besides the beers that they also offer, you’ll find a variety of Tequilas. Their desserts vary, but they always have the popular Churros, fried Oreos, chocolate mousse and Paleta hand-made ice-cream popsicles.

NOT KOSHER

Address: Levontin 28

Hours: Sunday-Tuesday 12PM-Midnights and Wednesday-Saturday 12PM-1AM

Dosa Bar- A Taste of India in Tel Aviv

In the past few years, a new trend has hit Tel Aviv and is taking over the White City. Organic vegan food is the new “it” food in Tel Aviv.   Even though there have been many vegan options in Tel Aviv, only recently are we seeing this trend at its full force. One of the newest additions to the vegan-friendly community is Dosa Bar.

Dosa Bar, an Indian street food restaurant, opened shop about 9 months ago and the Tel Aviv vegan community hasn’t stopped raving about their delicious and affordable vegan-friendly menu. The creation of Dosa Bar was the result of a conflict between the owners of an Indian restaurant and Israeli Top Chef participant Jonathan Roshfeld.

Dosa Bar offers four types of dosas. Those who have visited India are familiar with dosas. This is a street food characteristic of southern India and available worldwide. Dosa is a rice crepe made with black mung beans which is both vegan and gluten-free. Dosa comes in four varieties – yellow with potatoes, onions, carrots and spices (38 NIS), orange with sweet potato, carrot, onion, Indian spice and green onions (40 NIS), green with swiss chard, squash, onions and Ag’oan (44 NIS) and dosa mediterranean (46 NIS). All dosas come with sambar – a lentil soup, salton of cabbage and carrots and chutney coconut dip. You can also find desserts that are more on the sweet side such as spirulina cream, peanut butter crème and more.

For those looking to enhance their delicious meal with some alcoholic beverages, the chef has you covered. The combination of a shot of Arak ( 14 NIS ) and a glass of Blue Moon with a slice of orange( 20 NIS ) creates the perfect combination with this delicious food.The fact that all the dishes are very filling and priced well provides the niche for vegan-friendly customers to lure non-vegan diners to experience a healthy and tasty meal.

Closed on Shabbat but no kosher certification

Address: Ben Yehuda 188

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 12PM-11PM and Friday 12PM-4PM

Joseph N Sons- Newest Fish N Chips Stand to hit Tel Aviv

The man behind the successful Tel Aviv restaurants Goocha and The Diner had a dream of expanding his culinary wings. After thoughtfully research, he opened a traditional fish and chips restaurant right across from Rabin Square. This new street food stand provides authentic taste and experience to those missing their British fish and chips and a pint of cold draft beer. A bonus is the affordable price  for a tasty plate of fish and chips and a cold beer on a hot Tel Aviv day.

You ever recognize that taste of something that is so necessary for the local culinary and wonder how it is that it just came to town? When people think of Tel Aviv street food they think of hummus, falafel and shawarma, but fish and chips is a distant thought in the street food community. The owners of Joseph N Sons want to change that for good.

The owner’s inspiration came straight from London –they longed for a fish and chips stand and wanted to bring a local feel to their new restaurant. It’s a hot Tel Aviv summer day what is on your mind? First thing first, what beers do they offer?  English ale straight from the barrel served in a pint or half-pint. A pint (560 ml) is sold for 29 NIS and a half-pint (280 ml) is 17 NIS. Now, what dishes do they offer? Six different fish based dishes, including different variations of fish and chips, and two grilled fresh fish dishes. Alongside traditional fish and chips, you can try their crunchy Panko version of their version of falafel and fries. Each of the dishes cost 39 NIS, but, if you want to try their delicious Calamari Crispy Shrimp dish, the price is 49 NIS. The sauces they offer are tartar, and chipotle aioli basket verde. They prepare home fries from scratch which provide a thick and crunchy taste that is served with different spices.

For those looking for non-fried dishes, they offer two health-oriented fish dishes: Salmon (39 NIS) or Denis (49 NIS), served with salad, green beans with almonds and cranberries. For those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth, they offer an English sweet pudding (19NiS).

We highly recommend you to try the newest street food vendor to open their doors in Tel Aviv. In the next few months, we will see if this new trend of street food will join in the talks of falafel and hummus as the King of Tel Aviv street food.

Not Kosher

Address: Malkhei Yisra’el St 10,

Hours: Sunday-Saturday 12PM-2AM

Shenkin 50- It’s Game Night Every Night-CLOSED

When people think of Tel Aviv nightlife, the first thing that pops into their heads are the fabulous beach bars and the exciting night clubs found in the city. Over the past few years, the more relaxing bar theme has exploded throughout Tel Aviv. A few weeks ago a new and unique bar opened, a first in Israel that provides many board games of your choosing while enjoying a great drink.

Shenkin 50, the newest addition to the bar scene, has brought some life to the café filled streets of Shenkin. While during the day it is your typical café, at night it provides a bar experience like no other in the white city. Jon Abel, one of the owners, explain how this idea came along, “The idea for the bar came out of the need for a local bar in the Shenkin area, the street that used to be one of the best in Israel has become dead over time. We felt a bar on Shenkin was needed, but also one where people can relax and enjoy themselves. We wanted to provide people with a different experience than they could find anywhere else in Tel Aviv and knew offering board games would be a fitting option”.

When you first walk into the Shenkin 50, the first thing you see is the mountain of board games that are available. Among them are Cards Against Humanity, Settlers of Catan, Monopoly, Risk and Jenga. Practically any board game that you can think of is at your choosing. On the weekends, the bar tends to fill up with groups of gamers, so I recommend you reserve ahead of time for your favorite game.

Other than the board games, they have a very interesting alcohol and bar food selection. On draft they offer two different beers – Jems 8.8 and Taybeh. The owners explained why they chose these beers, “Jems is a great company, offer great beers and the 8.8 appeals to the type of crowd were aiming for. Taybeh was a more obscure choice but on taste alone, it’s one of the best brewed golden ales. Taybeh is unpasteurized so the consumer is not getting any of the chemicals and preservatives that your typical beers will have while remaining very smooth and tasty”. Both beers on tap are offered in 1/3 of a liter and ½ liter. They also offer different offerings of Jems beer by the bottle.

For those looking for stronger drinks, I recommend you try their espresso martini. It’s made with fresh coffee, grounded on location. Other delicious cocktails are a cosmopolitan and, the local favorite, Jerusalem Arak and grapefruit Juice.

They provide different interesting bar food as well. My favorite is their nachos, unlike most bars which offer Israel nachos (typically Doritos tortilla chips and salsa) they put their heart and soul in each plate of nachos. Shenkin 50’s nachos are made with fresh corn tortilla chips with melted cheese, jalapenos, sour cream, black beans, onion and avocado. One of the more unique food items that they offer is a Herring sandwich; I recommend you drink a glass of Singleton whisky along with the herring sandwich.

Overall, if you are looking for a nice relaxing night out with your friends or looking for something different, Shenkin 50 is the newest and the place to go to.

Address: Shenkin 50

Hours: Thursday-Saturday 7PM- 1AM

Haprazador- It’s All About the Toppings

In the exciting and dynamic Tel Aviv culinary scene there is always a discussion – where is the best gourmet burger in town. Unlike other burger restaurants, Haprzador offers unique burgers with the most unlikely toppings that will make you simply drool.

Recently Tel Aviv has become well known for its many burger options. What is unique in Tel Aviv is their well known “Gourmet Burgers”. These specialty burgers like Vitrina andAmerica burger are heating up the culinary scene with their delicious burgers. Almost every restaurant you go to in the white city offers a delicious variation of their gourmet burger.  The difference between the successful and the failed burger joints is usually the topping that they offer and at Haprazador, they have become the master of  the toppingsl.

Haprazador opened their doors in late November on Mendli Mois Street, which is a short two minute walk from the beach. The owners of the newest burger restaurant show their vast knowledge of the culinary burger scene by providing numerous varieties of topping for each burger they sell. This provides a unique burger experience that locals are just not used to.

The menu offers a variety of burgers that come with extras. The burger known as the “Blue and Smoky” is a burger with blue cheese, bacon, arugula, balsamic mayonnaise and pickled red onions which costs 58 NIS. The “Tony Montana” burger is accompanied by Gouda cheese, Cuban garlic sauce, pickled onion and potato chips and costs 54 NIS. One of the more interesting burgers they offer is the “Like After the Rain”. This burger is served with truffle mayonnaise, spinach, and mushrooms roasted with thyme and rosemary, which costs 54 NIS. Their most popular burger is the “Be a Coward” burger.  This delightful hamburger is presented with lettuce, tomato and pickles and costs 49 NIS. For those vegetarians, they offer a veggie burger patty with leeks and beets and a vegan burger with Portobello mushrooms that will cost you healthier eaters 48 NIS.

For those that love delicious sides, they have wings that cost 28 NIS. They offer some of the most delicious and made on location onion rings in town for 26 NIS along with the typical fries for 12 NIS.

For those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth, their desserts are excellent. They offer many American hits such as chocolate brownie for 26 NIS, banana splits for 26 NIS and apple pie milkshake, which is basically a vanilla milkshake which is added to apple pie, which costs 32 NIS.

NOT KOSHER

Address: Mendli Mois 6

Hours: Sunday-Saturday 6PM-12AM

America Burgers- American Diner Burger Experience in the Heart of Tel Aviv

In Tel Aviv’s thriving culinary scene you tend to discover almost any kind of food that you are looking for, but the genre of American Diners is not something you are likely to see every day. Recently a group of Tel Aviv veteran culinary owners opened the new and exciting America Burgers in the heart of Tel Aviv.

America Burgers is located on the exciting street of Allenby; this new American style burger restaurant was opened by a group of veteran culinary experts. Unlike the popular gourmet burger scene which took over Tel Aviv the past five years, they want to go back to basics and present simple delicious burgers, the type that we grew up on. They provide one of the best burger experiences in the white city. Unlike other hamburger restaurants  in Tel Aviv, they offer a unique and limited menu where customers can choose from 5 different types of burgers. Each burger on their menu is developed to pair with specific side dishes and vegetables which, together, present a perfect meal. They offer the usual side dishes we have became accustomed to such as fried onions, onion rings and fries.

Their best burgers include their classic beef burger and their American cheese burger. Their classic beef burger is presented on a fresh bun with American mayonnaise, ketchup, tomato, lettuce, pickles, caramelized onions and pickled red onions. While those looking for a less (not) kosher option, their American cheeseburger is served with mayonnaise, ketchup, tomato, lettuce, pickles, onions and fresh cheddar cheese. Of course, they offer a vegetarian burger  which is fried Portobello mushrooms served with garlic mayonnaise, ketchup, lettuce, tomato and chimichurri sauce.

Unlike most quality Tel Aviv hamburger restaurants which charge close to 80 NIS for a hamburger meal, here you will spend 40-50NIS for a burger. For those not looking to chow down a burger, I recommended ordering the American classic bloomin onion. What is a bloomin onion you ask, it is a fried onion in the shape of a flower that is served with different sauces to indulge in.

NOT KOSHER

Address: Allenby 112

Hours: Saturday –Thursday 6PM-1AM

Beatrice- The First and Only Dutch Delicatessen in Israel

In recent years, Tel Aviv has joined the list of top culinary cities of the world. When dining at different restaurants in the city you will see many different food cultures in one seating. Unlike the recent and trendy Chef restaurants, I am highlighting the lesser known gems in the city. One of the cultures you rarely seem to find around Tel Aviv is the Dutch. Beatrice offers some of the best Dutch style sandwiches and products in Israel which will remind you of your travels in Amsterdam.Beatrice is located in the heart of Tel Aviv on Rashi Street. This veteran Dutch deli is somewhat hidden, but once you try their tasty sandwiches you won’t forget this tiny deli. In this little shop you can find almost any kind of food that would make you longing for that trip in Amsterdam. They offer different items ranging from sweets, syrups, waffles, fresh cheeses, pickled fish and even mayonnaise, as only the Dutch know how to prepare.

I recommend ordering their Fish Sandwich which cost 25 shekels. Their classic sandwich is a perfect combination of classic of Soused Herring with sour cream. This delicious sandwich is served in a fresh  baguette bun smeared  with a nice layer of Dutch butter, topped with sliced and arranged of fresh Soused Herring, fresh tomatoes, red onion and sour cream. This sandwich presents you the Amsterdam street food you have been craving.

If pickled fish isn’t your thing, they also offer a delicious cheese sandwich which is loaded with great Dutch goodies. Another sandwich I recommend ordering is their sausage sandwich which filled with many of authentic fine Dutch sausages, and easily provides an authentic Dutch experience.

NOT KOSHER

Price: 20-35NIS

Address:  Rashi 19

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 10AM-8PM and Friday 9AM-4PM

Cinco De Mayo Special- Top 5 Mexican Restaurants in Tel Aviv

With the increasing popularity of Mexican restaurants worldwide in the past five years, Tel Aviv finally has different tasty and affordable Mexican food to choose from. With the upcoming Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, on Tuesday May 5^th, many restaurants will be hosting different parties and offering great deals. I am highlighting the top 5 Mexican options in Tel Aviv.

El Taco
El Taco menu consists largely of tacos (corn flour tortillas or white flour, soft or crunchy) and Quesadilla (closed tortillas with cheese, aka “The Mexican toast”), filled with chicken, meat or vegetables.  The prices are very affordable – each Taco cost from 13NIS to 19NIS. They offer business lunch deals as well.

For me, their better dishes are the taco mushroom vegetarian, which contains champagne and shiitake mushrooms with green onions (costing 13 NIS), and the quesadilla, which is served with chicken and beef. Both are served with refried black beans and mozzarella cheese. The chicken option costs 15NIS while the beef option is 19 shekel. In addition, a small plate of nachos is available for 14 NIS. If you are looking for a full meal, you will need to order multiply dishes.

To help wash down your Mexican meal, El Taco offers frozen lime margaritas for 15 NIS and San Miguel beer for 14 NIS.

Address: Yermiyahu Street 17

Hours: Sunday-Saturday 12PM-12AM

Taqueria

Taqueria is located on trendy Rothschild street. This restaurant meets all expectations, with authentic Mexican food exploding with flavor and style. Among the starters is one of the best soups in Tel Aviv, a creamy chicken soup, and mountains of nachos covered in melted cheese, salsa and all the rest. The main courses are exactly what you’d expect in any self-respecting Mexican restaurant – tacos, burritos, chile con carne and quesadillas.

The atmosphere is friendly and laid back, and the restaurant has special events on Mexican holidays. Considering the quality of the food, the place is extremely affordable and the relaxed atmosphere makes for a comfortable ambience. The staff is very friendly and efficient. This location is a great spot to start your night.

Address: Levontin 28

Hours: Sunday-Tuesday 12PM-Midnight and Wednesday-Saturday 12PM-1AM

Pancho

Pancho, located on Tchernichovsky street right next to the Carmel Shuk, is unlike other recent Mexican food arrivals in Tel Aviv, Pancho offers the Tex-Mex taste and feel to their customers.  The restaurant can hold up to around 20-25 people and their staff is friendly and always looking for customer feedback. They offer different burritos, tacos and quesadillas at very affordable price that beats their competitors.

Pancho’s menu includes most of the normal Mexican options available in most Mexican restaurants, such as tacos, quesadillas and, my favorite, burritos. Pancho’s tacos are delicious and well-priced. The vegetarian taco is 9NIS for one taco or 3 tacos for 24NIS. Chicken or beef tacos are 10NIS for one taco or 3 tacos for 25NIS. Pancho offers a corn tortilla, a first in Tel Aviv, which I highly recommend. Pancho’s quesadillas come in two options. For their original recipe, one quesadilla is for 9NIS or three small quesadillas for 24NIS. Their special quesadilla comes with 3 small quesadillas for 27NIS or one for 11NIS. All the quesadillas are served on a corn tortilla which presents an authentic Mexican taste. Pancho’s burrito, which is my favorite dish, come in two options. The veggie burrito is 18NIS and the chicken or beef burrito is 20NIS. All the dishes tend to be small but are very tasty and affordable.

Looking to wash down a drink with your tasty food? Pancho offers different beers and cocktails.  I recommend trying the Bloody Mary or the Margaritas.Pancho offers a unique weekend Tex-Mex brunch unlike any found in the city. I recommend ordering the huevos ranchero (the Mexican shakshuka).

Address: Tchernichovsky 1

Hours: Monday-Tuesday 12PM-6PM, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 12PM-3:30PM, 6PM-11PM, Friday 11AM-3:00

Los Burning Tacos

Los Burning Tacos, located on Allenby street right across the Carmel Shuk, is inspired by El Diabo in Brooklyn,  NY. Los Burning Tacos’ menu includes most of the normal Mexican options available in most Mexican restaurants – such as enchiladas and quesadilla. However, their tacos and burritos are much the rave. Mexican Ceviche (36 shekels), taco or burrito with chicken, fish, beef or shrimp (34-47 shekels) and more are among the many dishes and specials that they offer. If you are looking for starters, they offer nachos with salsa (17 shekels), Mexican corn (17 shekels) and other affordable options.

Besides their delicious food, they also have a full bar which includes draft beer, Arak, whisky and other alcoholic beverages. I recommend ordering the Strong Bloody Mary or their tasty and authentic Burning Margarita, each priced at 31 NIS.

Order: Chicken Taco, which is served with boiled chicken and lots of lime and cilantro. Another excellent dish that I highly recommend is the fish tacos which are induced with jalapeno and lime sauce. Either of these dishes cost you between 15-30 NIS.

Address: Allenby 47

Hours: Sunday–Friday 12Pm-2AM, Saturday 7PM-Til the last customer

Mex and Co 

Mex and Co located in the heart of town on Ben Yehuda Street. Their menu is filled with many different Tex-Mex options. Appetizers on the menu include nachos and corn on the cob. I recommend ordering the nachos which consist of tortilla chips with salsa of tomato, jalapeno, sour cream, cheese and guacamole (24 shekels). Another appetizer I recommend is the Rantz’os, which is a mix of tomatoes and peppers with fried egg and sour cream, served in a crispy tortilla (NIS 24). Their main dishes include choosing how you want to eat your dish in (burrito, tacos or rice dish). Next you decide what meat or veggie option you want in your meal. They offer different kinds of spicy meats such as spicy chicken with onions, Entrecote by skewers, vegetarian shwarma with Mexican spices and many more. With each dish you are offered different sauces which include afrijoles, guacamole, chipotle, lime jalapeno salsa, salsa Verde and vegetables decorate the dish. The basic price per dish is only 29 NIS, while for additional meal extras will cost 4NIS

They offer different dinks such as a cold and slushy glass of Margarita (15NIS), homemade tea (10NIS) and other local and Mexican beers.

Address: Ben Yehuda Street 122

Hours:  Sunday-Saturday 12PM-Midnight

Top 5 Happy Hours in Tel Aviv

Until recently, most Tel Aviv bars happy hour specials were rare. Unlike the U.S. business culture, where after work you grab some drinks and food, in Tel Aviv, people head home and then have drinks after dinner. However, recently, the happy hour scene has erupted in Tel Aviv. I will be highlighting my top 5 best Happy Hours in the White City.

Louis- Malkhei Yisra’el Street 4

My favorite of Tel Aviv’s happy hours bar is Louis Bar, which is located in the heart of Tel Aviv, right across Rabin Square. In Tel Aviv, where you have so many different options where to start your night of drinking, Louis has to be on top of the list. When I first started to date my girlfriend she raved about this bar next to Rabin square that her friends always met at. After a few visits I become a regular. Whenever someone asks me about a fun and well priced happy hour, Louis bar is always one of the first options.

Like most bars that offer happy hour in Tel Aviv, Louis Bar offers great drink specials with tasty bar food. They offer a buy one get one free and 50% off of all food, and have one of the most wide-ranging beer menus in the area. Unlike most bars, their beer glasses come in a pint (410 ml) or a baby (290ml)

They also offer an excellent and varied food menu at the bar. Having tasted the majority of the items on their menu, their best bar food consists of thin pizza, hamburgers sliders and their famous sloppy Yossef (yes, they offer their Israeli version of sloppy Joe).

MILA- Dizengoff 164

Mila Bar is located in the heart of Dizengoff Street, next to the corner of Ben Gurion and Dizengoff.  In Tel Aviv, where there are so many options where to start your night of drinking, if you don’t have Mila Bar as your destination, chances are that you probably won’t end up there. Over a year ago, my friends and I were looking for an early happy hour and randomly found Mila Bar. We have been spreading the word about their happy hour specials ever since.

Their 1+1 happy hour specials are well advertised throughout the bar. Opening in the early evening and going til 9:30 pm, their drinks are “buy one get the next one free”. They also offer happy hour food specials that are very tasty and compliment the drinks.

223-Dizengoff Street 223

223 is located in the old north section of Diznegoff street right before Nordau street. In recent years the cocktail bar trend has taken Tel Aviv by storm. 223, though it was one of Tel Aviv’s original authentic cocktail bars, still provides some of the best cocktail and mixologists in Tel Aviv. The bar design presents a 1920’s New Orleans bar feel and their staff is dressed for the part making 223 one of the more interesting choices on this list.

223’s happy hour special is 1+1 on all cocktails and beers from 6PM until 8PM. If you get to the bar early enough I recommend taking an outside table which will present a great people watching experience on the exciting street of Dizengoff.

Café Nona- Ibn Gabirol 44

While walking down the busy street of Ibn Gabirol, there are so many different bars to choose from. One may ask what makes this bar bette  than the other one a half block away?. Unlike most Bars around Tel Aviv, Café Nona presents a unique concept with their discounted drink specials.

Café Nona is situated a little south of Rabin Square and is well known for its drinks specials until 2am. Indeed, Café Nona is open 24 hours a day; but I am highlighting their alcohol specials. Unlike most bars in Tel Aviv that might offer a few hours of discounted drinks in their happy hour special, Café Nona, from Sunday through Thursday until 2 am, their entire bar is 50% off. The bar has different types of draft beer cocktails and they staff will gladly make any kind of drink you might want. The bar staff is very friendly which usually comes with free shots of Whisky, Arak or Vodka. They have a in-depth food menu as well which is well priced.

Shem Tov- Masaryk 14

Shem Tov is located a half block away from Rabin Square on Masaryk. This quiet bar has been a nice quiet secret for the locals who are trying to take advantage of the early evening happy hour specials. Shem Tov is a friendly and quiet bar that is a perfect place for friends to grab some drinks and not worry about getting a table.

The owners of the bar know their clients very well, as they offer their happy hour special as early as 6PM until 8PM throughout the week. Their Happy hour specials include 50% off all drinks and food on their entire menu. So of their great deals include a half liter of beer for 15NIS, a glass of Glenmorangie single malt whisky for 30NIS and sirloin Carpaccio for 19NIS.