8 Best Bars in Center City, Tel Aviv

Many of the cocktails here are lit up with a fiery uproar, and some come with garnishes straight out of a toy shop. It's definitely worth watching the skilled bartenders do their stuff in a room that takes you straight back to the 1920s. Small dishes are served with a bit less drama and include beef tartare, crispy calamari, and house-made fried kale chips (hard to find in Israel). In true speakeasy fashion, the bar is expertly hidden inside a small boutique hotel, on a side street near the northern end of Rothschild Boulevard.

This stylish neighborhood bar has the feel of Prohibition-era New York City. The suspender-wearing bartenders specialize in excellent mixed drinks. Order a spicy apple martini to go alongside the expertly crafted bar food.

Aptly named for a small fish that's a staple of the city's old-time restaurants, Bar Barbunia draws a mixed crowd that ranges from fishermen to financial planners. It manages to be both smoky and cheerful, and the music tends toward classics from the '70s. The bar is small and can get extremely busy so don't be surprised if the party spills out onto the street.

Paying homage to a certain neighborhood in Brooklyn, Bushwick is known for its lively atmosphere and excellent cocktail menu. The bar is situated on the ground floor of the trendy new Fabric Hotel and, apart from serving breakfast to hotel guests, is also a popular spot for sipping a morning coffee or chilling over afternoon drinks. Don't miss the Rhubarbara Streisand or the wild and smoky Here Comes the Tiger. They're brought to you by the team of mixology maestros behind the immensely popular Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar.

At this neighborhood tavern rich with history, the regulars tend to be older and mellower. Groups of friends congregate outside in the beer garden or inside at the small bar while enjoying jazz or blues.

A two-level subterranean courtyard adorned by local graffiti artists draws bohemian music addicts and casual partiers for alternative music, not to mention fresh baked pizza and mojito slushies. Any night of the week you can find a relaxed crowd enjoying either a live band or an international DJ playing hip-hop, soul, or electronic music. The vibe changes over the weekend, as Tel Avivians come to celebrate the end of the working week and party the night away. 

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.

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.