Tel Aviv moves at a pace that makes most cities feel sluggish, and the cocktail scene is no different. Imperial Craft, which opened on Hayarkon Street in the mid-2010s and quickly earned regional recognition, is the city's best argument for being taken seriously as a drinks destination. The bar is smaller than its reputation suggests, a 14-seat counter with perhaps a dozen stools at the back, but the programme running across the back bar is exceptional by any international standard.
The menu changes four times a year, tied loosely to Israeli seasons, with local ingredients sourced from the Carmel Market and beyond. Pomelo, etrog, sumac, and tahini-washed spirits appear in cocktails that use global frameworks to arrive somewhere distinctly local. The 180-bottle spirits selection rewards exploration. The whisky range alone, spanning Scottish, Japanese, and Israeli expressions from the Milk and Honey distillery, justifies the trip.
The crowd is young, confident, and cosmopolitan. English and Hebrew alternate freely. Service is informed without being precious. Imperial Craft treats its guests as people who came because they care about what they are drinking, and the staff respond accordingly. The bar represents the core of the Tel Aviv cocktail bar scene, and any visit to the city that omits it is an incomplete one. The hidden gem bars in Tel Aviv guide includes several bars the Imperial team tends to recommend after last call.
