Food enthusiasts at Taste TLV give their verdict on the best bars to get hit by cupid's arrow this Tu Be'av.
By K. GRUNEWALD, R. BRENDER, J. GOLDSTEINBarman Daniel Weinstein 311(photo credit: Yoni Cohen)
Tu Be’av, the holiday of love, doesn’t have to be all about celebrating with love that you are already blessed with. It can also be about celebrating other meaningful relationships in your life. However, there is also no greater joy than meeting your soul mate and feeling those butterflies for the first time.In the heat of the Israeli summer when love is pumping through the veins of everyone around, what better time to meet your crush than Tu Be’av? While they say Tel Aviv never sleeps and there is always somewhere to be, we’ve been able to narrow down the places where we think you’ll fare the best to meet and approach that special someone.HaMaozFeel at home at Hamaoz (Jessica Frykman)If you want to go out, yet feel as comfortable as you would in your own home, HaMaoz is the ideal destination. This neighborhood bar brings the excitement of a night’s escapade with a down to earth refinement.Complete with a full kitchen, family portraits, a living room set and a full functioning shower, this playful arena provides the frolicking energy to access your inner child and send flirtatious smiles to the room full of cuties. The huge bar, groovy music, and clear lighting provide the ideal backdrop to find your ideal mate.The inventive and fun seasonal drink menu enhances a night out at HaMaoz, a place where the ordinary becomes the extraordinary. The homemade Sangria is a perfect icebreaker, the kind of drink fitting for a table of two. HaMaoz is refreshing, fun, and a place where cupid’s arrow certainly strikes.The best seat in the house: Way in the back, you’ll see a real life living room with a working shower. You’ll find it past the billiards table and just next to the kitchen. 32 King George (03) 620-9458 Daily 7 p.m. - last customer. On Friday the bar opens at 2 p.m.HemingwayHemingway (Karen Cohen)Whether looking for a lively place to gather a group of friends or to meet new ones, Hemingway is the perfect destination. Located directly on Dizengoff Square, the two floors of music, drinking, and fun, mean that weekends are always packed with young dance bar enthusiasts.Take note of the staircase leading to a mezzanine, an awesome spot to overlook the active scene below. However, Hemingway’s first floor bar is its star. The square masterpiece lines the entire venue and is filled with an array of hard liquors, beers on tap, wines, and mixed drinks as well as eager to serve bartenders. The service is excellent and the crowd is diverse, ranging from relaxed patrons sitting by the bar to partygoers boogying the night away. Spend your night at Hemingway or stop there en route to a club to get your dancing shoes ready.The best seat in the house: To the left of the front door, a windowed nook, roomy enough to house you, your friends, and that new someone you just met at the bar.Reines 2 052-641-03330 Sunday - Saturday 9 p.m. until the last customerStern 1In the center of Florentin, one of Tel Aviv’s most booming nightlife districts, resides the seemingly unassuming Stern 1. Behind its oversized wooden door, patrons are greeted by friendly bartenders working at warp speed while simultaneously chatting and laughing with customers sitting at the bar. Take a seat for a relaxed, neighborhood vibe or walk toward the rear of the pub to discover a short stairwell leading into a trendy basement where hip Tel Avivians like to hang out. There is a choice of over 100 varieties of beers, over 20 of which are on tap. Feel free to ask for as many samples as your taste buds desire. Order some decadent pub grub and don’t be afraid to share with your neighbor, as portions here are larger than the average. You never know who you may meet at this fun, casual hangout.The best seat in the house: At the large bar at the entrance of the pub. Avraham Stern 1 (03) 518-7354 Sunday – Thursday and Saturday 6 p.m. until 2 a.m., Friday 6 p.m. until 3 a.m.Hashachen - The NeighborHashachen (Karen Cohen)The name for this popular bar really rings true as it’s a very relaxed and friendly place. Off the bat you will see smiling neighbors filling up the bar and spilling happily out into the street. The bar is split into a few areas, an outdoor porch area, the main bar as well as the downstairs level complete with a second bar and billiards tables.There is always a birthday or two causing the air to light up with sparklers and smell of campfire.The walls are covered with trinkets and the downstairs area doubles as a dynamic art gallery, showcasing new artists and the work is always for sale.Overall it's a lively and flirty place but the best part is that it’s easy to fit right into the friendly atmosphere. It has the perfect mix of crowded and relaxed to boost your confidence so you can march right up and approach that someone you may have been too shy otherwise.The best seat in the house: At the bottom of the stairs, turn left. You will find a nook or cranny near the billiards table and the second bar. Ibn Gavirol 192 (03) 546-0679 Sunday - Saturday 8 p.m. until the last customer223223 (Karen Cohen)Harkening back to the days of local speakeasies, 223 charms and delights with an extensive cocktail menu serviced by bartenders who pour with passion. The bartenders are all outfitted in white shirts and suspenders; showing off true prohibition style. But what makes this watering hole unique is the extensive cocktail menu. Whether you’re on a first date, or looking to catch the eye of someone new, 223 is the perfect place to sweeten the deal. Drinks at 223 will invariably be one of the main events of your night. As you sit down, your bartender will ask you whether you prefer salty, sweet, strong, or a little bitter perhaps. Depending on your taste, you may get a few recommendations, or he might say you just have to try a certain drink. The drinks are addictive, as is the relaxed and sexy mood at 223.The best seat in the house: Either make your way upstairs for a more private experience, or sit at the bar in order to catch the eye of someone new. Dizengoff 223 Sunday - Saturday 7 p.m. – 4 a.m. (03) 544-6537Molly Cutler contributed to this reportFollow @JPost_Lifestyle
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