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Nightlife
Despite the lack of licensing laws, Jerusalem has never been known for its wild nightlife and if you’re looking to dance the night away your best bet would be to follow the example of many Jerusalemites and take a sherut the 60km (37 miles) to Tel Aviv. The nightclubs that do exist in Jerusalem tend to be located in the Talpiot area, are expensive and operate smart dress codes. Nightlife is even quieter than usual at present due to worries about terrorist attacks and East Jerusalem is particularly empty after dark.
The legal drinking age is 18-years. Up-to-date listings for club nights can be found in the Friday supplement of the Jerusalem Post (website: www.jpost.com)
Bars: With a few exceptions, alcoholic drinks are not available in East Jerusalem or in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. If you do want a drink in East Jerusalem, head for the Cellar Bar, at the American Colony Hotel, Nablus Road, which is popular with journalists (open until 0330). Visitors should drink in moderation or avoid wandering around visibly under the influence. Most bars are located in west Jerusalem, with a handful to be found in the Christian and Armenian Quarters of the Old City. Among the most popular is the Tabasco Tearooms, 8 Aqabat al-Taqiya (open 0800-2400), attached to a budget hostel of the same name (so popular with backpackers). Friday night’s Punch Party allows you to drink as much punch as you like. Jerusalem’s first Internet bar, Strudel, 11 Monbaz, is also good for food and drink (open until at least midnight and until 0200 on Sat). Zanzibar, 13 Shamai, is still a popular, trendy bar that caters to a sophisticated yuppie clientele (open until 0300). Tzoof Bar, 15 Hebron Road (noon-0200 Sat and Sun), with its arched entrances, brick walls and floor and ambient lighting, summons up the Old City, and serves a mix of drinks including cocktails. It sometimes has stand-up comedy and live jazz. One of the city’s liveliest areas, Nahalat Shiv’ah, can be found of Soloman Street just outside the city walls, it is a polular for bars, cafes, pubs and restaurants at all time of day, but especially at night.
Casinos: Gambling is illegal in Jerusalem.
Clubs: Most clubs are located in west Jerusalem. At Underground, 1 Yoel Salomon, there have been drinks and dancing as long as anyone can remember. With two rooms of music (one rock and one dance) it attracts Israelis and travellers alike. Haoman 17, 17 Haoman Street (website: www.haoman.com), is still going strong, attracting international DJs and boasting two dancefloors where you can groove the night away to a mixture of house and techno. Hata'asiyah Dance Club, Ha-Ta'asiya 5, is another big club popular with the dance crowd, Fri and Sat are the biggest nights.
Live Music: Although a wide selection of music venues can be found in both east and west Jerusalem, what is on offer generally could hardly be described as exciting. However, jazz is popular and often very good. Pargod Theatre, 94 Betzalel, hosts a Friday afternoon jam session, while Tmol Shilshom Bookstore Caf, 5 Yoel Salomon, has jazz on Mondays and folk on Tuesdays (both from 2300). Folk musicians perform at the AACI, 11 Pinsker, in Talbiya. Pop concerts (both Israeli and foreign groups) are sometimes held at the Jerusalem Theatre, 20 David Marcus Street, in Talbiya. For live rock bands try the downstairs bar at Arizona, 37 Jaffa Road, or Mike’s, Horkanos Street, which has live rock and blues music nightly from 2230.
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Nightlife