Imperial Craft – Tel Aviv

Business travel brought me to Tel Aviv a couple of times over the last few years but the place was always short of an excellent cocktail bar. Yes, you have some hotel bars or you got some places where you get a decent long drink but like a place where you can get great cocktails was just not there.

People come to Tel Aviv to party, for culture, to go to the beach and it is despite its controversy of politics and the region. You find excellent restaurant, the scene is buzzing, you can party hard, as people from Tel Aviv always find a reason to throw a party and you can find the best pastry. Quite extraordinary really. You just couldn’t get a really good cocktail, until now. Last year I read somewhere about a runner up bar of the worlds top 50 that is in town. It is called Imperial Craft and is located in a 3 star hotel quite close to the beach. The hotel itself is not worth mentioning as the design of the lobby is just ugly. It almost looks like the place was built to be in contrast with the bar and draw people in there as you don’t want to spend time in the lobby, if you can even call it lobby.The bar itself is very small so it might be a good idea to reserve. Note, happy hour from 18.00-20.00. You might think Happy Hour and high end cocktail bar doesn’t go well together. I thought so too but I was wrong. Just take the world-class cocktails and divide the price by half and still have a normal amount of people in the bar (no standing policy as it’s just too small) and there you go. Who would say no to that if the cocktails just cost half the price. When I went the first time to this place at around New Year’s Eve 2014 I fell in love with the place and I went back when I returned to Tel Aviv. Not much had changed 9 months later only that they moved to the 17^th place in the worlds best bar. The group of young Tel Aviv barkeepers have built a little gem here. Very hospitable and knowledgeable! Their team has grown more international now.

There is an English guy called Ben who served us this summer and did a fabulous job. There is apparently somebody from Australia too. Gilad a local and one of the founders was serving us when I was there the first time and when I came back he could still remember me. That always fascinates me and that what really makes a true host. The bar has this colonial / imperial style and is rather small. 16 people fit at the bar, there are 3 high tables behind where people can gather around and there are 2 sofas in a corner and that’s it. Jazz plays in the background and when you sit at the bar you can really observe how the drinks are assembled, always something that I like. The air conditioning can be set a bit too high at times but that’s how the people like it in warmer countries. Its not bad but something borderline. Water arrives at your table and the menu arrives quickly. You have the option to dine as well. An innovative Asian inspired menu offers smaller and larger bites and if you fancy some fresh oysters I suggest you order a few, they are delicious.

The cocktail menu is innovative as it shows the guests with various symbols the direction the drinks go. Choose a mix between fresh, deep & aged, fruity, exotic, spirituous and bitter. The menu consists of around 14 different cocktails that are changed from time to time.The team can do all the classics that you desire in perfection as well so you will never run out of choice. The cocktails are presented in innovative glassware too and some have fancy decoration so there is always something to discover left and right of you. It is also easy to get into a conversation with the barkeepers or the guests beside. The clientele is a good mix of local and international. Probably the only downside is that the cocktails are again, like in so many other high end places, presented on white paper napkins that are completely soaked after a few minutes and it looks very messy on the table. My first drink was the Dumbo, one that consists of the symbols deep & aged, spirituous and bitter. Invented by PDT’s head bartender Jeff Bell and consisting of Bulleit rye, Aperol, Amaro Nonino and Cinzano bianco. A drink that kept the promise of the three symbols.

A subliminal dryness with a rather fruity note in the end, full bodies with a good presence of the spirit. I was with friends and I tried almost all the cocktails of the menu. Another excellent one to mention is La Orquidea, composed of Zacapa with Oleo Saccharum, Fino Sherry, Aphrodite bitter and topped with sesame oil essences. A flowery cocktail with a good presence of the rum, a heavy sweetness but overall well balanced. Every evening I spent at this place was a delight and I am always very much looking forward coming back here. The team has just openend a second place which is more like a restaurant in the same complex of the building. Mexican inspired bites with cocktails too. I haven’t been able to check out La Otra as the place is called. I am already looking forward to next time.

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Images: © Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar