In the meantime, I came across HaNevaim (pronounce it Ha-Neh-Vah-eem) a couple of weeks ago. A great little neighborhood bar, with some outside seating (a balcony) and a cute little bar. I was there on a particularly cold night, so I snuggled up inside with the missus and a couple of friends. The barman was great, and gave us good service, along with some pretty tasty snacks and bites. There is more substantial food there, though don’t count on anything too fancy. Good music, plus lots of cool Tel Avivians for those into people-watching…

The place has only been open since last summer, in a spot where many, many restaurants have tried and failed…so we wish them well!

Address: Yermiyahu 54, Tel Aviv (near the northern end of Dizengoff Street and opposite renowned supermarket Super Baba)
Telephone: 03-6056575

What can I say, this is the kind of bar I like. From the logo on the door that states the place is “User Friendly” (which, as a Technical Writer trying to make sense of very unfriendly software for many years, made me smile), to the cheery bartenders, cheap beer and the good music grinding out (lots of grungy goodness), this is what a good neighborhood bar is all about.

Never mind that it had rained the day before and the padded sofa parked outside was wet (discovered upon sitting and then getting a wet arse), or that the neighbors demanded the outdoor TV was switched off after 23:00 (ever tried watching a football match on a big screen in a bar – with the sound switched off? Nope, it was a first for me too!), there was something about Shtrase that made me feel right at home. No pretensions, no posey bartenders with attitudes, no trying to be something they are never going to be…

Shtrase is currently offering some winter happiness to keep you in good spirits. Between 16:00 and 20:00 its Happy Hour, while the pool table is free.

Great place to knock back a couple of beers and shoot some pool.

Oh, and say hello to Lilach, the ever-smiley waitress. She’s a sweetie.

Address: Pinsker 30, Tel Aviv
Telephone: 03-5257595

You can also find Shtrase on Facebook.

So here’s our little guide to the cafes and bars in Tel Aviv that have wireless Internet, just so you’ll never have to go Internet “cold turkey” on your visit to Tel Aviv. If you’re not only looking for Wi-Fi, check out our guide to the best cafes in Tel Aviv.

Most listed below provide FREE Internet, though some require payment (where indicated). And yes, if you know of any little gems to add to this list, please let us know!

Tel Aviv cafes with Internet – the coffee shop chains

• Aroma, one of the most popular coffee shop chains in Israel:
  @ 88 Yigal Allon (corner of HaShlosha)
  @ 30 Sheinkin Street
  @ 9 HaMasger (Ampa House)
  @ Azrieli Mall, 2nd floor
  @ 132 Dizengoff
• Arcaffe, another of Israel’s leading coffee chains:
  @ Arenia, corner of Arba’ah Street
  @ HaBarzel 21
  @ Ramat Aviv Mall, 40 Einstein Street
  @ Azrieli Mall, 132 Begin Road
  @ 35 Bazel Street
  @ 31 Rothschild Street
  @ Mircaz Shuster Ramat Aviv, 7 Achimeir Street
• Coffee Bean, another of the cafe big boys in Tel Aviv:
  @ Mircaz Shuster Ramat Aviv, 19 Achimeir Street
  @ Ziv Towers, 24 Raul Wallenberg
  @ 75 Ibn Gvirol
  @ 57 Yehuda Maccabee
• Cafe Cafe, yet another leading light in the Israeli coffee shop biz:
  @ Azrieli Mall, 2nd floor
  @ Mekido Center, 8 Aharon Becker Street
  @ 38 Ibn Gvirol Street
  @ 1 Maserik Square
  @ 95 HaHashmoniam Road
  @ 9 Rothschild Street
  @ 27 Bograshov
  @ Yigal Allon, the corner of HaShlosha
  @ 61 Yehuda Maccabee
  @ 3 Nefcha (off Sheinkin Street)
  @ 247 Dizengoff Street
  @ 11 Openheimer
  @ 110 Ibn Gvirol Street
  @ 31 Tchernichovski Street
• Ilan’s, not quite as widespread as the others above:
  @ 14 Ehad Ha’am
  @ 91 Ibn Gvirol Street
  @ 20 Carlibach Street
  @ Kiryat Atidim, Tower 4
• Yellow, the one-stop shops you can find at most Paz petrol stations:
  @ HaKiryah, 148 Begin Road
  @ HaShalom, 13 Shalom Road
  @ HaTikva, 42 HaHagana Road
  @ Sderot Rokach (opposite the Luna Park)
  @ 35 Eilat Road
  @ 24 Sadia Gaon
  @ 46 Sderot Ben Zvi

Tel Aviv cafes, bars (and restaurants) with Internet

• Espressonet @ 22 Frishman Street (corner of Sirkin)
• X-Ray @ 31 Bograshov Street
• Olive @ 35 Bograshov Street
• Interfun @ 20 Allenby Road
• Manta Ray @ Alma Beach
• Ben Cafe @ 2 Ben Yehuda Street
• Internet Login @ 21 Ben Yehuda Street
• Arbeter Cafe @ 3 Shlomo HaMelech
• Lehem Erez @ 120 Ben Yehuda Street
• Ginzburg Cafe @ 55 Ehad Ha’am Street
• Tazza D’oro @ 6 Ehad Ha’am Street
• Evita @ 31 Yavne Street
• Gabriel @ 42 Montefiore Street
• Lenny’s @ Vital 7 (Florentin)
• Chocolate Boutique @ 15 Yad Harutzim
• GoalTime @ 24 HaTaaysim
• Messa @ 19 HaArb’ah Street (restaurant)
• MeatBar @ 52 Sderot Chen (restaurant)
• Little Prince @ 3 Simta Palonit (off King George Street)
• Brasserie @ 70 Ibn Gvirol
• Dominos Pizza @ 143 Ibn Gvirol
• Assuta Hospital (Coffee-to-go) @ 62 Jabotinsky Street (Payment required)
• Cafe Latte @ 34 Bazel Street
• MASH pub @ 275 Dizengoff Street
• Boya @ Namal Tel Aviv (restaurant)
• Henrietta @ 186 Arlozorov Street
• Beta Cafe @ 15 Brodetski Street
• Seatara @ Tel Baruch Beach, Sea and Sun (restaurant)
• University Tel Aviv @ Haim Levnon Street (various buildings and eateries, most of which require payment)
• Burger King @ Top Dan Center, 72 Pinhas Rosen

Coming real soon: Our guide to Jerusalem bars and cafes with Wireless Internet.

Molly Bloom’s was the first Irish pub to land in Israel, back in 2000 (wow, has it really been nine years!?) and quickly became the leading light in the tourist pub world in Tel Aviv. Highly recommended by almost every Israeli you’ll ever talk to (including Matty and Roni), it definitely has the feel of a happening and friendly pub, and you’re guaranteed a great evening.

I’m often amazed at how busy the place can be mid-week, but I quickly remind myself that this is Tel Aviv…and don’t forget, most bars in Israel don’t usually close until the wee hours, so that quick drink could soon turn into a long night, especially if you start chatting with the Israelis on the tables next to you (which often happens…).

If you’ve already had enough of the Israeli local beers, you’ll probably be in need of an Irish beer or whiskey. Urgently. And you won’t be disappointed. I’m not a big Guinness fan, probably because I’ve had too many bad pints served to me over the years in Israel, but the guys at Molly Bloom’s have the best in town, without a doubt. They also have plenty of Kilkenny (my personal fave) and Weihenstephan (a big favorite amongst Israelis). And then there’s the shelves behind the bar stacked with whiskeys…

The best night to head over to Molly Bloom’s? Probably Mondays and Wednesdays, when they have a live band banging out some authentic Irish tunes. Best to get there before 9:00pm to make sure you get yourself a seat, after that it gets very crowded. Whatever the day, just remember Happy Hour lasts until 8:00pm every day, until when most beers are only 17 shekels or so.

By the way, Molly Bloom was actually a character from James Joyce’s famous masterpiece Ulysses. She was married to Leopold Bloom (an Irish Jew – you just knew there was a Jewish connection somewhere, right?) who was one of the heroes from the book.

And here’s a little taster of Molly Bloom’s in full flow. If you’re feeling thirsty, look away now!

Address: 2 Mendele Street, on the corner of 100 HaYarkon Street, opposite Dan Hotel.
Telephone: 03-5221558

In Israel, things are done a little differently. Taking Tel Aviv as the prime example, people often go out very late, even as late as midnight, which on some nights is when the action starts to kick in.

Bear in mind that if you’re intending to down a fair amount of amber nectar and also want to catch some of the amazing nightlife that Tel Aviv has to offer, you should pace yourself. And don’t get confused by the lack of supposedly guaranteed legendary action if it’s still not yet midnight…

In an attempt to bring Tel Aviv into line with its Anglo counterparts, the online City Mouse guide (only in Hebrew I’m afraid) has launched a Happy Hour campaign throughout Tel Aviv, lasting from 6-9pm every night of the week for five weeks (starting last Sunday, August 9th). This is a bold attempt to get Israelis out earlier and drinking earlier, though I’m not convinced they’ll be the ones downing too many cut-price drinks.

And not only do you get cheap drinks and a chance to show the locals how it’s done in this Happy Hour campaign, you also get a chance to win a free ticket to Europe, courtesy of El Al. With each drink that costs between 15-20 shekels, you’ll receive a clue, which, if you’re the first to get it right, will land you that free ticket.

The Tel Aviv bars where you can have yourself a Happy Hour:

• Florentin 10 (10 Florentin Street)
• Lenny’s (7 Vital Street)
• John Doe (4 Malkhei Israel Street)
• Gilda (64 Ehad Ha’am Street)
• Mike’s Place (86 Herbert Samuel Street)
• Mate (226 Dizengoff Street)
• Mate (the new branch of the Dizengoff original – 2 Vital Street)
• Silon (89 King George Street)
• Elwood Bar (57 Ben Yehuda Street)
• Eliezer (186 Ben Yehuda Street)
• Emily Resto Bar (22 Nahalat Binyamin Street)
• Betty Ford (48 Nahalat Binyamin Street)
• Cordovero (21 Cordovero Street)
• Bukowski (39 Frischman Street)
• Strasse (30 Pinsker Street)
• Rothschild’s Kitchen (37 Rothschild Street)
• Hudson Brasserie (27 Habarzel Street)
• Molly Bloom’s (100 Hayarkon Street)
• Leo Bloom’s (24 Raul Wallenberg Street)
• Maraboo (14 Aba Hillel Street, Ramat Gan – on the border of Tel Aviv)