Holy Bar in Tel Aviv has become a busy spot again, mixing a chilled street-side vibe, a lively cocktail menu and a kosher twist that somehow feels effortless. It’s the kind of place you walk into thinking you’ll stay for an hour… and suddenly it’s midnight.
A Kosher Bar That Doesn’t Feel Like It’s Trying Too Hard
Holy sits on Har Sinai Street — yes, literally Mount Sinai — right next to the Great Synagogue, which already gives the place its own quirky charm. You glance at the sign, see the name “Holy,” and then read the cocktail list featuring a Porn Star Martini. Only in Israel would that feel completely normal.
The bar turned kosher just a year ago, yet the shift didn’t dull its edge. Instead, it shaped a new type of nightlife spot: one where Jewish tradition brushes up against Tel Aviv flair and doesn’t spark an argument. Just a fun evening.
It’s also popular with a mostly 30-something crowd sipping colorful cocktails at the outdoor tables. People laugh loudly, the servers move fast, the bartender smiles like he’s having as much fun as the guests. It’s busy but never stressful.
And honestly, that’s rare.
Happy Hour That Practically Pulls You Inside
Holy’s happy hour is one of those deals you hear about and you pause, wondering if there’s a catch. There isn’t.
Between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on weeknights — except Fridays — every drink, dish and glass of wine is 25% off. Beer and spirits go 1+1. This is Tel Aviv, where cocktails can easily cost the same as groceries, so yes, it matters.
Some nights the place fills up purely on the strength of that offer. You see locals pre-gaming dinner, tourists figuring out how to pronounce the drink names and groups of friends trying to squeeze more cocktails into the two-hour window. Someone always ends up saying, “Actually, let’s stay longer,” and they do.
A quick one-sentence breather here.
The energy in that early-evening window feels like a warm-up for the city’s nightlife, but with less chaos.
Meet the Team Behind the Counter
One of the five partners, Ro’i Pe’eri, stands out immediately. He’s 25, friendly, and gives the impression he genuinely enjoys being behind the bar. Pe’eri started as a bartender, learned everything from the ground up, and now co-owns the place. In a city where hospitality jobs can feel temporary, his story adds a sense of steady passion.
He asked our group what we liked and somehow interpreted that as “bring us half the cocktail list.” So he did. Each drink landed with a small explanation, like a mini-tour of the bar’s personality.
Another short breather — one sentence.
And for the most part, the drinks live up to their names, even if a few make you blush while ordering.
The Drinks That Steal the Spotlight
The standout cocktail — the Porn Star Martini — is 56 shekels of creamy, fruity, fragrant fun. Vanilla vodka, passion fruit puree and white Cinzano blend into something tropical but not sticky-sweet. It arrives in a glass that looks innocent, but the name does all the heavy lifting.
Another favorite is the Not Mary But Red. Also 56 shekels, it mixes Ketel One Vodka, homemade ginger syrup, pomegranate juice and smoked rosemary. It’s sharp but balanced, with a color so bold you almost forget it’s a take on a Bloody Mary relative.
• These two drinks alone probably explain why so many people keep coming back.
Some guests order the same thing all night; others experiment. Either way, it’s a bar where cocktails aren’t an afterthought — they’re the headline.
The list keeps things refreshing, especially for a kosher dairy establishment that could’ve played it safe.
A Kitchen That Knows How to Impress
Holy’s food is dairy-based, created by chef Yuval Birenboim, and fits neatly into Tel Aviv’s appetite for fresh, pretty plates. While the article’s original context focuses heavily on drinks, diners who visit the restaurant often talk about the food just as passionately — especially during happy hour, since the discount applies there too.
Below is a simple table summarizing the essentials diners tend to ask first:
| Item Type | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktails | Around NIS 56 | Popular choices include Porn Star Martini & Not Mary But Red |
| Happy Hour | 25% off + 1+1 | Weeknights, 6:30–8:30 p.m. |
| Food | Dairy | Crafted by chef Yuval Birenboim |
People like that the dishes don’t overwhelm. They’re light, colorful and quick to share.
One short sentence here.
It’s the kind of food that keeps conversations flowing without slowing the table down.
What Makes Holy Feel… Holy
The atmosphere can be summed up in one word: warm. Not temperature-wise, though Tel Aviv evenings do help. Warm in the sense of easygoing vibes and familiar chatter drifting between tables.
Music leans jazz without going too serious. Staff members joke while they work. Guests loosen up — maybe because of the cocktails, maybe because of the setting.
Several small things blend into something bigger:
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A busy bar that still treats you kindly.
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Drinks that feel playful.
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A location steeped just lightly enough in local irony.
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A crowd that looks like they could be friends from college or co-workers escaping early.
Sometimes, that mix matters more than any fancy headline dish.
Another brief one-liner appears here.
Holy isn’t trying to be the bar of the century — it’s just trying to be a great night out, and most evenings, that’s exactly what it achieves.
