The quaint one-room bar nestled inside Bellboy is a visual overload. The walls are adorned with period pieces like paintings, key holders and other gems. Mason jars filled with octopi, squids, brains and other organs add a little extra "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" feel to the Victorian ambiance; an old rotary dial sits promptly at one end of the bar, mixology mastermind Ariel Leizgold at the other. While Bellboy adorns their cocktails with crazy serving vessels and magic tricks, Butler shines the spotlight on the cocktail itself – no hooty tooty aesthetics, just unbelievable combinations in simple, identical glasses. Read over the menus "house rules" then dive into the infinite possibilities. Standouts were the "Coffee Cocktail," which tastes exactly like coffee, but does not have a drop of espresso in it, and the "Aviation," which takes a classic gin cocktail, and infuses it with subtle notes of violet. When you re-enter the reality of Rothschild Boulevard on a bustling weekend night, you'll dream of your next visit to Butler. You may even question if it was all a dream to begin with; if such a magical place could exist. Guess you'll just have to return and see...
Shhh! Don’t tell anyone, but Time Out Israel has rounded up the finest speakeasy bars in Tel Aviv. Step out of your cozy café comfort zone and into the roarin’ American jazz age at these hidden bars where the art of mixology is no joke. When you’re sick of the Lonely Planet tourist traps and looking for a more exciting evening out these five fab spots are a must. You don’t need to bob your hair or put on a flapper skirt to enjoy these whimsical bars. All you need is a thirst for discovery that’s itching to be quenched.
