The 6 Best Craft Beer Bars & Breweries in Israel (2026)

Updated August 2026 · 6 picks

The best craft beer in Israel in 2026 is at BeerBazaar in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the Dancing Camel brewpub in Tel Aviv and Libira in Haifa. Israel's craft scene grew from almost nothing in the mid-2000s to dozens of breweries, and the good bars now pour Israeli beer rather than imported lager. Six worth a session, below.

1. BeerBazaar — Machane Yehuda, Jerusalem; and Tel Aviv

The bar that made Israeli craft beer mainstream, in the middle of Machane Yehuda.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Groups · Solo

BeerBazaar started as a stall in the Machane Yehuda market pouring only Israeli craft beer and grew into a small chain with bars in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv plus its own brewing.

The selection is the point: it stocks a wide cross-section of Israeli breweries, so it is the single most efficient way to work out which ones you like.

The Machane Yehuda branch is the best of them, in the market lanes that turn into a bar district after the stalls close.

Good to know: Order a tasting flight of Israeli beers before committing to a pint — that is what the bar is designed for.

Google Maps Website

2. The Dancing Camel — South Tel Aviv

Israel's original craft brewery, still brewing and pouring in the same taproom.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Groups · Solo

The Dancing Camel opened in Tel Aviv in the mid-2000s and is generally credited with starting Israeli craft brewing, and its taproom in the south of the city is still where you drink it fresh.

It is a brewery with a bar attached rather than a designed venue, which is exactly right — long tables, tanks visible, a rotating tap list.

Historically significant and still good, which is a rarer combination than it should be.

Good to know: Check opening days before travelling; the taproom does not keep standard bar hours.

Google Maps Website

3. Libira — Downtown Haifa

Haifa's own brewpub, in the middle of the city's best new district.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Groups · Couples

Libira brews on site in Downtown Haifa and serves it across a long bar with food designed to go with beer rather than compete with it.

It sits in the restored Ottoman and Bauhaus streets that have become Haifa's most interesting quarter over the last decade.

Prices are Haifa prices, which is to say noticeably below Tel Aviv's.

Good to know: Ask what is fresh off the tanks rather than ordering by name — the range rotates constantly.

Google Maps Website

4. Jem's Beer Factory — Petah Tikva and branches around central Israel

A brewpub chain that made good Israeli beer available outside the big cities.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Families · Groups

Jem's brews near Petah Tikva and runs brewpubs across central Israel, serving its own range alongside substantial pub food.

It is the most family-friendly and suburban entry on this list — big rooms, full menus, groups — and that is the reason it matters: it took craft beer out of the Tel Aviv bar scene.

Reliable rather than adventurous, and widely available.

Good to know: The best option on this list if you are eating a full dinner rather than drinking with snacks.

Google Maps Website

5. Alexander Brewery — Emek Hefer, central Israel

The most decorated Israeli brewery, with a visitor centre worth the drive.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Groups · Couples

Alexander, in the Emek Hefer between Tel Aviv and Haifa, is among the most awarded Israeli breweries internationally and takes its brewing seriously enough to justify the reputation.

The brewery runs visits and tastings, which makes it a straightforward half-day trip from Tel Aviv with a car.

Its beers are widely stocked, so you can try them in a bar first and decide whether the drive appeals.

Good to know: Call ahead for tour times; the visitor programme is not continuous.

Google Maps Website

6. Malka Brewery — Kibbutz Yehiam, western Galilee

Galilee brewing on a kibbutz, next to a Crusader castle.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Couples · Groups

Malka brews at Kibbutz Yehiam in the western Galilee, a short walk from the ruins of the Crusader fortress that gives the kibbutz its name.

The beers are among the most widely distributed Israeli craft brands, and drinking them where they are made, in one of the prettiest and least-visited parts of the country, is a considerably better experience.

It works well as one stop on a western Galilee day of castles, cheese farms and hills.

Good to know: Pair it with Yehiam Fortress National Park next door and a Galilee dairy for lunch.

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

Is Israeli craft beer any good?

Yes, and it has improved sharply. The scene started around 2006 and now includes dozens of breweries producing everything from clean lagers to heavily hopped IPAs and sours. The best of them stand up internationally; the mass market is still dominated by Goldstar and Maccabee, which are lagers rather than craft.

What are the main Israeli craft breweries?

Alexander in the Emek Hefer, Malka in the western Galilee, Jem's near Petah Tikva, Dancing Camel in Tel Aviv, Libira in Haifa and BeerBazaar's own Shapiro-adjacent range, among many smaller ones. Most are widely available in good bars and bottle shops across the country.

How much does craft beer cost in Israel?

Roughly ₪30–₪42 for a half-litre of Israeli craft at a bar, and ₪20–₪28 in a shop. Imported craft beer costs considerably more because of duty. Happy hours are common and often halve the price between about 5pm and 8pm.

Is Israeli beer kosher?

Most of it is, and beer is one of the easier things to certify — the ingredients are simple. Several breweries also make beers certified for Pesach, which is technically difficult since ordinary beer is made from grain. Certification is printed on the bottle.

Where is the best beer scene in Israel?

Tel Aviv has the most bars, but Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda market has the highest concentration of good beer per square metre, and Haifa's Downtown revival has the most interesting new venues. All three are worth a night.

Are there beer festivals in Israel?

Yes — Jerusalem's beer festival in summer is the biggest, and there are smaller events around the country through the warmer months. Dates move year to year, so check locally rather than planning a trip around one.

1. BeerBazaar — Machane Yehuda, Jerusalem; and Tel Aviv

2. The Dancing Camel — South Tel Aviv

3. Libira — Downtown Haifa

4. Jem's Beer Factory — Petah Tikva and branches around central Israel

5. Alexander Brewery — Emek Hefer, central Israel

6. Malka Brewery — Kibbutz Yehiam, western Galilee

Frequently asked questions

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