Israel Gay and Lesbian Travel

Israel is easily the most accepting country in the Middle East when it comes to GLBT culture. With one of the highest percentages of support for same-sex relationships of any country, Israel is a great place for GLBT travel. Tel Aviv in particular, known for its beautiful beaches and clubs and the equally beautiful people who love them, is a hot destination. There are plenty of GLBT establishments and events, and the city even launched a gay tourism campaign in 2010. That said, there are many conservative groups in Israel who are not so friendly to GLBT travelers or natives—as evidenced by a 2009 shooting in a Tel Aviv LGBT Youth Center—so caution and common sense are always advisable.

Sex Boutique 122 Dizengoff St. (tel: 03 544 4555) Let’s just say that Sex Boutique is one of a kind. The sex shop in the basement sells a remarkable selection of festively colored and creatively sized vibrators, with posters that would even impress a San Francisco or Amsterdam native. The bar at street level is attractively backlit and sports large erotic pictures on the walls. Perhaps a little forward for parents, first dates, and impressionable high schoolers on Birthright. Gay friendly. Vibrators NIS50-1500. Beer NIS21-NIS28. Sex shop open 11am-1am. Bar open 11am-last customer. Credit cards accepted.
Gilda 64 Achad Ha’am St. (tel: 03 560 3588) Can be a little hard to find; take Rothschild Blvd. past its intersections with Allenby St and Yavne St to Bezalel St., then turn left, walk a block, and turn right. Gilda’s is on the left-hand corner; the door is on Achad Ha’am. Intimate and hip environment with a mix of Coldplay, Nirvana, and Israeli music, and the only spinning purple disco ball in Tel Aviv. Beer NIS22. Mixed drinks from NIS40. Make sure to hit their Su “Refuel”: beer, wine, and champagne served all day, and the 2nd and 3rd drinks are only NIS10. Tu retro night. W Hebrew night. Gay friendly. Ages 27+. Open daily 8pm-last customer. Credit cards accepted.
Evita 3, Yavne St. (tel: 03 566 9559) Turn right on Yavne St. from Rothschild Blvd; the intersection is 1 block past the intersection of Rothschild and Allenby. Tel Aviv’s most prominent gay bar and club. A high concentration of hot gay men cram themselves into Evita’s to dance beneath the classy hanging lights. While there only tend to be about 3 women in Evita at any given time, the bar is very friendly to members of all genders and sexualities; the manager is a veteran of the local LGBT community and will give pointers to any LGBT youth looking for hangouts. Beer NIS21. Vodka and redbull mixed drink (most popular) NIS43. Sunday: Eurovision music. Tues: drag night. Weds: mature night (age 29+). Open daily 9pm-last customer. Credit cards accepted.