House in Tel Aviv: clubs, bars and parties

The scene

House is one of the most common sounds in Tel Aviv's nightlife, and you will hear it in almost every kind of venue: clubs, dance bars, rooftops and, in summer, beach parties. It is broader than techno and works for dancing until morning as well as for a sunset drink. Under the name you will find deep house, tech house, afro house, disco and nu-disco, and each line picks its own shade.

A big part of the scene happens in bars and dance bars with a DJ, where you can sit early in the evening and dance once the music goes up. Alongside them are club nights with regular lines, and bigger parties when a guest DJ is in town. In summer the scene moves outdoors: rooftops, sunset parties and parties on the beach.

Which nights

Thursday and Friday nights are the big ones, but house has hours of its own. On Friday, from midday into the afternoon, Tel Aviv has parties in bars and open-air spots that start in daylight and wind down by evening. In summer there are sunset parties midweek too, and some venues open a line on Saturday night once Shabbat is out. At the clubs the floor fills mainly after midnight.

At the door

• ID: bring your passport or another photo ID. The minimum age is set by the venue or the party and is sometimes above 18; it is on the event page when the venue published it.
• Entry: bars and dance bars are often free to enter, while club parties usually sell tickets, sometimes in several rounds.
• Door selection: some venues run a door selection, especially on Thursday and Friday nights.
• Rooftops and beach parties: space is limited, so arrive early or buy a ticket ahead. Summer nights are hot and humid; drink water.
• Getting home: plan ahead, especially on Friday nights, when public transport is limited for Shabbat. If you drink, don't drive.

Other cities

Haifa has house parties in clubs and bars. In Jerusalem, house is mostly played in bars and dance bars in the city centre. Eilat is a destination of its own, with pool and beach parties at hotels and clubs, mainly on long weekends and holidays. Beersheba has parties from time to time.

Finding a party this week

The scene page lists the venues that play house and the upcoming parties, city by city. The list is built from the events venues publish themselves in the Laila app and updates all the time, so a sunset party added this morning shows up today. Each event shows when it starts, the minimum age and a ticket link where there is one.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between house and techno?

House is warmer and more melodic, with a groove that works in a bar as well as on a dance floor, often with vocals and instruments. Techno is darker and more repetitive and is played mostly in clubs, late at night. Many parties mix the two, and the line's name usually hints at what to expect.

What is a Friday afternoon party?

A party that starts at midday or in the afternoon on Friday, in a bar or an open-air spot, and winds down towards evening. It is a Tel Aviv habit, and the music is mostly house and disco. Most of them need no ticket, but arrive early.

Where can I hear house in summer?

On rooftops, at sunset parties and at beach parties, in Tel Aviv and in Eilat. On summer evenings there are parties like these midweek as well. The scene page shows upcoming parties by city and date, as the venues published them.