Bartender International

Gilad Livnat, Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar, Tel Aviv

Anyone who has ever been to Tel Aviv knows that you can look forward to culinary delights. The city is a melting pot of different cuisines from all over the world. The bar scene is not inferior to this and has developed greatly in recent years. I spent many all-nighters at the hidden gem, located in a shady hotel not far from the beach. It was here that I met Gilad Livnat, one of the owners of Imperial Craft.

Gilad was born and raised in Tel Aviv. His destiny to become a restaurateur was decided in his childhood. He grew up with his father and grandfather running the family hotel and restaurant.

When he came home from school, he usually did his homework while sitting at the bar. He felt very comfortable in this environment and this upbringing shaped his future. Eventually, the restaurant was closed and only the Imperial Hotel remained.

When Gilad reached his teens, it was time for his compulsory military service. After that, he started working as Barkeeper in Tel Aviv. He worked in different bars for many years until he became bar manager in 2010.

In 2013, it was time for Gilad to run his own place and he decided to open Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar in the family hotel together with his partners - his father David Livnat and his friend Bar Shira, who was Gilad's former bar manager at a place called 223, and Dror Alterovich, who was a regular at 223.

His entrepreneurial spirit awoke and just two years later they opened La Otra, a Mexican-Caribbean cocktail bar located near Imperial Craft, in the same place as his father's old restaurant. By then, the Imperial Craft cocktail bar was known not only in Israel but all over the world, being ranked among the 50 best cocktail bars in the world.

Recently, Gilad and his partners opened a smaller Imperial franchise restaurant called Imperial Red at the luxurious Cramim Resort & Spa near Jerusalem. Gilad is now married and recently became a father.

Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar

The Imperial Craft is something of an insider tip. Hidden from the gaze of guests, you have to enter the Imperial Hotel and go through a small door on the right that leads to this gem. The magic happens behind the counter, and if you're lucky, you get to take a seat in front of it. There are also a few tables, but the bar is not big overall. It's a small, intimate and cosy place.

The emphasis is on friendly staff and personal service for each guest. There is an interesting menu that changes from time to time and helps guests to choose a cocktail according to general criteria such as woody, alcoholic, fruity, etc.

"This bar is not for those looking for a classic cocktail, because there is none on the menu."

Gilad Livnat

This bar is not for those looking for a classic cocktail, as there is none on the menu, but for newcomers, the knowledgeable Barkeeper are happy to help with the decision. As the name suggests, the bar is inspired by the imperialist era, specifically a certain colonial officer's bar in Vietnam.

Inspiration

Whenever he has the opportunity, Gilad travels and learns about new cultures. When he eats or drinks in a restaurant, he likes to talk to the people around him. Sometimes these conversations lead him to go out and party with them. He likes to explore new places and trying typical food and drinks from other cultures is a great source of new ideas for him.

Knowing the history of things, where they come from and how they have developed is also a source of inspiration for him. After all, he studied history at university. Therefore, these experiences form the basis for his creativity behind the counter.

Favourite cocktail

Gilad's favourite cocktail is a classic Americano. It's perfect for any kind of climate and he generally prefers drinks with a low alcohol content. His absolute favourite cocktail on the Imperial menu is the Rosita Sour, which consists of 3 cl Martini Bitter, 3 cl red vermouth, 3 cl tequila blanco, 3 cl fresh lemon juice and 2 cl sugar syrup.

This article appeared in
Issue 4-2021

BAR NEWS magazine as single issue

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