Are you planning a visit to the Dead Sea soon? Good for you! You’re going to have the time of your life at this remote, gorgeous spot, floating peacefully in the light turquoise waters, surrounded by mountains and desert. You’ll probably also be enjoying all the hotel’s amenities – the refreshing swimming pool, the pampering spa, and the delicious meals – as well as marveling at the beauty and mystery of nearby sites such as Masada, Mount Sodom, Ein Gedi, and the Qumran Caves (if you haven’t secured your stay, it’s a good time to visit booking.com).
But after a day of spa treatments, nature walks, or historical tours, what’s there to do at night? Surely, on some days you might be too tired to do anything else and would just prefer to go to bed – but perhaps there might be nights you’ll be feeling energized and ready to party or wine and dine. Well, you’ll be happy to know there are some great options for evening outings in the Dead Sea area. Dead Sea nightlife might be limited compared to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, or Eilat, but don’t worry – it exists! You will not get bored.
Dead Sea restaurants
Do you fancy dining at an upscale restaurant? Here are some Dead Sea restaurants you should definitely try. La Carrousel at Daniel Hotel offers a rich dinner buffet combing Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, European, and American cuisine. Ranch House at Isrotel Hotel offers a unique American diner experience, with a menu mainly based on meats but also offering salads, side dishes, and desserts. Herods Restaurant, on the Ein Bokek boardwalk, offers a variety of dishes, including grilled fish, grilled meat, skewers, salads, sandwiches, and a selection of international and local boutique beers. Sato Bistro, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, is an Asian fusion restaurant, serving dishes based on the Chinese, Japanese, and Tai cuisines.
For a more local flavor, you could try two Middle Eastern style restaurants. One is Biankini, on Biankini beach, a highly popular Moroccan restaurant. It is designed and styled accordingly with colorful furniture, throw pillows, and various Moroccan paraphernalia. The restaurant serves chicken, beef, and fish tagines, couscous, deep-fried savory pastries as well as dishes suitable for kids such as burgers, nuggets, etc. The second restaurant is the Taj Mahal, designed like a Bedouin tent with low sofas and tables. It serves a variety of Middle Eastern foods such as grilled meats, skewers, hummus, and baklavas and features live belly dancing shows.
Dead Sea bars
If you’re more in the mood for drinking and partying, there are two awesome bars in the Dead Sea area you should try. One is the bar at the Binakini restaurant mentioned above. At night, this Moroccan restaurant turns into a fun-filled dance bar, which regularly offers karaoke nights, dance parties, live music, and belly dancing shows. If you’d like a more traditional pub experience, head to the Muza pub in Arad – 25 km from the Dead Sea (be careful driving there at night, though – Road 31 can be treacherous). Muza is known for its original ceiling, which is decked with soccer scarves of Israeli and international soccer clubs; and soccer games are regularly broadcasted live on huge screens. The pub offers 30 types of whiskey, 7 draft beers as and other kinds of alcoholic beverages, as well as various dishes such as sandwiches, salads, pasta, pizza, and meat. In addition, occasionally you can catch live shows of Israeli musicians and bands.
For die-hard party people: The -424 Dead Sea Rave
While the clubbing scene in the Dead Sea area is rather limited, it still boasts one huge event that makes up for the rest. That’s the -424 Dead Sea Rave, a huge EDM (electronic dance music) festival which takes place once a year in Masada, usually during the fall. Both Israeli and international DJs and electronic music artists flock to this festival, as well as 20,000 partiers. Music plays for 12 hours from dusk till dawn, in a huge complex with a total multimedia experience, complete with unique lighting and thrilling fireworks. You actually don’t have to stay in the Dead Sea to attend this festival – the organizers provide special buses from Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Be’er Sheva, and Eilat.
The wild side of the Dead Sea – horror and fantasy
Adventurous tourists and those with kids should definitely try the Fantasy Island experience at the Leonardo Club Hotel. The Fantasy Island is an impressive complex located at the hotel’s lobby, which has been designed to give you a special thrill. The complex includes the Fear Factor maze, a mysterious, horror-filled maze suitable for ages 6 and up, with three fear levels you can choose from; and the 7D movie theater, which provides a multi-sensory experience (complete with rain, wind, heat, motion, smell, etc.) while you’re watching a film.
Dead Sea music shows
Something you should definitely include in your Dead Sea trip is a music concert. Monumental music concerts featuring well-known Israeli and international artists, as well as famous operas, are often held at Masada’s natural amphitheater and are a real treat to watch. In addition, every year in Sukkot (a Jewish holiday which usually falls on September or October) the Tamar Festival is held in various locations in the Dead Sea area. The festival lasts 4 days and features Israeli acts from evening till sunrise. The beautiful locations (Masada, Ein Gedi, and Sdom Dead Sea park) coupled with the area’s special atmosphere make this festival truly unique!
