Tel Aviv lives up to its nickname as “the city that never stops” with a vibrant night life that often greets the sunrise. In 2012, Lonely Planet named it the “Miami of the Middle East,” reinforcing this seaside city’s celebrated reputation for power partiers of New York and European standards.

High octane after-hours entertainment begins slowly as crowds gather at outdoor cafés for an espresso, or a coffee ice cream soda when it’s hot. Groups may thin out, making way for the more lively revelers who burst into a full crescendo around midnight.

The city is surprisingly active every night, but the weekend begins in Tel Aviv on Thursday. Unlike Jerusalem, its clubs stay open on Friday night (the Sabbath) and keep the energy flowing through Saturday. Common sights are long lines waiting for a bar table or admission into a dance club, even as late (or early?) as 4 a.m. Dress code is casual and trendy rather than formal.

An amazing array of cultural venues, from established art galleries and movie theaters to dance clubs and neighborhood bars, thrives in entertainment areas sprinkled throughout the city, giving an abundance of options whichever way you walk.

The emerging Florentine neighborhood in the south attracts a younger crowd to its wide selection of bars, cafés and restaurants, such as the loft space of Beit Habeitiym (House of Houses) with its bi-monthly concept parties.

To the north, the newly renovated Tel Aviv port attracts tourists during the week with its wooden boardwalk and a variety of bars and restaurants, including massive megaclubs featuring top Israeli and international DJs. The popular nightclub TLV (the airport code for Tel Aviv) is one of the biggest in the city.

The Shpagat is the city’s hottest gay bar, with weekly music performances and unique stadium seating. Searching for a Monday party? Go to OCD for the Notorious G.A.Y. party.

Start your Tel Aviv after-5 experience with a new restaurant. Behind Tel Aviv’s Great Synagogue dine at Israeli chef Eyal Shani’s latest creation, Port Said, serving Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-style dishes. The older clubgoer might dine at Café Europa, drawn to its international gourmet menu including steak tartar, shrimp pasties and beet ravioli.

The new locally sourced fish restaurant, Fleamarket, takes its name from its Jaffa flea market location and is convenient to kick-starting your after-hours fun with the brand-new Main Bazar, with a bar made of playable pianos.