Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon is a city of much contrast and contradiction. It is a city that has suffered severely one of the longest contemporary civil wars yet still home to some of the most glamorous nightlife in the Middle East. In fact, not so long ago it was considered the Paris of the Middle East.
Beirut is an exciting place, especially for young people as the city is buzzing with liveliness. From the famous souks where you can lose yourself in bright and colourful merchandise to the mouth-watering deliciousness of the Lebanese cuisine to the full swing of the party atmosphere of some of the most exclusive nightlife hotspots in the region. So pack your bags kids, and let’s embark on an unforgettable weekend adventure!
Friday
Arrivals will most likely take place in the evening to allow for full working day to take place and so on Friday after your check-in at the hotel we recommend hitting the nightlife scene. We recommend Iris rooftop bar or Anise which offers some of the best cocktails in town. Also, Bar ThreeSixty and Cherry on the Rooftop are some other excellent bars to visit as they both offer some spectacular views of the city but bare in mind that Bar ThreeSixty is only open in the winter and spring Nov-May.
Saturday
Rise and shine darling, it is your first morning in Beirut!
If your hotel offers breakfast do not hesitate to go and sample their selection. Most hotels offer a mixture of traditional Lebanese breakfast items as well as continental breakfast, so this is an excellent opportunity to try as many different foods as possible (although we do suggest you immerse yourself in the local culture and go for the Lebanese).
If you are on a Room only basis at your hotel, do not despair. There are some excellent breakfast and brunch places to visit. We recommend Bartartine, Dar Bistro and Books, Cantina Sociale, Breakfast Barn, The Beazbee, Couqlay and Indigo on the Roof at Le Gray.
After a hearty breakfast it’s time to get exploring. There is so much to see and experience that simply one weekend will not do Beirut much justice.
Our suggestion for your pre-noon Saturday is to go on one of the many city tours. There are many and you have the option of free walking tours as well as hop-on hop-off bus tours. We strongly recommend you take advantage of the walking tours as this is the best way to see the intricacies of the city and not to mention that it will be a good way to burn off your breakfast and make room for more delicious food later on in the day.
In the afternoon why not soak up the bright and colourful vibe of the local souks or head down to one of the shopping centres for some shopping therapy. We recommend; ABC Mall Ashrafieh, ABC Mall Verdun and the Beirut Souks.
In the evening, enjoy a delicious Lebanese dinner at some of the best restaurants in the area. We highly recommend; Em Sherif, Liza (one of the most beautiful restaurant in the world – according to Conde Nast), Babel Bay, T-marbouta and Bou Melhem.
then finish off the day by heading down to some of the best clubs in Beirut (and there are many!) Our suggestions include: Skybar, The Grand Factory, The Ballroom Blitz, the Garten by uberhaus and Musichall.
Sunday
We know you’ve probably partied until the wee hours the previous night and so Sunday can be slightly more relaxed. So after your breakfast, head over to the famous Jeita Grotto.
The Jeita Grotto is a system of two separate, but interconnected, karstic limestone caves spanning an overall length of nearly 9 kilometres. The caves are situated in the Nahr al-Kalb valley within the locality of Jeita, 18 kilometres from Beirut.
After your daytime adventure you can rest and recover back your hotel and then head down to the Royal hotel where you can enjoy an evening of delicious food while enjoying a traditional Lebanese folk show.
With the end of the weekend in sight, you can look back at the amazing few days you’ve spent exploring the wondrous city of Beirut and marvel and everything you’ve seen and learnt! Until our next adventure!
Author: Anna Popova