Beirut
Self-assured and welcoming, this is a convivial evening spot with a softer musical footprint than most. They do a fine cocktail, the smoked burgers are…
Must-see nightlife in Lebanon
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Beirut
Beirut’s fame as a party city is in part due to Grand Factory, located on the panoramic roof of a former industrial site. The venue hosts live concerts…
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Beirut
With a lightly worn medieval theme and mellow soundtrack, this inviting hideaway has cute outdoor tables and an interior dominated by sociable bar-counter…
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Beirut
In Saifi near Downtown, this club is party central for a mixed crowd: it's a mainstay of the Beirut LGBT scene. A state-of-the-art lighting-and-sound…
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Beirut
The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans has been enticing patrons into this friendly cafe near the American University of Beirut since 1935, rewarding…
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Beirut
Attracting a 30s-something arty crowd, this long-standing bar has a Parisian-style decor and cocktail waiters smartly decked out in ties and lab coats…
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Beirut
Beirut has some great rooftops and this is one of the best, a cracking place to be at sunset sipping a (pricey) cocktail and admiring the excellent view…
Beirut
You don’t have to be cool, young and pretty to fit in at Demo, but it helps. Join the tattooed kids with edgy haircuts spilling out of Demo on weekend…
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Beirut
Very popular with Beiruti hipsters and expat workers, this arty place is a little tucked-away haven: it's very pleasant to sit outside and slowly realise…
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Beirut
A stack of well-worn shipping containers converted into a fashionable bar/party venue hybrid, Junkyard has a great rooftop terrace showcasing recycled…
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Beirut
Easily the most famous club in town, this gay-friendly underground place a couple of kilometres east of Downtown is known for its mock-horror interior and…
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Beirut
Recently reopened, Aaliya’s is a homely gem. The space houses a bookstore with a well-curated selection and weekly readings, as well as a cafe that serves…
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Beirut
This is the place to come if you are interested in getting to know arrack, the aniseed-flavoured Lebanese spirit. An unobtrusive clutch of cleanskin…
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Beirut
Abou Elie is billed as a 'communist bar'. The revolutionary credentials of the taciturn owner aren't verified, but it's true that leftist posters and…
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Beirut
Countless bars have come and gone in Beirut, but Captain’s Cabin, in the Hamra district, has weathered decades of war (and smells like it). Founded in…
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Beirut
There's a Little Italy vibe to Mar Mikhaël and this place slots right in, with its Chianti and prosciutto in an atmospheric faux-vaulted stone chamber,…
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Beirut
Cheap and cheerful Coop has been a mainstay on the Gemmayzeh drinking scene since it opened in 2011. Hike up the stairs to the roof of Saifi complex, and…
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Beirut
Famously open 24/7, Al Falamanki is a genteel cafe more evocative of a village house in the Lebanese mountains than an all-hours Beirut lounge. Replete…
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Beirut
Pass through the millennial pink facade of this new cafe, and behold the renaissance of Gemmayzeh. Sip is a loving marriage of international hipsterdom…
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Beirut
Named after the Egyptian diva Om (Umm) Kulthum, this cosy gay-friendly cafe-pub hybrid is a popular choice in the afternoon and early evening on weekdays,…
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Beirut
Santana opened in spring 2017 and is still enjoying that new-bar buzz. Happy hour is the time to come, when delicious cocktails are half off, and business…
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Beirut
Backroom is a wine bar with a beer problem. It's a cavernous space stocked floor to ceiling with wines from all over the world (the emphasis is on…
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Beirut
The first brewery-bar combination in Beirut, this Badaro newcomer has a rotating selection of craft beers brewed on the premises. Much of the food on…
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Beirut
This little bar, moved a few blocks over in 2017 from its original location, has a laid-back and inclusive vibe and packs out the indoor/outdoor alley…
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Beirut
The corner location of this hip bar is ideally situated for arty young things to eye each other up over an evening Aperol and cigarette. Downstairs the…
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Beirut
Exposed brick, antique velveteen furniture, shiny leather barstools and traditionally patterned Lebanese tiles all reflected in a mirror on the ceiling:…
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Beirut
This gorgeously renovated house doubles down on the speakeasy vibe with art deco furnishings and decor, a black-and-white tiled floor and throwback…
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Beirut
The first pub to open in the now-trendy neighbourhood, Roy’s is a Badaro institution. Its cheerful terrace spills out onto the pavement, and the…
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Beirut
The smell of coffee beans roasting is outsized compared to this tiny corner coffee bar in university land near AUB. Barista Mohammed is a bit of a…
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Lebanon
This excellent craft brewery offers not just very tasty brews on tap, but a mighty attractive indoor space and outdoor deck and garden for drinking them…
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Beirut
Very pleasant shaded outdoor seating draws in the locals at this branch of the famous Beirut cafe. A full range of coffee options (including decaf) is…
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Tripoli
Compact but lively, this is one of a series of appealing bars tucked away on this street in the port quarter. A sociable, hipstery crowd of 20- and 30…
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Lebanon
Hilmi's famous lemonade is now sold from a roadside stall by the highway 7km south of central Batroun. As well as the straight-up version, there are…
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Beirut
Named after the football club, this bohemian, very popular place was one of the original bars in Mar Mikhaël and has retro furniture to suit its status…
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Beirut
An ultra-glam restaurant, lounge bar and club, this rooftop showpony brings in international DJs and dance acts and is a favourite with the bronzed and…
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Beirut
Designed by renowned Lebanese architect Bernard Khoury, this spot manages to be both elegant and trippy. The bar stretches down a cylindrical black tube,…
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Beirut
One of Beirut’s longest-serving hipster hangouts, this neighbourhood place functions as a cafe during the day but hits its stride at night when the DJ…
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Lebanon
On the main street through town, this is central Batroun's best venue for a cooling glass of delicious minty lemonade, the town speciality.
Beirut
This buzzy, crowded spot is a good choice for evening cocktails and a casual bite (the chicken sandwich is a low-key umami stunner; skip the housemade…
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Beirut
A Beirut nightclubbing institution, The Gärten has been thumping steadily for several summers. The music and scene are similar to other clubs in the BIEL…
