Must-see nightlife in Beirut

  • Ferdinand

    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…

  • Grand Factory

    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…

  • Bedivere

    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…

  • Posh

    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…

  • Café Younes

    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…

  • Dragonfly

    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…

  • Iris

    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…

  • Demo

    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…

  • Kalei Coffee Company

    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…

  • Junkyard

    Beirut

    A stack of well-worn shipping containers converted into a fashionable bar/party venue hybrid, Junkyard has a great rooftop terrace showcasing recycled…

  • B 018

    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…

  • Aaliya's Books & Cafe

    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…

  • Anise

    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…

  • Abou Elie

    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…

  • Captain’s Cabin

    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…

  • L'Osteria

    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,…

  • Coop d’Etat

    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…

  • Al Falamanki

    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…

  • Sip

    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…

  • Madame Om

    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,…

  • Santana

    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…

  • Backroom

    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…

  • Brew Inc

    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…

  • Dany’s

    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…

  • Riwaq

    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…

  • Tota

    Beirut

    Exposed brick, antique velveteen furniture, shiny leather barstools and traditionally patterned Lebanese tiles all reflected in a mirror on the ceiling:…

  • Salon Beyrouth

    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…

  • Roy’s Public House

    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…

  • Kaldi

    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…

  • Café Younes

    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…

  • Internazionale

    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…

  • White

    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…

  • Centrale

    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,…

  • Torino Express

    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…

  • Kissproof

    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…

  • Gärten

    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…

  • Bread Republic

    Beirut

    Do you want a wine bar or a pizzeria or a bakery or a bistro? No need to decide: pop into Bread Republic for a good selection of Lebanese, Syrian and…

  • AHM

    Beirut

    One of Beirut's famous summer-only waterfront clubs, AHM's house DJs and international guests spin soul and pop music you don't usually hear in this city…

  • Troika

    Beirut

    Troika is where the art kids smoke and dance and carry on in Badaro. Weekend DJ nights are some of Beirut’s most interesting, and it’s pretty entertaining…

  • Attic

    Beirut

    Low light, dark wood panelling, cosily upholstered armchairs and carefully arranged trunks, books and other attic-esque objets effectively call for brown…

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