Must-see restaurants in Lebanon

  • Tawlet Ammiq

    Bekaa Valley

    Ask any Lebanese foodie to nominate their top choice for a weekend culinary adventure, and they are likely to say Tawlet Ammiq, the Bekaa Valley branch of…

  • Tawlet

    Beirut

    There are loads of great restaurants in Beirut, but there's only one that commands the respect of every farmer, chef and foodie in the country – and that…

  • Feniqia

    Byblos

    There's a golden rule in the Med: restaurants outside archaeological sites are awful. But Feniqia is a glorious exception. A beautifully decorated rustic…

  • Mayrig

    Beirut

    Beirutis of Armenian descent tend to head to this elegant restaurant in Gemmayzeh if they want to celebrate a special occasion, and once you've eaten here…

  • Café Em Nazih

    Beirut

    Tucked away in true urban style under a hostel and in the shade of an overpass, this excellent semi-open space brings together locals and foreigners,…

  • Loris

    Beirut

    It's an upbeat, social scene at this enjoyable cafe-bar-restaurant hybrid. The elegant garden and glitzy interior of this sizeable villa make it look like…

  • Liza

    Beirut

    Epitomising Beiruti chic, Liza serves expertly prepared nouvelle Lebanese food in surroundings that have graced the pages of many international design…

  • Onno

    Beirut

    Exceptionally welcoming service and a convivial atmosphere make this one of Hamra's best dining choices for traditional food. A range of tasty hummus dips…

  • Mezyan

    Beirut

    Mezyan is a Hamra institution. This restaurant-bar has occupied a few locations over the years, serving small plates of Lebanese, Syrian and Armenian…

  • Falafel Sahyoun

    Beirut

    Beirutis have strong, often divisive opinions about where to find the best in class of any food group, so it means all the more that Sahyoun is widely…

  • Tavolina

    Beirut

    Every suburb needs an Italian trattoria, and it would certainly be nice if all were as impressive as this one. Serving up plump bruschetta, handmade pasta…

  • Baron

    Beirut

    Located in the Mar Mikhaël design district, this locavore restaurant is very much at the forefront of Beirut culinary trends. Innovative, modern creations…

  • Fern Ghattas

    Beirut

    One of Beirut's best manoushe (flatbread baked in a pizza oven) spots, conveniently located between Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhaël. Cheese and zaatar (a…

  • Tony's

    Tyre

    At first glance, this simple, informal place opposite the port doesn't appear to offer much to the diner. But after sampling Tony's ultra-fresh fish and…

  • Babel Bay

    Beirut

    On the boardwalk around the marina, a seat on the raised platform terrace here is a prime Beirut spot on a sunny day. Unlike some of the other places in…

  • L'Atelier du Miel Workshop & Cafe

    Beirut

    Walk up the stairs off bustling Armenia St and step back to old Beirut, to a warren of alleys and stairs, balconies and roof terraces. You’ll have to buy…

  • Eat Sunshine

    Beirut

    'Conscious' eating has arrived in Beirut with this new breakfast and lunch spot in a light-filled leafy greenhouse set back from Monnot St. Gwyneth…

  • Cafe Sho

    Beirut

    The Cafe Sho concept is unique in Beirut. Build your own Asian-French fusion plate, selecting from carbs (noodles, rice or potato), protein on a skewer,…

  • Taqueria del Jefe

    Beirut

    Authentic Mexican food and margaritas are slung by California transplant chef Justin and his jovial staff. Order the slow-cooked, juicy pork or beef tacos…

  • Cannelle

    Beirut

    Beirut is a croissant-loving town, and Cannelle's may be the best in class (especially the almond and zaatar, a thyme-centred savoury spice mix). The…

  • Souk El Tayeb

    Beirut

    Few things embody the Lebanese culture like its food does. To sample homemade food, visit the weekly open-air market Souk El Tayeb ('the good market'),…

  • Almayass

    Beirut

    Almayass is one of a number of classy Armenian restaurants in Beirut. Since its founding in 1996, the restaurant has opened franchises throughout the…

  • Makan

    Beirut

    Makan’s serene space, bursting with antiques, is a feast for the aesthete as much as it is for the gourmand. The mostly Asian menus rotate weekly, the art…

  • Em Ali

    Beirut

    Finally this popular Souk El Tayeb farmer's market stall has a storefront! Famous for her country-style saj (grilled flatbread) with the freshest greens,…

  • KB Döner

    Beirut

    Turkish-German style döner kebab may be one of the top five drunk munchies worldwide, and this fact is not lost on the good proprietors of KB Döner nor…

  • Bab Sharki Le Jardin

    Beirut

    In the ultra-elegant part of Achrafiyeh, Bab Sharki offers a wide selection of Levantine dishes, including Iraqi, Armenian and Aleppian cuisine. Its…

  • Barbar

    Beirut

    You might find better shawarma, falafel or manoushe (cheese and herb-topped flatbread baked in a pizza oven) in Beirut, but the scene at Barbar makes your…

  • Samakati

    Beirut

    This sweet little fish restaurant on the Armenia strip has appropriately nautical blue-and-white check tables. There's a range of seafood mezze: delicious…

  • Maryool

    Beirut

    Maryool is as if a traditional Lebanese mezze joint did a semester in Copenhagen and came back a little more chic. The ambience is all amber wood and grey…

  • Electric Bing Sutt

    Beirut

    Beirut's love affair with all things Asian is elevated to new heights (and prices) with this new small plates fusion lounge-restaurant. Inventive…

  • Ichkhanian

    Beirut

    Beirut is a city of special flatbread moments, and this is one of the best. The classic Armenian breakfast lahme baajin – spiced ground beef on thin dough…

  • Seza

    Beirut

    On a quiet Mar Mikhaël corner, this sweet family-run spot offers cuisine true to this traditional Armenian area. There's a cute little plant-shaded…

  • Beit Halab

    Beirut

    Cheap and cheerful, Beit Halab is considered by Syrians to be among the best Syrian food in Beirut. Nibble traditional Levantine mezze to start and then…

  • Dar

    Beirut

    Dar, or ‘home’ in Arabic, is cosily tucked away at the end of an alley in bustling Hamra. The peaceful restaurant and bookstore space spill out of a mid…

  • Tawlet Saida

    Saida

    Perched high over the old town with views over the fishing harbour, this outpost of Beirut's foodie maestros focuses on local traditions, so seafood is a…

  • Kahwet Leila

    Beirut

    Old Beirut lives on through clever recreations such as this chic coffeehouse, which is designed to evoke the city's 'Paris of the East' past. The menu…

  • Restaurant Mounir

    Lebanon

    One of the country's most famous restaurants, this classy place just off the highway on the border of Beit Mery and Brummana boasts extensive gardens, a…

  • T Marbouta

    Beirut

    Tucked away in the corner of a shopping plaza, this socially focused cafe and restaurant is quite a surprise to discover, with its buzzy garden atrium…

  • Silver Shore

    Tripoli

    Tripoli's best seafood is found here in an elegant dining room with views over the water. The very courteous and professional staff will guide you through…

  • Al Midane

    Lebanon

    Popular with locals and tourists alike, this cafe on the square has an attractive outdoor terrace and is a great spot to linger over a light meal or…

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