Must-see nightlife in 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…

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…

With a lightly worn medieval theme and mellow soundtrack, this inviting hideaway has cute outdoor tables and an interior dominated by sociable bar-counter…

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…

The aroma of freshly ground coffee beans has been enticing patrons into this friendly cafe near the American University of Beirut since 1935, rewarding…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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

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…

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…

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 is billed as a 'communist bar'. The revolutionary credentials of the taciturn owner aren't verified, but it's true that leftist posters and…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

Pass through the millennial pink facade of this new cafe, and behold the renaissance of Gemmayzeh. Sip is a loving marriage of international hipsterdom…

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,…