t u r i Be
INSIDER
Marhaba from Beirut, following our ethos of independent living, we have tapped into our network to unlock our insider narrative for a destination that is enriched by sublime food, empty ruins, friendly people and an awesome clubbing culture. A city that is exciting and insane, bound to shake youR life up in all kinds of ways. Through cultured
YOUR WAY.
connections and unique experiences, this is how we roam through Beirut. Immersing you deeper into a destination, and letting you get the most exclusive all access pass, from where to we eat, sleep, play and who or what to discover.
Beirut Insider WRITTEN BY AH TRAVEL CLUB
Beirut has a very distinctive culture full of creative ideas. All up in your grill, the upfront city has an unshakable flare of positivity and growth. What you see is what you get, for us that honesty is what attracted us most to Beirut. You see it on the walls, in the food, the drinks, the clubs, the fashion and the people. The city where rooftops are the places to be and where authentic food is a non-negotiable necessity. The heartbeat of Beirut can be found in it's people's courage and energy, we left saying goodbye to amazing passionate personalities that forever-changed the way we saw life. We struggle to sum up Beirut, honestly there is so much going on, and yet somehow the chaotic varieties bridge together so well. From the rich colours, to the natural scenery of leafy side streets, to the unapologetic vibrance of it’s people, and to a culture that holds the force of a million suns.
WHERE WE STAY FRENCH CLASSIC An authentic French inspired Lebanese villa from the 20s, stands today as a setting for unique touches. Charming front garden and dark red classic Parisian interiors. Villa Clara's special feature is that it captures you in a time of days gone by.
CONTEMPORARY CHIC Views from the top is why we love O Monot Boutique Hotel. Set in the super chic Saifi Village, the elegant spot takes on a fashionable sense bringing a whole new vibe to the stays in the city. Rise and shine with coastal views, catch a quick morning tan on the roof top terrace, before you head out to explore the leisure district of Beirut.
TRENDY HIPSTER Ideally setup for you to really delve deep into your discovery of Beirut, we fell in love with the fact that Baffa House was in the art district Mar Mikhael. An enitirely different experience can be had here, heavenly setup for ultra chilling and unwinding.
HISTORICAL STATUE An icon figure in the landscape of Beirut, old, grand and stuck in two different worlds, Hotel Albergo is a must on your to do list. The mansion is a historical luxury design, that lets you explore a new secret in each room. Our fav is the tiny elevator that takes you to one of Beirut best keep secrets, their rooftop is just magical.
WHERE WE EAT BREAKAST Start your day with ocean views at Boulevard Beirut Cafe. Classic combinations of old and new, rich homecook recipes and traditional Lebanese cuisine. From the outside Bread Republic looks like a decayed building from Havana, but step inside for a healthy breakfast, serving organic veggies and local produce dishes. Love the rubble charm and shabby settings BRUNCH Time to chic-it-up and indulge in grandness. We would be idiots if we didn't feature the Liza, so here we are making sure you’re not an idiot either - Brunch Excellence. When we heard that Secteur 75 serves Red Velvet pancakes during weekend brunches, our attention was captured immediately. The pub-restaurant has a strong spirit of genuine coolness. The walls are artfully distressed and the funk music definitely gets you going. LUNCH Resto-pub concept with a handsome street side garden. We love Villa Badaro because of it’s refreshing ambiance and cool urban sense. DINNER Culinary destination Em Sherif is fine dining in an old world. The food is just as amazing as the Oriental style interiors, so grab your fabulous friends for a night of sharing tasty selections. New to the dining scene in Beirut, find the secret doorway to Brassica and enjoy the funky french cuisine. "Its not another Restaurant It's not a Bar It's a Lifestyle."
WHAT WE DO DAYCAP
Return home with a full set of skills in making delicious Lebanese classics, take a cooking class at Tawlet, a food lovers paradise, learn about the land, the people, the history, the food and the traditions all bringing together the very existence of Souk El Tayeb. Ginette is a cool little concept store and eatery in the Gemmayze district. The perfect place to get a healthy dose of people watching out on the terrace, cool finds from the minimalist Jap-influenced fashion apparel and a small art space/gallery. Visit a heaven of textiles and fabrics, Bokja Showroom is a favourite among the Travel Tribe. From homewear to art pieces and slip coats, we love their creations, so rich and colourful, perfectly mimicking the vibrance of Beirut.
WHAT WE DO DAYCAP
Developed by two childhood friends Tatiana & Joanna, Vanina is a responsibly capricious brand that consciously sells designs blending glamour and audaciousness. The products passionately engage activism, aimed at promoting local community development through the enhancement of craftsmanship and environmental awareness. 2006 was the year that triggered the Street Art scene in Beirut, a killer vibrance was created sharing inspiration and oppression. The Artists have played a big role is opening up the city, taking hidden spots and bringing them to life. Take a private tour of the most iconic and intriguing works paying tribute to Beirut and Lebanon.
OUR TOP 5 NIGHT SPOTS NIGHTCAP ULTIMATE BANGER You definitely came to party in Beirut if you find yourself at this spot. White Bar is intense, insane and everything you never imagined. Lets call it a mini-festival. AVANTE-GARDE At BO18 just the design and location alone are insanely awesome. As the sun sets the floor opens up and you submerge yourself into this semi-industrial setting for a spectacular nightclub. WINE SNOB Pleasure, provocation and superiority. With so much refined style, Burgundy’s bar and wine cellar take you on mastery adventures of fine French wines. CRAFT JOINT New to the scene we loved the cocktail Lab at the Clockroom, our favourite cocktails had some killer renditions and the bar tenders were fire!! WE LOVE SUMMER Tan till it's dark and then dance the night away at Skin City’s hot rooftop bar. Poolside sessions but our favourite is their 90s RnB night.
WHO WE WATCH OUT FOR CONNECTING WITH AMAZING LOCALS BALQIS ALRASHED visual artist | softcore rebel | hardcore lover | not lebanese Throwing herself into art, Beirut raised Balqis Al Rashed, a multicultural individual exploring the meanings, practises and collective respect of her own identity. Once she found her voice and artistic expression nothing could stop her, even though as a woman it’s always harder to have the world receive what you want to share. The Middle Eastern world knows her for being featured as a Nike ambassador, additionally she co-founded Qabila Apparel, a hula-hooping performer, and the use of her platform to inspire women to share their story . She plays with her artistry to set herself free from judgement, we love that!! YAZAN HALWANI The Banksy of Beirut Combining calligraphy and street portraiture to tell the stories of Beirut, Lebanon and the Arab World. As political posters and adverts from the elections covered majority of the urban landscapes, Yazan wanted to replace the city walls with something more positive and provide a real presence of the Lebanese people. One of the reasons he paints these portraits is to explore what it means to be Lebanese, and representing it’s stories. “ I dont paint just for the sake of painting or for the sake of capitalising on a certain event, I just paint when I feel that I have something constructive to say.”
24 HOURS IN SAIFI VILLAGE BREAKING DOWN OUR FAVOURITES CONSCIOUS LIFESTYLE
BEAUTY & WELLNESS Begin your day with an empowering start, get fit at the Exhale spinning workout studio, join the community and explode with energy.
BREAKFAST Wobbly knees and completely gased out by your workout, visit Boulangerie Beurre for a variety of baked goods. A little cheat never did nobody harm, grab a coffee and croissant to get your energy back.
CONCEPT STORE Get in the loop with Lebanon’s fashion industry, Starch Foundation is a non-profit organisation that helps launch emerging Lebanese designers, visit the STARCHed store and check out what’s hot in Beirut.
ART Visit Alwane, Lebanon's longest standing art gallery, travel through the nations rich history. Since 1964 the gallery has been a pulsating space for the country’s art memory.
24 HOURS IN SAIFI VILLAGE BREAKING DOWN OUR FAVOURITES
LUNCH Have lunch at Meat the Fish for delicious fresh food and great bursting atmosphere. French lamb, Dutch veal, Australian beef and Japanese oysters, serving sustainable foods from across the globe. Make sure to make a reservation.
INTERIOR DESIGNS No need to move too far from Meat the Fish because right next door is Vick Vanillan’s V World showroom. One of Beirut’s most distinguished interior designers. The design concepts are fun with a touch of pop-culture. Not taking things too seriously, the showroom is like an adults playroom.
DESIGNER SPECIALITY Take a private tour of Things of Old Days, a historical atelier and showroom showcasing gems from the Arab region.
DINNER UNWIND End your day by sipping on some cocktails with a complete sensory experience at GILT. The restaurant and bar brings design, music and culinary together for a very unique experience.
OUR TOP 5 BEACH BARS/CLUBS
1. Madame Bleu Beirut Your urban swimming destination in Beirut for sunshine and tan lines. 2. Riviera Beach Club Medi sea views, the huge jetset beach club packs in a lot of heat for some of Beirut's sexiest summer parties. Private pools, jacuzzis, turning sun beds and an epic VIP Lounge. 3. Orchid Luxury Resort Suck up the drive and make sure you’re there over the weekend for their stylish beach parties. Orchid is one hell-ofa summer destination in one of the sunniest spots on the Lebanese seaside. 4. VEER Boutique Hotel & Resort Newbie in town with a 360 degree bar. Extra exclusive and hella boss-like. Definitely the cool uncle out of the bunch.
5. June If you're looking to get away from all the chaos and intense party scene, June is a perfect hideaway spot, just off the highway, tucked in the bush. With an almost private beach, the scene is chilled, the cocktails are amazing and the sunset is the best one that we've come across.
OUR TOP 5 SHISHA SPOTS 1. Enab Beirut Your chic setup for puffing away, definitely more for the ladies for post-brunch activities. 2. Al Falamanki Authentically cosy and casual. We felt like we were in somebody’s home, taken back to someone’s childhood memory. You could easily spend hours here, having fun, playing a game of cards or backgammon, while listening to Fairuz playing in the background. This was something super special. 3. Restaurant Amar Combined with an epic view of the ocean, smoke in the sky, nibble on some sticky delights and sip on something sweet. We were stuck here for hours. 4. Junkyard Beirut A new hangout spot in Mar Michael, it's fresh, it's funky and it’s also a gastropub. Street art from all over the world and a giant trunk coming out of a wall, rack-up the shisha and enjoy the quirkiness. 5. Dalida Shisha Bar Amazing flavours, outdoor rustic charm and sometimes belly dancing shows. Dalida is like your local pub where at peak hour, the music goes up and everybody is on the tables dancing.
OUR TOP 5 GRAMMABLE SPOTS 1. BEYT Restaurant, guest house and exhibition space. Antique furniture, light filled spaces and a charming garden for a great photoshoot.
2. Sip Artisanal settings makes for a perfectly pretty scenic beauty. From the floors, to the walls, the furniture and the coffees, everything is put together so well.
3. Kalei Coffee Holistic vibes for days. Kalei Coffee is raw, organic, and minimalistic. They also have great coffee.
4. Makan The Jasmine-scented garden is quite possibly one of the most beautiful spots we came across in Beirut.
5. Liza Beirut We just cant get enough, so here we are again with Liza Beirut. It’s a “Duh” moment for an Instagram-friendly spot.
'PLANT A SEED' - THE FOCUS NRC LEBANON
Norwegian Refugee Council is an independent humanitarian organisation helping displaced people, working in crises across 30 countries, they help save lives and rebuild futures. Not since World War Two has there been more people that need help. With around 6000 men and women working for NRC across the world, their mission is to delivery high-quality aid, defend the rights of people, and rebuild futures. “Under Lebanese law, Syrians in Lebanon are not considered refugees, but ‘guests’ granted temporary hospitality”. Living side-by-side with locals, NRC works with local communities to host displaced people. The NRC in Lebanon focuses to manage a number of life factors that are crucial to the development of the refugees. Working on education, camp management, WASH (Water, hygiene and sanitation), ICLA (Information, counselling and legal assistance) and shelter. Every human should have the right to housing, and housing that is habitable. Nearly 80% of the refugees are living in poverty struct conditions, in sub-standard urban areas where no efforts are focused. NRC in Lebanon looks to provide affordable quality housing to these displaced families, making sure that basic living standards are met. Allowing for realistic rental terms and conducting home visits to ensure that the properties have adequate water, sewage and sanitation facilities. In the year 2016 alone, the shelter programme provided a total of 3,202 housing units that shelter over 11,000 people. 3 Lebanese schools were rehabilitated for the Syrian refugees and their hosted communities. The emergency shelter kit in Arsal, that upgrades vulnerable households with shelter and WASH upgrades, provided nearly 22,000 individuals with the emergency kit.
TIPS & TRICKS
GET FAMILIAR WITH THE FACTS “You get a strange feeling when you are about to leave a place. You will not only miss the people you love, but you will miss the person you are now. “ - Azar Nafisi. Thats how you’re going to feel when you leave Beirut, so be prepared. • Beirut is a mashup of things people pick up along the way. It can be preppy, normcore or hipster. Depends what street you’re on. Don’t be surprised when you come across a lot of French themes. • Beirut is know for its great food and even better nightlife, with charming old women and men chanting “Eat!Eat!Eat!, there is no room for being a skinny snob. • Be prepared for fateful booze and beer-fuelled nights. Beirut is a party town not a war zone. • Dressing down in Beirut does not exist, and if you only realise that when you arrive, don’t worry drop your bags off at the hotel and head straight to the boutiques in Mar Mikaael, Saifi Village or Achrafieh for some local glamour. • Make sure to spend some time outside Beirut. Beautiful mountain escapes, wine farms, quirky private beach towns and historical landscapes. Lebanon is incredible.
YOUR WORLD. YOURÂ WAY.
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