Beirut's restaurant scene keeps moving, and the latest round of openings covers a lot of ground — Lebanese institutions returning to Downtown, a Parisian tearoom landing in Dbayeh, and a Sydney-born coffee brand setting up its third global outpost in the capital.
If it's Lebanese food you're after, there's plenty to choose from. Alhan Beirut has opened Downtown with a formula that pairs classic mezza, grills and seafood with live oriental music. Out in the hills of Beit Mery, ONS serves familiar mezza and grilled dishes in a setting built for long family lunches. And Socrate — a name that's been around for more than sixty years — is back in central Beirut with a two-level restaurant at Beirut Souks, doing the Lebanese pastries, sweets and dishes it's known for, indoors and out.
For something different, Downtown also gained Shogun, a contemporary spot for sushi and Japanese favourites, while Naccache picked up Giuseppe, a new Italian kitchen for classics done close to home. Meanwhile Saint Nicolas in Achrafieh has Ardo, a neighbourhood bar and kitchen pitched at aperitivo hour and beyond — sharing plates, cocktails and heartier dishes in a laid-back room designed for settling in.
The sweet and caffeinated arrivals are arguably the most intriguing. Angelina, the Parisian tearoom founded in 1903, now has an address at ABC Dbayeh combining restaurant, tearoom and boutique. It's the place to try the signature Mont-Blanc and the famously thick L'Africain hot chocolate. Le Noir, the Lebanese pastry and chocolate house, has also refreshed its Naccache space for cakes, chocolates and afternoon coffee.
Then there's Ministry of Coffee, which is a story in itself: after Sydney and Los Angeles, Beirut is only its third location anywhere. It's an all-day setup — specialty beans sourced from Sydney, a proper food menu, indoor seating and a terrace — geared equally to morning caffeine, work sessions and catching up with friends.
Why it matters: Beirut dining has always been one of the city's biggest draws, and this crop shows the range on offer right now — from mountain-side Lebanese tables to Parisian pastry and third-wave coffee. If you're planning a trip, it's worth mixing the newcomers with the classics, and getting out of the capital at least once, whether that's up to Beit Mery or along the coast to Naccache and Dbayeh.
