Beirut, Lebanon
For those of you who only know me from my blog or Instagram, you may not know that I am actually Lebanese. My mom and dad were both born and raised there, which makes me 100%, but I was born in the U.S., which makes me Lebanese-American.
I am so proud to be Lebanese. I wouldn’t change it for anything. Almost all of my family is in the states, so we’ve held onto the culture very tightly, and I love that. In fact, my favorite person in the world, my tata (grandma) doesn’t speak very much English, so I was lucky enough to grow up having to speak Arabic with her.
I’ve been to Lebanon about 4 times, (not nearly enough,) so this post is closer to my heart than the others. Because I actually am Lebanese, this post is not coming from such a tourist-y standpoint… though, it’s not quite native either.
Here are my recommendations!
Hamra: Hamra (the Arabic word for red) is a very popular, vibrant neighborhood in Beirut, and Hamra street is the main street than runs through it. You can find so much to do on Hamra, so I’ll just list a few of my favorites.
- Bliss Street and Bliss Street Creamery: Located in the Hamra neighborhood, just parallel to Hamra Street. Bliss street was named after Dr. Daniel Bliss, an American missionary who founded the American University of Beirut, which is, unsurprisingly, found on this same street. There’s a bunch of restaurants and cafés on this street, and one of the most popular ice cream parlors, Bliss Street Creamery, can also be found here.
- February 30: There are tons of good bars in Hamra, but this one is my personal favorite. Good drinks, good vibes, and the best part is the decor… there’s a bar swing, fam. That should be reason enough to go, but if it’s not, just look at this photo evidence of me being completely jazzed about it below.
- Henry’s Handmaid: This cute little accessory shop is located at the end of Hamra Street and sells unique jewelry and trinkets, many of which have some kind of Lebanese/Arab influence. That means a bunch of evil eyes and gorgeous Arabic writing, and the best part is, it’s all handmade… by Henry himself. He even does personalized stuff, so if you don’t see what you like, you can ask– he just might make it for you. I got these beautiful earrings.
If all else fails, just walk around and find your own favorite things. It’s really bustling.
Other Beirut Recommendations:
- Raouché: Another neighborhood in Beirut, known for its landmark, the Raouché (who would have guessed?) The Raouché is 2 large rock formations that goes by many names, but that I would say most Lebanese people just refer to as the Raouché. It’s a popular spot for both visitors and natives and a great spot for a photo. This is also a good area to run, if that’s your jam. In Greek mythology, It’s said that the Raouché is “the remains of a sea monster the Greek hero Perseus killed to save Andromeda. The stone is rock as Perseus used Medusa’s head on the monster to turn it into stone.”
- Riviera Beach club: I think it’s actually part of a hotel, but the pool/club attached to it is open to the public and a it’s a lot of fun. It’s got DJ’s, jacuzzis, space to lay out, and pool bars. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a daytime party.
- Bar Bar: The Washington Post refer to Bar Bar as “Arguably the most famous restaurant in Lebanon.” And though I don’t know about all that, I will attest to its deliciousness, and I’d even go so far as to ask: if you traveled to Beirut, and didn’t get a sandwich at Bar Bar, did you even really go at all?
- Lastly, if you have the time, I highly recommend you actually leave Beirut and take a trip up to the mountains. Lebanon is small, so it’s never going to take you more than a couple hours to get to where you want to be. I recommend Tebnine as it’s incredibly beautiful, (see photo below) but there are a bunch of other cities worth exploring as well.
The best part is, for many of these places, you can take a shuttle that costs the equivalent of $2. Unfortunately, I can’t find any online info for that, so if you’re going soon, your best bet is to ask a local about it.
