Beirut – the nightlife capital of the Middle East. This seems to catch most people I say this to by surprise. Eating, drinking, partying, and then eating again. That’s pretty much the national sport in my home city. Make sure you do at least some of it while you’re there.

There is a ton of turnover with bars and clubs in Lebanon and the it place normally doesn’t last more than a year or two. Here are my current favorites (As of May 2016):

Bars and Lounges

Four Seasons Rooftop: Downtown. A nice place to get good quality music, a well made drink, and a nice view of Beirut.

Centrale: Gemayze. This bar is located in the ventilation shaft of a restaurant which makes it not only cozy but also a very interesting architectural feat. Stop by for a drink before moving on in the area.

Train Station: Gemayze. A welcome recent addition to the pub scene. This place used to be an actual train station, and the trains were kept as a backdrop to the bar. Super hipster and a great place to preparty.

Iris: Downtown. Rooftop restaurant, lounge, cocktail bar. Great place to go for dinner or for yummy cocktails. The music is good and the view of the sunset is amazing.

Pierre and Friends: Batroun. Beachside bar. This place is mostly about the view and the atmosphere. Try to go right before sunset.

The Attic: Badaro. This area just like Mar Mkhail has a lot of good small pubs once you get tired of the pretentiousness (and you will). Attic theme in this charming bar.

Clubs

BO18: Karantina. This club is one of the few it places that has survived year after year after year. Located underground in a parking lot, this club used to be a former bomb shelter. Somewhat upscale crowd with the occasional guidos. Lots of drugs. Super cool feeling every time the roof opens up.

The Gärten

Beirut. For lovers of electronic music, this is the place. Incredible sound system and lighting.

White

Seaside. Another rooftop but this one is more a club than a place to get a drink. Haven’t been in a while but I guess it’s next best rooftop now thst Skybar closed.

Bardo

Beirut. A cool mixed but mostly gay bar/club with music videos projected on the walls. Music and drinks are reliably good.

Music Hall

Dinner, drinks, and live entertainment. World music fusion with lots of cultural acts both local and foreign. This place is almost always fully booked for the summer and there’s a good reason for it.