Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, is a popular tourist destination for people from the Arab world as well as the West. While in Beirut, you’d find a blend of culture especially when it comes to the cuisine. Traditionally Lebanese cuisine is a blend of different Mediterranean and Arab cuisines. But there is also international cuisine with many reputable restaurants and recognised chefs. Here listed are five of the best restaurants in Beirut as recommended by travellers to this great city.

Mounir

If you want a great example of Lebanese cuisine, this is definitely the restaurant you should be going to. Apart from the great food, the service is great and many travellers are impressed with the view, although some say it doesn’t stand out enough at night. Their special Lebanese delicacies are enjoyed by most diners. However, some people may find this restaurant a bit on the high end in terms of price.

Karam

karam beirut

If you want a place where you are sure to get the same great taste every time you dine, then Karam located in downtown Souk Bazerkene is where you want to be. This restaurant serves Lebanese delicacies that are always so fresh and richly flavoured. Some people loved the Mishawi dish while others prefer the fatoush salad served with mixed grill. To add to the flavour, the service is great. Nevertheless, the price may deter some people from enjoying this place as well.

Ferdinand

If you’re looking for where to get the best burger, then Ferdinand is the place. This non-smoking restaurant is noted for its cool music and very helpful staff. It is conveniently located in the Hamra area and very accessible too. The drinks are also good and for its location, and it is reasonably priced.

Roadster Diner

If you are tired of Lebanese food and want something more western, you can make a stop at the roadster diner and you are sure to feel like you just found yourself back in the west. This restaurant is a chain and can be found in different parts of the city. It serves burgers, steaks, and even sandwiches. It is a great place to go with the kids. To its advantage, it is fairly priced and offers takeout.

Da Giovanni

You probably got it from the name but if you didn’t, this is an Italian restaurant serving a whole lot of Italian delicacies. This is a clean and elegant restaurant located in Rue Georges. If you are on the lookout for some good Italian food, this is where you should be heading to—but keep in mind it is high end and some dishes like the fish in salt will skyrocket the bill.

Obviously, you can never go hungry in Beirut with some of the best restaurants that serve food that will suit all budget ranges. From purely Lebanese to other western cuisine, there is a whole lot to choose from. From dine-in to takeout you can have it all in this beautiful Mediterranean city.

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For those who love horse racing, Beirut offers a unique charming attraction with its active Hippodrome, which fascinates the international visitor. Centre of entertainment and elegance, the Hippodrome Du Parc De Beyrouth enhances the traditional love for horses and races that the Lebanese culture has developed during the centuries. The famous Hippodrome was built in a Beirut suburb called Bir Hassan during the year of 1885, but years later the Hippodrome moved to another location, this time in the sector called Abdallah Al Yafi Avenue.

beirut racing

The Forgotten Horses

In Lebanon, the tradition of horse racing goes back to Roman times. Those forgotten horses that fill with emotion the heart of the spectators are still evoked in the memory of the stones and the dust of the old monuments of the land. We can find there the well-preserved Tyre Hippodrome, one of the most representative built within the boundaries of the Roman empire and then we can understand why the love for this type of sport is largely  is embraced as part of the Lebanese’s own idiosyncrasy.

Horse Racing Today in Beirut

Visiting Beirut without knowing the Hippodrome is really a mistake! Modern, comfortable, and beautiful, the facility is protected by the city authorities. With all the adjacent racing setups, the Hippodrome is part Municipality of Beirut. The management of the Hippodrome is in the hands of a private organization, SPARCA, a non-profit entity dedicated to the protection of the Arabian horse in the territory of Lebanon.

Arabian horses are some of the most beautiful creatures that live in this world. Their own history is fascinating and mysterious; that is good enough reason to visit the Hippodrome. To discover the amazing performance of these selected animals is one of the most moving and amusing experiences you can have in Lebanon.

Weekly Venues

For the enthusiastic horse lovers, the weekly meeting with the favourite horses can be an enjoyable chance to attempt their luck. The press is very active making reports and resuming the turf activities. So you can choose from the list of horses after digeseting some interesting reports and records on their past performance and ponder their abilities as a plus to take your chance on them.

There are eight races in one weekly venue. This schedule is held all the year long, although includes some seasonal changes. The average venue offers from ten to twelve horses per race.

Dates: Every Sunday, starting at 12:30pm.
July and August are different however, substituting Saturdays for Sundays and starting at 1:30pm.

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Lebanon, which is officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a popular tourist destination especially for Asian and Arabic tourists, although there are also visitors from the west. This Eastern Mediterranean country has a number of tourist sites and is host to some beautiful hotels. The Lebanese are known for their hospitality and this is reflected in the quality of service at most hotels. Let’s take a look at some popular hotels at three of Lebanon’s most visited cities or towns.

Beirut

Phoenicia Hotel

Phoenicia hotel

is a five-star hotel located in the convenient Minet El Hosn. The location of this hotel is perfect if you intend to visit most of the places in town and it also offers a fantastic view of the harbour. Rooms are spacious and comfortable and the staff is extremely helpful. A visit to the restaurant and health spa will help convince you that this is one of the best places to stay in Beirut.

Holiday Inn Beirut Dunes

holiday inn hotel

is centrally located, offering easy access to all city attractions. There are many interesting things to do just around the corner and if you love shop, you will love the fact that it is attached to a shopping mall. If you prefer to eat out of the hotel, you wouldn’t have a problem as there are many good restaurants in the vicinity. It’s safely located ensuring that guests at the hotel feel safe at all times even when they decide to stay out for late nights.

Jounieh

Regency Palace

Is the hotel to stay in if you want five-star treatment in Jounieh. You are sure to love everything starting from the bellboys to the rooms and especially the service itself. The breathtaking view of the hotel is enough to justify the price tag. There are a lot of things to do at the hotel and you can take part in the blue comedy show. If you fancy Chinese food, then make a stop at the Chinese restaurant for some great Chinese food.

Bel Azur

Is the hotel to stay in when you want something affordable and if travelling with the family. Although the rooms may not be the most beautiful in the world, the view through the window is sure to make any guest happy.

Batroun

Aqualand Hotel and Resort

Located in Batroun, north of Lebanon, is located on the seaside overlooking a beautiful beach. This hotel offers a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea that is sure to impress any guest. To its credit, the most popular city shops and restaurants are just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. Rooms are large and clean and the pool is also well taken care of.

Sawary Resort and Hotel

This Hotel is strategically placed offering a good view of the Mediterranean Sea from a height. All of Batroun from city attractions to bars and restaurants are just around the corner. Rooms are comfortable and spacious and guests are sure to have a good night’s sleep after having fun in town. It is also relatively affordable with rooms starting at $65.

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pintade-beyrouth

Une vie de Pintade à Beyrouth (Calmann-Lévy),
l’ethnoguide indispensable
pour décoder le mode de vie des Libanaises,
même si votre voyage n’est pas pour demain !
Web: LesPintades

 


 Ce livre appartient à la collection des Pintades qui décode le mode de vie des femmes dans les grandes villes du monde. Déjà parus: New York, Londres, Téhéran, Paris. “Une vie de Pintade à Beyrouth” est un ouvrage écrit en français par une journaliste française installée à Beyrouth, Muriel Rozelier. C’est un ethnoguide qui se présente sous forme de chroniques journalistiques qui racontent le quotidien des femmes (mode, beauté, enfants, engagement citoyen, vie sociale, monde du travail, …), agrémentées de bonnes adresses et de bons plans. On peut le lire à la fois pour découvrir une société et aussi l’utiliser comme un guide touristique

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Congratulations to Lebanon !!!

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (FIBA World Championship) – During today’s meeting of the FIBA Central Board – the highest executive body of the International Basketball Federation – the following teams were awarded wild card entries to next year’s FIBA World Championship in Turkey:

  • Germany
  • Lebanon
  • Lithuania
  • Russia

The decisions were made in accordance with the criteria outlined by the FIBA Central Board. The wild card system was first introduced for the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, following the decision to increase the number of teams from 16 to 24.

With the four wild cards joining the 20 qualified teams, the following teams go into the hat for the draw that will take place on Tuesday 15th December (11:30AM local time / 10:30AM CET) in Istanbul:

 

Angola
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
Croatia
France
Germany
Greece
Iran
Ivory Coast
Jordan
Lebanon
Lithuania
New Zealand
Puerto Rico
Russia
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Tunisia
Turkey
USA
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Beirut’s Saifi Market on Sunday was filled with the sounds of chopping, cheering and the sweet, grassy smell of tons of freshly cut parsley.
Thousands of visitors showed up over the weekend to cheer on 250 sous chefs and 50 of their instructors from the Kafaat School of Catering as they toiled over two days to beat the Guinness record for the world’s biggest hummus plate and tabbouleh salad. The final weigh-in for hummus on Saturday was 2,056 kilograms, or 4,532 pounds, more than quadruple the previous record.

On Sunday, the tabbouleh came in at 3,557 kilograms, or 7,841 pounds — more than 3 tons.

The vessel itself, a giant, rotating terracotta-colored hummus bowl, won the distinction of world’s largest plate.  Read More on latimes.com

 

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