It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in Beirut’s frenetic streets. But once you know where to go, the city opens up in the best way possible. This 48-hour Beirut guide is designed for a long indulgent stay: late mornings, slow afternoons and nights that stretch well past midnight. Split by neighborhood, it shows you how to experience the city the way locals do.

HAMRA & RAS BEIRUT

Kalei Coffee Co in Ras Beirut

Mornings in Hamra begin unassumingly over coffee and conversation. Start at T-Marbouta (+961 1 350 274) or Furn Abdelaziz (+961 1 735 030)  for breakfast. Grab coffee at Salon Beyrouth (+961 3 133 317) , Cafe Younes (+961 1 750 975) or Kalei (+961 1 752 001). The neighborhood has long been Beirut’s intellectual center, home to writers, students, theaters and bookshops, and it still rewards those who start the day slowly.

Abboudi Bou Jaoude in Hamra

By mid-morning, wander the streets of Hamra, popping into random shops. Music lovers should check out Chico Records (+961 1 743 855), while poster collectors can visit Aboudi Bou Jaoude (+961 3 822 899). Book lovers will enjoy browsing Book Bazaar (+961 3 333 726) or Barzakh (+961 76 679 856), both essential stops for those interested in literature and ideas.

Chico Records in Hamra

Art lovers should make time for Agial Art Gallery (+961 1 345 213), one of the city’s cultural institutions. Those interested in contemporary culture can also stop by  Dar El Nimer for Arts and Culture (+961 1 367 013) dedicated to historical, modern and contemporary cultural productions from Palestine. The building itself is a perfect example of Bauhaus architecture.

Dar El Nimer in Clemenceau

A short walk leads to the National Library, a recently restored landmark that offers a quiet pause from the city and a glimpse into Lebanon’s intellectual heritage. Nearby, Sanayeh Garden provides a welcome pocket of green, where locals gather to read, walk or simply slow down before continuing the day.

A visit to the American University of Beirut is a must, including the AUB Archaeological Museum (+961 1 759 665) where palm-lined paths and sandstone buildings provide a calm pause from the city outside.

The American University of Beirut Campus in Hamra

Lunch is best kept simple and local: Barbar (+961 1 753 330), Falafel Aboulziz (+961 1 749 549), Abou Afif (+961 3 235 444) or Snack Faysal (+961 1 367 281). These are places that move quickly and without ceremony, part of the daily rhythm of the area rather than destinations in their own right.

Sporting Club Beach in Manara

In the late afternoon, make your way toward the sea. Walk the Corniche from Manara toward Raouche, watching the city soften as the light shifts. Fishermen, joggers and families gather along the water, while street vendors sell corn, foul and peanuts. As the sun dips, head to Sporting Club Beach (+961 1 742 200) for sunset, where Beirut’s social life unfolds against the Mediterranean.

Abou Elie Pub in Hamra

As night falls, dinner and drinks blur into one. Falamanki Raouche (+961 1 808 011) is ideal for a relaxed Lebanese meal by the water, while Mezyan (+961 71 293 015) works equally well for dinner, drinks, and the occasional live performance. Jai (+961 1 341 940) and Raseef (+961 1 340 081) offer refined yet unfussy dining back in Hamra, while Lost and Found (+961 81 337 334) draws a lively crowd for both dinner and late drinks.

Metro Al Madina in Hamra

For a deeper dive into Hamra’s nightlife, Abou Elie (+961 70 918 821), the city’s legendary Communist Bar, remains a rite of passage, while Captain Cabin (+961 1 740 516), the rumoured birthplace of the doudou shot, keeps things rowdy well into the night. Those in the mood for performance can also catch a show at Metro Al Madina (+961 76 309 363) or MusicHall (+961 3 807 555), both long-standing fixtures of the city’s cultural life.

MusicHall in Starco

Hamra nights rarely end early. Bars fill, conversations spill into the street and plans shift without warning, a fitting close to a day spent moving at Beirut’s pace.

MAR MIKHAEL, GEMMAYZEH & ACHRAFIEH

BeYt Café in Mar Mikhael

Days in Mar Mikhael stretch lazily across sunlit streets, cafés, and galleries, inviting both locals and visitors to wander without hurry. Brunch is an unhurried affair, whether at Fizz, Beyt (+961 76 761 390) tables fill with morning light filtering through old windows, while the air hums with conversation, espresso machines, and the occasional street musician outside.

Plan BEY in Mar Mikhael

From here, the streets themselves beckon. Walk along Armenia Street, slipping into concept stores like Plan BEY (+961 76 937 875), Zenobie (+961 81 381 616) and Salim Azzam’s (+961 81 000 944) boutique, discovering locally made objects, books and thoughtful souvenirs that feel like fragments of the city’s personality.

Le Chef in Gemmayzeh

Lunch unfolds at its own pace in this part of the city. For something casual and familiar, Le Chef (+961 1 445 373) remains a beloved institution, unchanged and reassuringly comforting. Makan (+961 70954 057) and Jacaranda (+961 76 637 522) offer relaxed alternatives, while Beit Kanz (+961 81 000 944) provides a more design-forward setting where contemporary Lebanese flavors meet thoughtfully curated interiors. Inside, Kanz, its boutique counterpart, is worth a stop for traditional Lebanese mouneh and artisanal pantry goods to take home.

Metropolis Cinema in Mar Mikhael

After lunch, the streets open into side alleys and stairways leading toward Gemmayzeh. The neighborhood’s narrow lanes host galleries such as Art on 56th (+961 1 570 331), Art District (+961 81 680 069), and Fadi Mogabgab (+961 1 567 288), while Studio Nada Debs (+961 70 150 500) draws design enthusiasts. For a quiet pause or a cultural detour, catch a screening at Metropolis Cinema (+961 81 069 530). Wandering these streets is as much part of the experience as any single stop.

The Sursock Museum In Sursock

Climbing the public stairway toward Sursock, the pace of the city slows. Leafy streets and historic villas replace the urban bustle, offering quiet and shade. A visit to the Sursock Museum (+961 1 202 001) and Villa Audi Mosaic Museum (+961 71 136 161) provides a moment to pause among modern and contemporary works. Just steps away, Em Sherif au Musée (+961 3 933 900) feels less like a separate dining stop and more like an extension of the cultural experience, where refined Lebanese classics are served in a setting that mirrors the elegance of the surroundings: ideal for a long, late afternoon meal.

The Swim Club at Hotel Albergo in Achrafieh

As afternoon wanes, cafés draw people back in. Flat White (+961 70 990 191) or Sip (+961 1 567 569) are perfect for a late coffee or something sweet, while the mood gradually shifts toward early evening. Aperitif hour unfolds across Achrafieh and Mar Mikhael, whether at The Terrible Prince (+961 70 426 444), Levain Wine Bar (+961 3 291 929), The Swim Club at Albergo (+961 1 339 797), Superchief (+961 70 114 400) spots that just as easily turn into relaxed dinner destinations, where conversation stretches effortlessly into the night.

Drop Sociale in Gemmayzeh

Dinner is relaxed and polished. Aleb and Baron (+961 79 179 099) offer refined Lebanese cuisine without pretense. Later into the night, Beirut’s bar and club scene comes alive. Drop Sociale (+961 70 771 133) , Lucy Lu or Limbo (+961 70 144 400), are perfect for cocktails, music, and dancing, while AHM (+961 3 703 371) draws those looking to keep the party going until the early hours.

AHM Club on Beirut’s Waterfront

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