Beirut has long been touted as one of the world’s best nightlife hotspots, with its incredible mixology, delicious food and the Lebanese gift for life creating the perfect cocktail for a night out. Beirut’s nightlife is eclectic, from laid-back hole-in-the-wall bars to secret speakeasies or award-winning nightclubs.
Wine-lovers can enjoy sunset drinks, sampling local vintages that bottle centuries of wine-making history. Expertly crafted cocktails, often experimenting with seasonal flavours, can be found even in the smallest of bars, and come evening, there’s no better place than a rooftop club overlooking the coastline. Whatever the mood, or the day of the week, Beirut has nightlife covered.
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Clubroom
This recently opened speakeasy is a glamorous new secret of Beirut’s nightlife. Hidden away in an unassuming building on Pasture Street, Clubroom is an Art Deco-inspired den, with mirror-covered and green velvet interiors designed by Carl Gerges. Open Thursday to Saturday, the early evening is a calmer affair, perfect for catching up over a few drinks, with the music steadily ramping up as the night goes on. The cocktails are perfectly balanced, with a few unexpected drinks on the menu, as well as some inventive signatures, inspired by the iconic Prohibition-era martini. On the food side, the menu draws from Mediterranean and Asian influences and is designed for sharing, allowing the table to connect over dishes that pair seamlessly with the cocktails. Fan favourites include the carabinero gyoza, torched wagyu and mousse anglaise.
The Malt Gallery Experience
The Malt Gallery Experience in Saifi is a must-visit for all wine and spirit enthusiasts, carrying an incredible ‘liquid library’ – featuring more than 3,000 varieties of whiskey, rum, cognac, gin, wine and much more. Whether you are a seasoned spirit-lover or just dipping your toes into the world of specialist drinks, the creative cocktails and rare spirits – available by the bottle or the glass – can match any taste, or budget. The monthly wine selection and flight of three food-paired whiskies ensures that there is always something new to discover. The food menu is full of fresh and flavourful Mediterranean-Nikkei fusion dishes, such as the vitello tonnato, an inventive take on surf ‘n’ turf made with roasted veal, raw tuna and artichokes, or the zingy fresh crab salad. If you lean more towards cocktails, the signature menu offers creative concoctions like the sweet-sour tequila, lime and coconut poco coco, or the refreshing grainy day, made from Nikka Coffey grain, IPA reduction soda and salted caramel popcorn on the side.
Cask and Barrel
Situated in Downtown Beirut, Cask and Barrel’s immersive experience brings food and drink together with a selection of curated signature cocktails, each served with a small food-paired garnish. Standout examples include the bizarre yet refreshing beet the odds – Haku vodka, house-made beetroot liqueur and B&G Margaux red wine, topped with a goat cheese toast – and the magic mushroom old-fashioned, garnished with whole cepes mushrooms. For sweeter drinks, try the juniper sour, which combines gin, sweet and sour mix, orgeat and is topped with house-made candy foam.
Import Export
This wine bar in Gemmayzeh, which doubles as a wine boutique and deli, stocks around 150 bottles of local and international vintages. It’s perfect for a quick pit stop whilst cutting around town, or a relaxed evening discovering a new favourite wine. At the deli, cold cuts, imported cheeses and accompanying nibbles can be plated for custom charcuterie boards or loaded sandwiches, with expert advice on what pairs with your chosen wine. More substantial meals are also on offer here, from beef tartar to creamy burrata in a balsamic reduction. Tastings and pairing workshops take place regularly at The Wine Table inside.
Torino Express
Torino Express is a hole-in-the-wall bar that is a true institution of Beirut, open for more than 20 years. One of the oldest bars in Gemmayzeh, this place functions as a cafe during the day, but at night, this tiny bar hosts some of Beirut’s best DJs for a no-frills night out. If you’re lucky enough to get a seat inside – there are only 18 seats and a few tables in the narrow space – you’ll spot some old photos of legendary nights here. Most people, however, choose to gather on the street outside the bar and sip their generously sized cocktails. Unlike most bars, there is no cocktail menu, but the bartenders know all the classics and are happy to mix up a surprise, based on a general description of what flavours you like, with good results.
Clap
A favourite of both locals and visitors alike, this rooftop lounge in Downtown Beirut overlooks the city and the Mediterranean Sea, with views begging to be photographed. Ranked in the world’s 50 Best Discovery and No.47 in MENA 50 Best Restaurants 2022, Clap fuses Japanese culinary craft and cocktails with music that evolves over the course of the evening. During the sunset Golden Hours, a curated selection of tasty dishes – like wagyu beef tacos with yuzu chilli jam – can be enjoyed while listening to Organic and Down Tempo music sets. Later in the night, deep house and Afro house takes over. You’ll want to explore the 22 signature cocktails inspired by the six regions of Japan, such as the Shibuya Shakedown, blending tequila, yuzu, honey agave, togarashi salt and sansho pepper from the Tokyo selection.
Lucy Lu
This recently opened speakeasy on Pasture Street has been the talk of the town but in true speakeasy fashion, you have to “know a guy” to find the location. Hint: it’s just passed Le Trottoir de Paloma. Hidden behind a big blue door at the back of a small liquor store, the space gives way to a fashionable after-hours cocktail bar and club, with a distinctive warrior rabbit statue behind the bar. The cocktail menu is a twist on the familiar, each expertly paired with a suggested dish from the food menu. Resident DJs turn up the volume of groove music after dinner hours, making the perfect place for a late-night drink with a bit of dancing thrown in.
16MM
Streetside in the heart of Gemmayzeh, this resto-bar is one for intimate evenings and friendly gatherings, with a special nod for cinephiles. Taking its name from film reel, the bar is decorated in black and white with vintage cinema paraphernalia and a projector playing old movie clips on a side wall. The extensive cocktail menu is full of tongue-in-cheek puns from popular film titles, such as Misky Business, Mango Unchained, Sister Sage and Pineapple Express. Dishes like artichoke and spinach dip or Kuzco’s quinoa salad are great for sharing. On Thursdays, guest DJs join the setup and, on Tuesdays, guest chefs create one-off set menus, so there’s always something new to try.
Parasol
This unique pool club right at the edge of Beirut Waterfront promises a transportative night out, with its charming St Tropez styling – complete with orange-striped parasols and loungers – designed by Rabih Geha Architects. Enclosed by tropical palms and banana plants, this urban escape is an all-day experience – a luxury pool lounge by day, dynamic nightlife spot by night, with aperitivo hours, an excellent dinner and drinks menu, live DJ sets and live bands late into the night. The drinks are complex and perfectly balanced. Try the Impala – gin with Jasmin tea, elderflower liquor, prosecco and rose petals – or the smoky rum and cardamom-infused Captains. Order a generous portion of their delicious shrimp tempura, fresh crab salad or veal scaloppini to round off the experience.
Mii-Yao
This intimate Asian-style bar on Pasture Street is a contemporary take on neighborhood izakayas, serving small Asian dishes designed to accompany their Japanese beers and cocktails infused with eastern flavours. Lit up with neon signs styled after Tokyo’s vibrant after-dark aesthetic and tastefully cluttered with lucky cat statues and vinyl records, Mii-Yao is a complete sensory experience. Visitors are free to try out the record collection on the turntables and listen to tunes from around the world. The food on offer is mainly light bites and sharing dishes, with everything from grilled chicken yakitori skewers and beef gyoza to Korean kimchi fried rice and bao buns. The cocktails are also adventurous, with Asian twists on classics such as the wasabi margarita, sake spritz highball, or coconut and kaffir lime daiquiri.
Spine
This striking rooftop club is a go-to spot for many Beirutis, with an award-winning design by Gregory Gatserelia. Overhead, a futuristic metal structure points to the sky, lit to resemble an abstract cityscape climbing up to the heavens. On the ground, the dining options include a fusion menu of French, Japanese and Peruvian cuisine and its cocktails list, created by the award-winning mixologist Mike Kassabian, is playful and experimental – think strawberry-milk ice pops as a starring drink ingredient. A weekly roster of nights themed by music genre invites party-goers to pick their favourite tunes to dance the night away.
Salon Beyrouth
Opened almost a decade ago, Salon Beyrouth is a chic retro-bar dedicated to all things whisky and jazz, in the heart of Hamra. Split between an indoor bar area with a lovely black-and-white chequered floor and a covered alfresco garden area, it’s perfect for either an intimate get together or a spirited evening of live music. In addition to over 120 whiskies from around the world, it also serves craft classic cocktails with homemade bitters and infusions that pack an extra punch of flavour. For example, The Caesar’s Butter mixes up brown butter bourbon, bitter orange marmalade, thyme, lemon and tonic. The food menu prioritises fresh, seasonal ingredients, so it is constantly changing. First time? Go on a Wednesday or Saturday night, grab dinner and drinks, and stay for the local and international musicians performing jazz, blues and tango sets.
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Mine
Located on the outskirts of Beirut on the coast in Daoura, Mine offers an evening extravaganza, complete with pulsing lights, smoke machines, and live singers and dancers, who perform on a central elevated stage. Each night has a different theme, so expect everything from Arabic classics to western pop, while an energetic crowd enjoys dining and dancing. The menu offers casual dining options such as pizza, with plenty of sharing options – like shrimp ceviche or beef teriyaki skewers – whilst the bar serves up classic cocktails and mocktails.
AHM
Following more than a decade as a cornerstone of Lebanese nightlife, AHM by Factory People – a nightclub operating on a massive scale – recently unveiled its revamped venue at Beirut Waterfront, designed in collaboration with award-winning Carl Gerges. There are three rooms varying in size and musical direction, letting clubbers pick and choose their vibe, with a different schedule each night: “Milkshake” on Wednesdays, for example, is for Afro house and house remix enthusiasts, while “Love Night” on Thursdays features a tribute to disco; “Glow” on Fridays has live performances by singers and dancers serving up pop hits; and, “2nd Sun” is an electronic music haven featuring a variety of the world and the region’s best acts. It’s a place to party until the sun comes up.
Union Marks
This hidden gem of a bar is one of the most interesting places to go for a drink in Beirut, located in the bustling Armenian district of Bourj Hammoud. Nestled in the garden of a semi-derelict 1940s former cotton factory, this spot is a place to disconnect from the day-to-day and take in a little history at the same time. Old factory machinery has been used as unconventional décor and the ivy-covered buildings still look as unkempt as they did when it was abandoned in 1998. As an homage to its origins, the bar’s signature cocktails are all named after fabrics, such as Felt, Velvet, Cotton, Cashmere and Silk. Linen, for example, weaves together rose lemonade with a gin and rosemary infusion, and soda. Alongside burgers, tacos and salads, there are also a few Armenian dishes such as traditional manti dumplings served, great any time of day.