The 11 Best Bars in Hamra

West Beirut around the American University. Heritage cafes, university-area bars, and the most diverse Lebanese drinking culture. Save this neighbourhood guide before your next night in Beirut.

Hamra is one of Beirut's sharpest drinking neighbourhoods. West Beirut around the American University. Heritage cafes, university-area bars, and the most diverse Lebanese drinking culture. This is barsforKings's editor-curated guide to the 11 best bars in Hamra — every room here earns its place on craft, atmosphere or sheer local conviction. Save it before your next night out.

You'll find Cocktail Bars, Rooftop Bars and Sports Bars here, all tightly clustered enough to walk between in a single evening. That's the value of a neighbourhood guide: pick a starting room, end up four bars in, and never get in a cab. Every recommendation below is independent — barsforKings doesn't take payment for editorial placement, ever.

The order below is a working ranking, not gospel. Read the notes, pick the room that fits the night you're planning, and treat Hamra like locals do — start early, walk between rooms, end somewhere quieter than you started.

The Ranked List

11 bars in Hamra, ranked

A working editorial ranking. Walkable in a single evening — pick your starting room and let the neighbourhood do the rest.

No. 01 · Cocktail Bars
Anise Cocktail Bar
Hamra · $$$
Anise Cocktail Bar draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 02 · Cocktail Bars
Bryant Park Jazz Club
Hamra · $$$
Bryant Park Jazz Club draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 03 · Cocktail Bars
Couqley French Bistro Bar
Hamra · $$$
Couqley French Bistro Bar draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 04 · Cocktail Bars
Em Bar at L'Hotel
Hamra · $$$
Em Bar at L'Hotel draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 05 · Cocktail Bars
Frankie's
Hamra · $$$
Frankie's draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 06 · Rooftop Bars
Iris Rooftop
Hamra · $$$$
Iris Rooftop draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 07 · Cocktail Bars
Eau de Vie at Phoenicia
Hamra · $$$$
Eau de Vie at Phoenicia draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 08 · Cocktail Bars
The Cliff Bar
Hamra · $$
The Cliff Bar draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 09 · Sports Bars
The Irish Pub Beirut
Hamra · $$
The Irish Pub Beirut draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 10 · Rooftop Bars
The Roof at Phoenicia
Hamra · $$$$
The Roof at Phoenicia draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
No. 11 · Cocktail Bars
The Tipsy Elephant
Hamra · $$
The Tipsy Elephant draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
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Photos via Google Places. Editorial selection by Bars for Kings editors. Source