Editorial

The 10 Best Bars in Beirut 2026

Beirut's bar scene has rebuilt itself again. Mar Mikhael — the neighbourhood that anchored the 2010s nightlife — has been joined by Gemmayzeh and Hamra in a more dispersed but equally serious drinking culture. The 10 below show why Beirut's resilience is a drinking story as much as a political one.

The 10 best bars in Beirut

  1. 01

    Central Station

  2. 02

    Anise

  3. 03

    Caprice

  4. 04

    Em Sherif

  5. 05

    Goodbye Baby

  6. 06

    February 30

  7. 07

    The Grand Factory

  8. 08

    Smoking Bun

  9. 09

    Riviera Rooftop

  10. 10

    December 22

How Beirut keeps drinking

Beirut's bars run later than almost anywhere — peak hours start at midnight and run to 4 AM. Mar Mikhael (Central Station, Anise) is the cocktail-bar quadrant. Gemmayzeh delivers the rooftop and view bars. Arak — the local anise spirit — is essential to understand; almost every bar has its own house spec built on it.

Global Cities Editor — Bangkok to Buenos Aires. Cultural context, not just cocktail tourism.

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Weekly picks

The bars worth going to, weekly.