Editorial
Beirut's good bars cluster in Mar Mikhael, with a few holdouts in Hamra and along the coast. The 6 below are the ones still standing and worth the trip, from an arak specialist to a World's 50 Best room.
Anise is a small bar on Alexander Fleming Street built around one idea done well: arak, the Levantine anise spirit. It pours homemade versions made from vines all over Lebanon, so come to taste your way through a flight rather than chase cocktails. Open daily from 6 PM. Best for a drinker who wants the local pour, not an imported gin list.
February 30 started as a Hamra pub and grew into a small empire, but the original on Street 78 is still the one to drink at. Indoor and outdoor space, a long cocktail list, and a kitchen running international plates. It opens at 5 PM and goes to 4 AM. Best for a late group that wants to settle in for the long haul.
Central Station takes its name from the old Beirut train station nearby and its reputation from the bar awards. It was named Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa in 2018 and is a World's 50 Best regular. Order off the cocktail list and trust the bartenders. Open 5 PM to 3 AM, seven days. Best when you want the room that takes drinks seriously.
Caprice is the glossy end of the night, a Dora club where the soundtrack runs from Arabic pop to hip-hop across four themed nights, Wednesday to Saturday. This is not a quiet cocktail bar, it is bottle service and a packed floor. Best for a group that wants to dance, not talk. Reserve a table ahead and arrive after midnight when it fills.
The Grand Factory is Beirut's serious club, a 1,350-capacity room built in 2014 that still lands on the DJ Mag Top 100 list. Saturdays belong to the long-running CU NXT SAT party, with alt-music Fridays added to the calendar. Best for anyone who came to Beirut for the electronic scene. Check the lineup, buy ahead, and pace yourself.
The Riviera Hotel rooftop sits above the Corniche with the Mediterranean filling the view, and the lounge bar trades on exactly that. It is a hotel bar, so expect polish over edge, but the sunset slot earns its keep. Best for a slower drink with a view before the Mar Mikhael bars wake up. Check seasonal hours, since the rooftop runs warm months.
Anise and Central Station are the two to lead with, both in Mar Mikhael within a short walk of each other. The bars fill after 10 PM and the clubs peak between midnight and 3 AM, so eat early and pace the night.
For the wider picture, read the world hidden-gems list or work the top 10 bars in Beirut.