This past weekend was my first ever trip to Beirut!
It’s been a while since the last time I’ve travelled to a place that neither I nor my travel partner had been and in this case, it was even harder because I was planning a surprise for my boyfriend which meant I couldn’t get his help researching. I’ve completely forgotten how hard it can be to choose the right hotel, the right restaurants and the right vibe when you’re starting from zero. Here’s where I hope to be useful to some of you!
The one thing I learned quickly is the importance of having some local knowledge. Without it, I would never have stumbled upon this little piece of heaven, Hotel Albergo, a Relais & Chateaux, and the perfect mix of boutique yet luxurious home away from home located centrally in the heart of the city with an easy walk to the beach side bay restaurants and downtown shops.
For those of you that don’t know (don’t worry I didn’t either 1 year ago), Relais & Chateaux is a global association of individually owned and operated luxury boutique hotels. It’s mission is to “to spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character” and it has never done me wrong.
P.S. I judge a hotel heavily based on the line of products they carry…oh, and how fluffy their towels are 🙂
The French, Arabic & English speaking staff and management were beyond friendly, surprising us with this super fruity welcome gift not to mention helping me plan a surprise birthday cake in the room at midnight when we returned from our dinner and even accommodating our 5am room service 🙂 Sorry guys!
The interior has a warm vintage decor with red velvet libraries full of old books where guests can come to enjoy everything from breakfast to a night cap. It almost reminds me of a speakeasy or prohibition inspired lounge.
The hotel also boasts a full on Italian restaurant which I unfortunately didn’t have time to try, but am told is delicious!
And best of all, a terrace on the roof overlooking the entire city, perfect for an aperitif!
If you’re heading to Beirut, I highly highly recommend Hotel Albergo!
A few more unmissable spots:
Em Sherif for an incredible lebanese spread
Al Falamanki for late night shisha
Capitole for rooftop drinks!
And last but not least, some logistical insight:
Lebanon customs will most likely not let you in to the country if you have an entry stamp or visa from Israel. My best tip? If you plan to travel to tel aviv, ask to have the stamp outside your passport. This is quite common and customs won’t ask questions. If you’ve already been and have a stamp currently, you’ll probably need to apply for a new passport.
If you have any questions, as always, feel free to ask me!
xxx
F