WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO...

ACCOMMODATION:

• The Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun
  Located a couple of miles from the sea front, in the ultra trendy district of Verdun, The Four Points has beautifully furnished rooms and suites, first-class facilities (including free laptops and internet access) and a rooftop pool and terrace. If you go to Beirut, you must stay in this wonderful hotel.

• The Via Mina, Tripoli
  A small and sumptuous boutique hotel in the most fashionable part of Tripoli. The establishment has been carefully and beautifully created from an old town house, and the stunning rooms have ultra comfortable beds, wooden floors and four poster beds (selected). It features an impressive bar and restaurant, where the menu has just been redesigned by the London-based food writer and cook, Anissa Helou. A real treat.

• The Mir Amin Palace, Beiteddine
  The former Palace of the Amirs (Princes) set high in the Chouf Mountains in Beiteddine. This is a real treat; a gorgeous property with stunning views (including the Beiteddine Palce). Only open in the summer, it has a first-class restaurant, and beautiful terrace where the sunsets are spectacular.

• The Grand Hotel Kadri, Zahle
  This is the best hotel in Zahle. A lovely hotel with an imposing entrance. You’ll have to be quick to book in the summer as this is a popular location for weddings and traditional receptions. Privately owned.

RESTAURANTS:

• Bread - Beirut
  Owned and run by renowned Handbag designer, Johnny Farah and his partners, Bread has the best (and freshest) food in Beirut. Johnny creates a new menu every day, based on what’s available in the markets and on his own organic farm in the mountains above the city. The cuisine is a blend of Mediterranean and Lebanese. Located on Rue Gourad in the heart of Gemeyzeh.

• Casablanca - Beirut
  One of the longest running restaurants in the city, set up by Johnny Farah in 1998. Rivaling Bread for our vote as the best restaurant in Beirut, Casablanca has a more Asian feel. Located in a beautiful French mandate building this is a must…. If you only have chance to eat out once, spend your night here and have a Sake Martini with Johnny and his wife Sin at the bar.

• Centrale, Beirut
  Designed and inspired by Beirut’s finest contemporary architect, Bernard Khoury, Centrale offers a sumptuous dining experience, inside our out. The extensive menu and wine list is a delight.

  If you fancy something less formal, ask your driver to take you to Gemeyzeh. More specifically, the street you want is called Rue Gourad (the same road as Bread) which is the new hotspot for bars, restaurants and cafes.

TRANSPORT:

• City Car Rent A Car
  For visitors a driver is essential and if you are travelling around the country, it is important to have someone who speaks Arabic and English. Our advice is to contact City Car Rent A Car, who will provide a huge range of vehicles and knowledgeable and friendly drivers.

• Taxis: There are different types of taxis in Beirut. The most common is a classic Mercedes, the type that will run and run forever, and is only being held together by dirt and rust. They are an adventure, but good fun. They are much cheaper to the modern taxi cars driving around, and although a lot less comfortable, they will get you to where you want to go in exactly the same amount of time due to the terrible Beirut traffic. For the old style taxis expect to pay around LL5,000 ($3.50) for a journey around the city. In a modern car, you will pay double, though the ride is more comfortable, you will have A/C (essential during July & August), and chances are you driver will speak a little bit of English). Remember the Arabic for left (Smell) and right (Yamine). It helps.

• Service Taxis: Service taxis are one of the cheapest ways of getting around Beirut. These beaten up cars will stop anywhere at anytime, collecting passengers who want to join this route. It may take a little longer to get to yo ur destination, but you’ll pay less than half the price of a normal taxi: LL2,000 ($1.50).

• Buses: There are three main bus stations in Beirut: the Dora Bus Stand (for routes going north), Cola (for routes going south) and the station under the Charles Helou Bridge, where it is also possible to get special yellow taxis which travel to Damascus ($30 approx). Although there are no bus stops in Lebanon, the buses will stop anywhere so you can get on and off at will. Prices vary, depending on the length of your trip, but will cost no more than a dollar or two around the capital.

BOOKS:

There are a number of excellent guides to Lebanon. The main ones are the Lonely Planet Guide and Footprint editions. One recommended book is The Hedonists Guide to Beirut, which lists the top restaurants, bars and hotels in Beirut. It also has concise information on the different districts of the city which helps you get your bearings quickly.

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