Al Falamanki is Lebanese dining. It serves every type of mezze you could ever think of and more, as well as grills and oven-baked dishes. But it’s not just a spot for food: there are always plenty of people enjoying nargileh with friends and a few coffees or drinks.The venue is capacious, but the best spot is the terrace. The beautiful garden surroundings are a blessing in a city where you can walk for miles without seeing a single tree. On a warm summer evening, dinner among the trees is a blissfully peaceful experience, even when the restaurant is packed — which it generally is. What's more, it's open 24hrs a day; so next time you wake up at 2am craving some kafta with tahina, this should be your first port of call.
The country that holds the world record for the largest ever serving of hummus takes its food seriously indeed – and nowhere is this more evident than in Beirut. Restaurants across the capital serve up everything from classy French dishes to dizzying platters of mezze, via Italian, Sri Lankan and Japanese cuisines. And in a city where fast food is a culinary art in its own right, it would be a crime not drop in for a late-night kafta at Al Falamanki or a dripping sujuk sandwich at Tabliyit Massaad. To simplify your life, we’ve singled out the 20 best restaurants in Beirut, ensuring that the full breadth of its astonishing dining scene is represented. Happy feasting.