Dar Bistro & Books

Hamra can be manic at the best of times, but at Dar Bistro & Books you can find a corner of Mediterranean peace and quiet to offer you an escape. It operates from an old Lebanese house with traditional architecture and the sort of design which pulls you back to a simpler, more relaxed time: The kind of time when it was socially acceptable to drink alcohol in the middle of the day, for example.

With a large patio of tables under the shade of a garden, this tranquil spot seems a thousand miles from the horns of Hamra Street. The brunch menu is particularly inviting (try the bagels with eggs and bacon). If you’re popping in for a coffee it can be hard to resist the pain perdu with a scoop of Beirut’s own Oslo ice cream and caramel sauce. If you’re looking for nourishment of the literary variety then Dar also has one of Beirut’s best little bookshops. With a selection of international magazines as well as cooking books and a great selection on Lebanese history, it’s easy to peruse an afternoon away.