Lebanon, the Mediterranean nation, popular for its vibrant nightlife, tranquil beaches, high mountain areas, green meadows, and coastal cities with a rich and interesting history, is also becoming widely famous for its cuisine. From the most appetising platters, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh, falafel, to the sweetest baklava, Maamoul, and the softest cookies you can sink your teeth into, there are plenty of restaurants in Lebanon serving innovative and fusion international and traditional cuisine with sumptuous flavor, chic décor, great ambiance, and a traditional setting.
Restaurants in Lebanon: It’s a Lebanese Affair
Trying different cuisines, from international to Lebanese, is a perfect way to spend your vacation in this beautiful country. The wide variety of restaurants in Lebanon offers tourists a golden opportunity to experiment with the flavours and textures of the authentic Lebanese cuisine prepared in different ways at different places in the country. Tourists also enjoy the traditional setting and decorations of the restaurants, which narrate the history of the country.
- Burgundy
- Liza
- Meat the fish
- Tawlet Restaurant
- Lo’s Restaurant
- SUD Restobar
- Em Sherif Restaurant
- Be-babel Restaurant
1. Burgundy
If you are someone who loves fine dining in a fancy restaurant, then Burgundy is the restaurant for you. With sophisticated décor, modern interiors, impeccable service, and flavorful food, Burgundy is classified as one of the best restaurants in Lebanon. The prime focus of the restaurant is on its wide variety of wines, French cuisine, and Lebanese delicacies. Some of the favourite dishes among many that this restaurant serves are black cod, tuna, sorbet, apple tart, uni with bread, olive oil, and garlic, kobe beef, fillet wagyu, and quail's legs. Every dish is a culinary surprise. However, the highlight of this restaurant is their desserts, which are the epitome of art and flavor, represented in such a fine manner that you'll probably feel guilty for putting a spoon across such masterpieces.
Location: 725 Gouraud Street, Saifi Village, Beirut, Lebanon
Timings: Monday to Saturday: 12 a.m to 3 p.m; 8 p.m to 10.30 p.m
2. Liza
Plan a visit to Liza if you want an authentic, traditional Lebanese dining experience. The charm of the restaurant comes not from modernity but from a celebration of local decor and style and high ceilings, where mirrors make the rooms feel much larger than they are, giving an intimate feel. It is known to be one of the top restaurants in Lebanon, with a set menu comprising of the best Lebanese dishes like pudding, sabanekh with caramelised onions and osmaliyeh, mezzés, batata harra, warak enab bel zeit, marinated chicken with green wheat, hummus with diced lamb, and many more.
Location: Rue Metropolitan Club Doumani, Trabaud, Achrafieh, Beirut 1100 Lebanon
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday: 12 a.m to 15.30 p.m; 7 a.m to 11.30 p.m
3. Meat the Fish
It is a vegetarian-friendly café serving a variety of salads, mains, and specials. The dishes are a blend of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, made with seasonal goods, local produce, and a wide range of exclusive ingredients curated for the visitors. Oysters, Guacamole Salmon Toast, sashimi, crab, sardines, salmon tartar, avocado salmon, meat tacos, and many more dishes are served in this amazing and one of the outdoor restaurants in Lebanon. So, next time you are in the country and you see crates used as chairs on the pavement outside, you will know you are at an edgy but comfortable restaurant. It has three branches in the country, serving the best cooked food ever.
Location: Mkhallissiye Street, Saifi Village, Saifi
Faqra Club, Kferdebian, Faqra
Marea, Batroun
Timings: Saifi: Monday to Sunday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Faqra: Tuesday to Sunday: 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Batroun: Monday to Sunday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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4. Tawlet Restaurant
One of the unique restaurants in Lebanon is Tawlet, which allows the country’s farmers and cooks to narrate their understanding of traditional Lebanese cooking with organic produce. The restaurant appoints a different cook and a different menu almost on a daily basis, keeping a specific region of the country, its food and produce in mind. One of the things to do in Lebanon is to try its freshly cooked farm food in a sumptuous buffet every afternoon, bursting with flavours in a contemporary, breezy setting. So, people looking for buffet-style feasts in Lebanon should try this amazing place with great ambiance at least once when they are in the beautiful city of Beirut.
Location: Naher St sector 79, Chaloub Building 22 - Ground floor, 12 Beirut
Timings: Monday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday closed.
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5. Lo’s Restaurant
This Lebanon restaurant is on every tourist's list when they visit the country. An authentic, cosy place which has managed to keep high standards of quality, with a beautiful interior and exterior and a very comfortable seating arrangement. It serves a wide variety of flavours from all over the country and beyond. The menu at the restaurants offers diverse, rich and exquisite Lebanese food like grilled cheese rolls, mixed grilled platters, mezza, abouli ,hommos, makanek, white cheese, salad panaché, kabab khechkach, etc.
Location: Rue principale, Ain Saadeh, Lebanon
Timings: Everyday: 12 a.m. to 12 a.m.
6. SUD Restobar
If you are on holiday with your friends and want to live the nightlife Lebanon style, then visit SUD to get mesmerized. This restaurant in Lebanon serves the high quality of Italian, Mediterranean, and European cuisines with a wide variety of drinks. Visitors can choose between a buffet with a variety of dishes to try or select their favourite dishes from the menu. Some of the most preferred dishes in the restaurant are Mac and cheese with truffle, spaghetti with salmon on top without red onions, prosecco, bruschetta, truffle ravioli, salmon tartare, avocado toast, mussels, pork ribs, etc.
Location: Gardens, under Naccache Bridge, facing Spinneys Parking, Dbayeh, Lebanon
Timings: Everyday: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
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7. Em Sherif Restaurant
This restaurant, which gives the strong vibes of being in the era of imperfect opulence and Mediterranean splendour, is one of the places to visit in Lebanon. The interior of the restaurant is created in the traditional luxurious Lebanese mansion style, with each artefact specially chosen to display the rich culture and history of Lebanon. It is advised to visit this restaurant with an empty stomach because the restaurant doesn’t offer a menu, so basically you sit and they start bringing the delicious food. The chefs put a spin on the traditional Lebanese dishes, keeping the authentic flavours alive and the dishes delicious.
Location: Minet El Hosn, Beirut, Downtown
Timing: Everyday: 9 a.m. to 3 a.m.
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8. Be-Babel Restaurant
If you are planning your honeymoon in Lebanon and your spouse loves being at a chic restaurant with fine dining and sumptuous dishes, then Be-babel is worth a visit. Be-Babel is another extension of the group Babel (dbayeh), and one of the first to introduce Lebanese Fusion Mezze to their menu. This modern and innovative restaurant serves authentic Lebanese dishes prepared with fresh ingredients and great flavor. Some of the most popular dishes that the restaurant serves are shish barak, mezze, shawarma sliders, chicken platter, pam-perdue, vegetarian tapas, grilled veggie plate, seafood, kebab with berries, etc.
Location: Minet El Hosn, Beirut, Lebanon
Timings: Everyday: 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.
With a wide variety of flavors, there are plenty of delightful restaurants in Lebanon waiting to be explored by tourists from all around the world. Lebanese cuisine is becoming more popular among people worldwide because of the distinct ingredients and traditional cooking style of the dishes. So, plan your next holiday to Lebanon by taking the benefits of the Lebanon tour packages and indulge in the culinary world of the country.
Best Restaurants in Lebanon - FAQs
There are plenty of restaurants in Lebanon that serve outstanding authentic dishes as well as amazing international cuisine.
- SUD Restobar
- Meat the fish
- Liza restaurant
- Em Sherif Restaurant
Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport is the main airport in Lebanon. The biggest airline at the airport offers flights to 45 destinations.
The months of March to May are the ideal times to visit this beautiful country. The summer heat is yet to arrive during these months and the winter rainfall has already completed its course, leaving the country with beautiful, lush greenery all over the country.
The Em Sherif restaurant is beautifully designed, keeping in mind the rich culture and beautiful history of the country. The restaurant also serves some of the best authentic dishes that must be tried at least once when you are in the country.
Seven to eight days is more than enough to cover the whole country. Tourists can make the capital, Beirut, their base from where all the significant destinations are at a distance of approximately 3 hours' drive.
Here are some important tips to remember while in Lebanon.
- Always keep your passport with you.
- Carry sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Wear comfortable clothes.
- Respect the culture of the country
Lebanon is famous for its tranquil beaches, vibrant nightlife, high mountain areas, green meadows, coastal cities, and amazing restaurants serving delicious traditional and international cuisine.
Yes, Lebanon is one of the fun countries to pary in the evening. There are wonderful restaurants and clubs that offer food, drinks, and the ambiance to lose yourself and party with friends all night long.
