The first time I went to Beirut souks, I was disappointed. Like many visitors, I was expecting an authentic souk, a maze of alleyways and sellers touting spices, jewellery and other goods. What I found instead was a modern shopping arcade. It did have a jewellery section, but sadly Cartier was a little out of my budget. It’s great if you want to do some regular shopping, as it stocks everything from Gap to Zara, but it’s not the place to go if you want something original.
If you’re on the hunt for some locally made gold and silver jewellery, head instead to Barbeer, an area close to the National Museum of Beirut and Beirut’s pine forest (Horsh Beirut). Ask to be dropped off at Barbeer where Em Wayri/Ouzai street starts. You’ll find a bustling road with gold and silver shops everywhere you look.
You can find everything from necklaces and rings dripping with diamonds and emeralds, to more simple gold or silver stud earrings and first-rate copies of designer jewellery. You won’t leave disappointed.
Ouzai Street
LBP
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Find your way with 179 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
What you will be able to see is the bath's infrastructure, which includes fired clay or terracotta with some other mosaics that are still preserved.
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For your afternoon coffee or late-night chit-chat, this dreamy place is a definite go-to as it overlooks the beauty of Gemmayze's historical buildings.
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If you feel like playing some board games with friends, reading a book while sipping on your coffee, and delighting your palate with some food on the side, then Luna's kitchen is the right place for you.
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Their specialty dessert, Persian love cake, is a concoction of cardamon, pistachio, and zest of lemon. It tasted as delicious as it looked.
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I usually stop by Terghale for fresh juice and my friends mostly order shisha or coffee, and we can spend hours here sitting and reading in silence.
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Make sure to try the beetroot carpaccio and the tomato bruschetta as snacks. Their signature cocktails are delicious and I also fancy their minted lemonade.
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My favorite treat at Emotions is the "chausson au citron" - lemon turnover, which tastes simply yummylicious: not too lemony or sour, not too sweet, not too small.
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With their creative combinations and delectable thin dough, their menu is surely going to offer you an interesting array of choices. From classic options to the sweet and sour assortment.
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Make sure to try their Bitchin Friez, they are crunchy and cheesy. And the cheezy bites are scrumptious, just the way I love them. You got it, I am a cheese fan!
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Karim's Training Facility is located underground and the hanging mirrors make the space look larger than it is. The premises are regularly sanitized, and this is essential for someone like me.
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I finally ordered the carrot lentil ginger soup, the wild mushrooms toast, and a small-sized Asian crunch salad. Everything smelled delicious and tasted very good.
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179 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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