Gemmayze Beirut

Charming neighborhood

Viera from Beirut

About me I am a Slovak, born in 1983, who has studied international politics in Prague. I lived in Prague for 9 years before I met my future husband who happened to be a Lebanese from Beirut. At the moment we live here with our family, I work with the local university, and the kids have started school. Why Beirut I've lived in Beirut since 2011. When I first came here, it ...
""Gemmayze" in Beirut is a charming neighborhood known for its bars, restaurants, coffee shops and galleries. I recommend walking it from downtown..."

I used to live on Gemmayze street for some time. The name comes from a tree carrying the same name which actually decorates the street.

It is a charming neighborhood: it connects downtown with the famous Mar Mikhael known for bars, restaurants, coffee shops but also art galleries and local designers' showrooms. If you continue further you will reach the legendary Armenian quarter called Bourj Hammoud.

I recommend walking Gemmayze street and starting from the side of downtown -- you can enjoy your breakfast at the Frenchy Paul. The street is usually very busy, with cars stuck in traffic jam, honking and moving slowly. The buildings are kind of a mix, some old traditional Lebanese, some newer and modern. The electricity cables spread above the people rushing in both directions on the narrow sidewalks are part of the decoration.

You might hear the siren of a passing ambulance, as there is a Red Cross in one of the old villas. There is also plenty of coffee shops and small restaurants and bars. My favorites are Sip or The Coffee Room, which is actually on the St. Nicolas' stairs, which lead you from Gemmayze to the posh residential Sursock Area, with many old-style Lebanese villas and the Sursock Museum. At the end of Gemmayze, you should definitely visit souvenir shop L'Artisan du Liban, where you can get various traditional products and support the local artisans. If you still have the energy, continue further all the way to Bourj Hammoud.

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Art & culture
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Bars
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Coffee & tea

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Beirut Spotter Viera

About me I am a Slovak, born in 1983, who has studied international politics in Prague. I lived in Prague for 9 years before I met my future husband who happened to be a Lebanese from Beirut. At the moment we live here with our family, I work with the local university, and the kids have started school. Why Beirut I've lived in Beirut since 2011. When I first came here, it was the time of my life! I just dropped a career at a multinational to move to this charming gem in the Middle East and pursue my PhD studies. Imagine more than 300 sunny days a year! Bei...

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Gemmayze

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Oct 6, 2025

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