As you walk up Saint Nicholas Stairs (check out the article) from Gemmayze, you'll reach a street that welcomes you with Villa Linda Sursock. It was once owned by a party advocate, who hosted events over events, and parties over parties.
The late 19th century built villa is built with the typical Ottoman yet affected Italian style with its interior design. You can still see the dominant architecture of the double 3 arches, and the engraved work of wooden art in the rooms of the 2-floored villa. The lavishness is even more visible in the paintings of the rooms.
I personally love that every time I walk inside, the artistic efforts put into villas in the previous centuries leave me awe-struck. The Arabic calligraphy written on some of the pieces installed on the walls keeps my Arabic mother tongue stuttering for a few minutes to decode the beautiful artwork to read it properly.
Villa Linda Sursock is open to the public during daytime if they want to walk in and observe, but sometimes they do not allow people inside. It was transformed in 2013 into a space that hosts events and occasions with the Le Bristol Beirut Hotel's management. However, the space is currently being restored after the tremendous aftermath of the August 4th 2020 blast.
Find your way with 179 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!
Singing Mama has a variety of food items and drinks and the interior is warm and lovely, with colorful furniture, flowery wallpapers, and a big oven.
by
I'm no art connoisseur, but walking into Art Scene in Gemmayze, I immediately spotted some pieces that I could have stared at for ages.
by
We tried the Chelo Kabab Waziri and Ghorme Sabzi, a traditional Persian stew made of a beans and herbs sauce, served with chicken and rice with saffron.
by
The Barn is an organic and healthy eatery that serves breakfast and brunch items, as well as hot dishes for lunch or dinner and a range of desserts.
by
This mural reflects how whenever we think of Ziad Al Rahbani, we think of how his plays and scripts still reflect our current situation in Lebanon...
by
"Second Base" is a thrift-concept store in Beirut invented by FabricAID. They sell vintage, hipster revealing, extroverted clothing items...
by
A healthy lifestyle requires freshly concocted dishes with seasonal vegetables and ingredients that are preferably sourced locally. This is what the concept of Salata is all about.
by
Falafel Joseph broadened his menu and opened a "restaurant" a couple of hundred meters away. The restaurant serves one of the tastiest chicken shawarma in town!
by
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.
by
179 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 179 Insider Tips