Liza is set in one of Achrafieh’s 19th century palaces. You enter via a courtyard, head up the stairs and take a glass elevator to walk through a hallway softly lit by hammered metal lanterns. You then go through to the centre piece, a dining room which seems to go on for miles thanks to the mirrored walls reflecting the tables and chairs. I think it’s one of the most beautiful restaurants in Beirut; each room has a different style, with bank note and palm print wallpaper adorning the walls.
But enough about the décor. The food is great too, especially some of the less common Lebanese mezze you can find here, such as hindbe (chicory with caramelised onions) and frike (smoked green wheat with seasonal vegetables). Some of the daily dishes include koussa and warak enab, courgettes and vine leaves stuffed with rice and mincemeat – dishes you’d typically eat at someone’s home. On Sunday afternoons there are bottomless brunches. Although it’s an upscale restaurant, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, which is why it’s always such a treat to come here.
