Trendy Beirut
Discover the hip and cultural side of Beirut with these insider tips.
Glamour-seekers have a new destination to explore in Beirut—and the Concierge at Four Seasons Hotel Beirut offers tips on how to experience the best of the city.
Haute Couture
When Halle Berry accepted her best actress Oscar in one of his gowns, Beiruti fashion designer Elie Saab shot to international renown. But even before this leap to fame, Saab was attracting royalty to his atelier in Beirut and, with names like Beyoncé and Angelina Jolie on his client list, he seems to be equally popular among Hollywood royalty. Mingle your name with the stars’ while in Beirut.
In addition to a chic boutique at Harrods in London and a flagship store in Paris, the proudly Lebanese designer has his principal studio downtown, and custom designs can be arranged. Then commission the perfect complement from a Lebanese jeweller such as Zoughaib. Complete the effect with a personal blend of Arabian attars (essential oils) from Abdul Samad Al Qurashi.
High Culture
Speaking of jewellery, gasp-inspiring diamonds are among the collection at one of Beirut’s better-kept secrets, the Robert Mouawad Private Museum. Mouawad’s museum marries his connoisseurship of jewels with the spectacular Roman, Phoenician and Byzantine antiquities collected by Henri Pharaon, an architect of the independent Lebanon, whose home this once was. If an exhibition isn’t scheduled during your visit, Four Seasons can arrange a peep behind the scenes.
Hot Clubs
Having nourished your mind, and smashingly attired, it’s time to join in the city’s favourite pastime: partying. Begin at sunset beside the pool at ultra-cool The Roof on the top floor of Four Seasons, as colours tint the Mediterranean and lights twinkle on all over the city, or stop by The Bar, also in the Hotel, for a blended Scotch and a Cuban cigar.
With the Four Seasons concierge to whisper in the right ear, you can head for the city’s hottest seats—such as a table by the eponymous statue in Buddha Bar. Afterwards, your limousine will whisk you back to the Hotel for 4:00 am breakfast. Too soon? You’ll find Four Seasons ready, whenever you venture home.
