Ashrafieh

Getting there

Ashrafieh lies directly to the east of Downtown Beirut. Best option is walking if visiting the closer areas such as Monot Street or Gemmayze. If visiting the areas further away then hailing a taxi is another quick (and cheap) option.

See

1 National Museum Of Beirut (Ras El Nabaa, South Ashrafieh). Tu-Su 9AM-5PM, closed M and holidays. About 1,300 artifacts are exhibited, ranging in date from prehistoric times to the medieval Mamluk period mainly dealing with Lebanon's Archeology and History. This museum was on the front line of the Lebanese civil war, and it suffered near complete destruction; it was occupied by militiamen and sustained bullet holes. Although much was lost, many of its most valuable items were saved by its Director of Antiquities at the time, Emir Maurice Chehab and his wife. Smaller objects were hidden in the basement, and larger objects and the mural were encased in concrete. One of the key galleries was rededicated to him as the Maurice Chehab Hall. LL5,000 (adult), LL1,000 (students, under 18). 2 Nicolas Sursock Museum (متحف سرسق), Greek Orthodox Archbishopric Street, ☏ +961 1 202 001. Open 11:00-19:00, closed Tuesdays. The building is a perfect example of the typical 18th-century Lebanese palace. Lebanese and International art is permanently displayed in the intricately preserved interior. It was hammered by the August 2020 explosion, but hopefully it will be restored fully soon. Free entrance. (updated Aug 2017) 3 Saint Nicolas Stairs (Escalier de Saint Nicolas). The Middle East's longest staircase, located between Rue Sursock and Rue Gouraud in Achrafieh. Twice a year, open-air exhibitions are held on its 125 steps showcasing local as well as international work. Contact any Virgin Megastores branch for info about exhibition dates. (updated Aug 2017) 4 Beit Beirut - Museum and Urban Cultural Center. An exhibition on the Lebanese civil war. (updated Sep 2020) 5 Sassine Square. Where 7 streets converge, lined with cafes in a very cosmopolitan way. A car bomb went off here in 2012, but it is a people place nonetheless. (updated Sep 2020) 6 MIM Mineral Museum, inside Université Saint-Joseph Campus de L'innovation et du Sport (CIS), ☏ +961 1 421 672. Tu-Su 10ː00-13ː00, 14ː00-18ː00

Do

Theatre 1 Empire Sodeco (6 theaters), ☏ +961 1 616 707. Sodeco, Sodeco Square. Tickets: LL 6,000-9,000 Empire Sofil (3 theaters), ☏ +961 1 328 806. Tickets: LL 5,500-7,500 Grand ABC (7 theaters), ☏ +961 1 209 208. ABC department stores Ashrafieh, Sasine, Beirut, Tickets: LL 6,000-9,000

Spa The Beauty Lounge, 210 Sassine Plaza, Achrafieh, ☏ +961 1 330130. M-Sa 09:00-21:00. This friendly and family run salon offers treatments for both men and women including manicures, pedicures, massages, body scrubs, reflexology, LPG and facials (the hydra intensive facial is LL75,000). Bikini, and other body waxing for women only are also available. The signature B Lounge manicure is very good and long-lasting – well worth the 12,000LL cost. Institut Nouna Baz, Itani Bldg., 5th floor, Verdun (facing Goodies), ☏ +961 1 785222. M-Sa 09:00-18:00. Provides manicures, pedicures and facial treatments such as peeling, Vitamin C, a mesolift which rejuvenates the skin and smoothes superficial wrinkles, cleaning, whitening, and treatments for the whole body. Massages are also available (approx US$30). Lena Chaiban (Shiatsu), Centre Medical Pasteur Clinic, Gemmayzeh, ☏ +631 3 733603. This therapy is akin to acupuncture without using needles. A session costs US$50/hour. An expert in kinesiology (muscular imbalance) Chaiban also offers Ampuku (abdominal massage) and Reiki.

Buy

ABC department store, Alfred Naccach Street, Mar Meter, Achrafieh, ☏ +961 1 212888. Shopping hours: 10:00-22:00; cinemas, restaurants, parking: 10:00-02:00. Enjoy a full day of shopping with over 200 shops, 20 restaurants, 7 movie theaters. The Union, The Alleyway, Rue Gouraud, Gemmayze, ☏ +961 1 449 660. M-Sa 12:00-22:00, Su 12:00-17:00. Created for the love of all things urban, The Union is an independent freethinking store for guys and gals. They carry over 10 international street wear brands exclusive to The Union, and you’ll also find awesome collections from home-grown talent.

Eat

Ashrafieh has a sense of old-style charm, evident from its old architecture and mature neighborhood. Eating in Ashrafieh will certainly be more expensive than the other districts, but if elegance and charm is what you're after, you'll love it. Below is a selection of the best places to eat:

Budget Cafe Em Nazih, Saifi Urban Gardens, Pasteur St. Gemayze, ☏ +961 1 562509. Daily 08:00-05:00. Lebanese standards and traditional dishes found only in the kitchens of Lebanese housewives. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served to a diverse clientele of locals and foreigners. Try the Tomato and Onion Man2ouche with cheese for a spicy breakfast, and don't miss the chance to taste Em Nazih's famous Kabseh (spiced rice with meat and a tomato salsa), one of the dozens of daily dishes rotated every few weeks. Great for wi-fi and coffee in the morning and drink and dancing (Arabic) in the evenings. It gets pretty wild on Friday nights when Em Nazih hosts Lebanese bands and DJs. Meal for two with drink: around US$16. Classic Burger, Sodeco, ☏ +961 1 333606. Daily 12:00-00:00. The best of the Beirut burger joints. Simple, but well done. Meal for two with drink: around US$20.

Mid-range Café Blanc (Lebanese), Lebanese cuisine made hip. Try the batata harra and ras assfour (diced meat marinated in pomegranate molasses). The chicken livers are divine too and the shawarma samak is a good bet for a main course. For dessert order the Sultana Delight. ABC Achrafieh, Alfred Naccache Street, Mar Mitre. 01 211120. Open daily 10:00-00:00. Meal for two with wine: around US$40. Chili's One of the tastiest theme restaurants with much to boast about including a laid back atmosphere. Dishes to order are the spicy boneless Buffalo wings, succulently tender baby back ribs and hamburger. Wash it all down with a selection of Margaritas and share the Molten Chocolate dessert. Moawad Plaza, Elias Sarkis Avenue. 01 337171 Open Su-Th 12:00-00:00, F Sa 12:00-01:00. Meal for two with wine: around

Drink & nightlife

Drinking venues are found throughout in Ashrafieh, but the areas where the nightlife are concentrated in are Gemmayze and Monot Street. Clubs in Beirut normally close at around 05:30, although with a few exceptions, most clubs will be empty by 04:00. After clubbing, some Lebanese will go on to having breakfast at one of the handful of 24-hour snacks and cafes. Few nightclubs have an actual dancefloor; most people dance around the table they have reserved for the night.

Monot Street Monot Street is widely considered as the clubbing street in Beirut, although there are also many pubs. Once dominant, it has seen its status drop due to the emergence of Gemmayze as a nightlife district and the dominance of open-air clubs during the summer time in other parts of the city. Most clubs pla