Over the last century, Beirut has changed in both appearances and form due to the turmoil it faced in the past. However, some of the most popular cafes and restaurants were able to withstand the shock of the civil war and maintain their position in Lebanon's capital.
Here are some of the restaurants that have become part of the historical heritage of Beirut.
1. Abou Hassan Restaurant
The Civil War forced the transfer of a restaurant called Life, which was founded by Mohammad Johnny in 1965, from Downtown Beirut to the Caracas area under the new name Abou Hassan.
After approximately 40 years, Abou Hassan became one of the most famous restaurants in Caracas after its administration transferred to Johnny's children. The restaurant features a warm atmosphere and a wooden design. It also offers the best raw meat dish!
2. Le Chef
The Bassil Brothers kept the family's restaurant decor the same since its' opening in 1967. They also maintained the intimate atmosphere of the restaurant in the Gemmayze area. It was a point of contact during the Civil War through its distinctive way of welcoming customers. When you first set foot in the door, one of the brothers greets you with a "Welcome." It serves a variety of Lebanese delicacies that do not exceed the price of $10.
3. Al Soussi Resto
Al Soussi has maintained its family legacy in Beirut since it was inaugurated by Mohammad Soussi in Maarouf Saad Street in the center of the country during the 1930s. Fava beans are served at breakfast. and the quality of the food is what stands out. Some of the most well-known people, such as the political figure Maarouf Saad, Singer Abdel Halim Hafez, Actor Abdul Salam Naulsi and Director Mohamad Salman, have eaten there. In 2013, CNN classified its breakfast among the best 100 breakfast in the world.
4. Lamb house
The restaurant was able to continue despite the outbreak of the civil war a few years after it opened in 1970. It even became one of Raouche's landmarks.
As the name suggests, the restaurant offers a variety of meat dishes that range from steaks to grill, as well as fish. The restaurant is known for its variety of fresh meats and it's open 24 hours every day.
5. Al Rawda Cafe & Restaurant
"Al Rawda Cafe" – or "Cafe Shatila" as it's known by Beirutis – is located in the Raouche area. It maintained its authenticity even after the war. As for the cafe, which looks more like a secret forest along the sea, its customers comes to this place frequently for smoking hookah and playing backgammon.
6. Mikhael Restaurant
Mikhael Restaurant on Monot Street has been in its primary location for more than half a century. The restaurant serves traditional Lebanese dishes such as kibbet batata, mujaddara, shishbarak and others that don't cost more than $5. It also sell things such as yogurt, cheese, bottles of pomegranate molasses, olive oil, apple cider vinegar and grapes.
This article was originally published in Arabic on YallaFeed .
Editor's note: After this article was published, we found out that El Hajj Nassar sandwiches, a small restaurant in Ashrafieh, has closed down.