By late evening the Corniche is still busy with walkers and joggers, the outdoor cafés around Raouche are filling up, and the first drinkers are settling into the pub streets of Ashrafieh. Further along the coast, the open-air clubs are only beginning to warm up.
Beirut's nightlife is spread across several distinct districts rather than concentrated in one strip, and alcohol is readily available. Many districts have their own cafés, bars and clubs, while others are dry or quiet after dark. The city suits visitors who are happy to move between areas over the course of an evening, and who want a choice between a low-key pub night and a late club night.
Where to go out in Beirut
1. Gemmayze
Gemmayze, in the Ashrafieh district, has the highest concentration of pubs in the city and is the most reliable choice for a night built around drinking and conversation rather than dancing. It stays popular year-round, including through the summer, when other parts of the city empty out.
It suits a group that wants to move between several venues on foot. The source notes that the best way to find out what is current is to check the local press or simply go and see for yourself.
2. Monot Street
Monot Street, also in Ashrafieh and within close range of Gemmayze, mixes nightclubs and pubs, making it the natural second stop if you start the evening in Gemmayze.
Its character changes with the season: during the summer it tends to be much less busy, as open-air clubs elsewhere in the city dominate. In other months it is one of the two hottest nightspots in Beirut.
3. Hamra
Hamra is described as seeing a revival in its nightlife, with more than a dozen new pubs and bars. It is a good option if you want a pub night away from the Ashrafieh cluster.
As with the other districts, the source advises checking the local press or going in person to judge what is currently worth your time.
4. Open-air clubs and rooftop bars
Beirut's summer nightlife shifts outdoors. SkyBar in Biel, next to downtown, is an open-air nightclub with a view over the sea; it is closed during the winter months. Iris is a rooftop bar on top of the an-Nahar newspaper building, with an outdoor area overlooking the sea, downtown and the mountains.
This is the scene for a late, high-energy night in the warmer months. Note that SkyBar is named as a summer venue only, so plan accordingly.
5. Beach clubs along the coast
Beach clubs are primarily a daytime and early-evening option, but several keep bars and cafés going into the afternoon and evening with music. Very few have sandy beaches; most have been converted into spas with pools and paved terraces, though all have access to the sea.
Some are entirely private and members-only, though non-members can sometimes enter with a guest ticket if accompanied by a member. The Saint George Yacht Club in Ain El Mreisseh and the Riviera Beach and Yacht Club at the Riviera Hotel are named as popular examples, with non-member day access at US$20. Long Beach Club is also named, with its entrance just to the left of the Ferris wheel on the Corniche before the hill.
6. Raouche and the Corniche
The Corniche, formed by Paris Avenue linking to General De Gaulle Avenue, runs around the perimeter of Central Beirut for roughly five kilometres. A common pattern is to start near the Beirut marina about an hour before sunset and finish at the Pigeon Rocks in Raouche in time to watch the sun go down over a drink at one of the outdoor cafés.
This suits an evening that begins with a walk and ends with a drink rather than a full night out. Ramlet Al-Baida, the city's public beach, sits nearby; the source notes trash, pollution and possible sewage releases in the water, so treat it as a place to watch the surf and sunset rather than swim.
How a night out unfolds
There is no curfew in Beirut. Expect most pubs and bars to empty by 2AM, and most nightclubs to empty between 4AM and 4:40AM. In summer, the open-air clubs outside the main districts take over much of the nightlife, while Gemmayze remains busy year-round and Monot is noticeably quieter. The source does not give specific dinner times.
Frequently asked questions
Is alcohol easy to find in Beirut?
Yes. Alcohol is readily available, and many districts have their own cafés, bars and clubs, though some areas are dry or have little nightlife even where alcohol is served.
Which areas have the highest concentration of bars and clubs?
Gemmayze, which is mostly pubs, and Monot Street, which mixes nightclubs and pubs. Both are in the Ashrafieh district and are close to each other. Hamra also has a growing number of pubs and bars.
How late do venues stay open?
Pubs and bars generally empty by 2AM, and nightclubs between 4AM and 4:40AM. There is no curfew.
When is the best time for an open-air club night?
Summer. SkyBar is closed during the winter months, and Monot tends to be much less busy in summer because open-air clubs elsewhere dominate the scene.
Decide whether you want a pub crawl through Gemmayze and Monot or a late outdoor night in summer, then plan your evening around how late you intend to stay out.