Bonjour Beirut (or in my case, bonsoir)

Syrab El Malti
Sep 30, 2015
2 min read

I reached Beirut on a hot Friday night, towards the end of June.

Hot might not be the right word though since my first thought as I stepped out from the airport was "Fresh air! Finally!". Yes, coming from Dubai, Beirut's 30 degrees felt like heaven on earth.

This first (but definitely not last) visit to Beirut was very short, so I had not time to waste. Luckily, I had the best "guide" one could possibly wish for. My friend Aline! And she had planned the best introduction to Beirut, as I was bearing the load of a 5-hour flight and an exhausting week : a casual restaurant where Beirutis get together to catch up over drinks or Mexican bites. And it was called Pacifico. [Btw, I don't think Beiruti is a word but I guess my Moroccan habit -which consists in adding an -i to the name of a city to refer to its people- is resurfacing...]

I had always wanted to visit Beirut, but to be perfectly honest, I didn't really know what to expect... For once in a very long time, I didn't buy any travel guide nor did I research the city on the internet. I guess I just knew I was in for a great time with Aline and trusted her entirely with the weekend's program.

And I was right. Everything from the relaxed and casual atmosphere, the warm and friendly faces, the laughters, the yard setting and it's "real" trees (yes, another Dubai trauma), hit the right spot in me, and I knew I was in for a great weekend!

Before heading home, we made a quick stop at Capitole, a rooftop restaurant and lounge. I can't tell you much about the place since we didn't spend much time there, but I could definitely sense some more "partying vibes" in the air. And, if only for this view, I would not cross it off my list!