Guides
7 Last-Minute Plans to Make With Your Friends This Week in Beirut
Need an excuse to get out of the house this week? We rounded up 7 last-minute plans around Beirut for you to make with your friends.
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1. Visit Em Nazih in Achrafieh for the first time in 6 years
After officially reopening just days ago, we’re more than excited to revisit Em Nazih in the heart of Achrafieh and relive some of our favorite memories. It still has the same cozy Lebanese home feel, complete with vintage details, patterned rugs, and plenty of nostalgia.
It’s impossible to visit Em Nazih without a table full of mezza, so bring your appetite! We’ll also be keeping an eye out for the daily specials and all the homemade dishes that regulars have been talking about for years.
The restaurant captures the charm of old Beirut, making you feel like you’re dining at teta and jeddo’s house while enjoying comforting home-cooked Lebanese food in a beautiful space.
The food is one thing, but the atmosphere is what people remember most. Between the music, familiar faces, and long lunches that somehow turn into dinner, we’re sure it still feels like the Em Nazih everyone missed.
Against all odds, Lebanese businesses continue to rebuild. Read more about Em Nazih’s return here.
2. Stop for pizza nights at Mavia Bakery in Gemmayze
If you’ve only visited Mavia Bakery for its sourdough and pastries, this is your sign to go back on a Friday.
Their wood-fired pizza nights have built quite a following, and now you can enjoy them from the bakery’s new, bigger space on Gemmayze’s main street.
3. Discover one of Beirut’s oldest record stores, Super Out in Mar Mikhael
Take a break from the cafés and bars for an hour and step into Super Out.
Open since 1979, this hidden Mar Mikhael gem is packed with vinyl, CDs, and cassettes, where half the fun is digging through the shelves until you find something unexpected.
Don’t forget to ask owner Roy Hayek about his favorite picks or the hidden collection upstairs! Based on our experience, he’s got immaculate taste.
If you don’t already own a Walkman, this place will really encourage you to find one just so you can enjoy their old casettes.
4. Find your new read at Folk Beirut, a hidden cultural space in Hamra
Whether you’re looking for your next book, a quiet place to read, or simply a change of scenery, Folk Beirut is worth adding to your list.
This new bookstore and cultural space feels more like a cozy living room than a library.
It boasts curated shelves, study corners, and regular literary events that make it easy to spend an entire afternoon there.
You might want to gatekeep this as one of Hamra’s very few quiet spots away from the bustling streets.
5. Shop for the cutest Lebanese merch at Luanatic in Achrafieh
The perfect place to shop for quirky Lebanese merch, either for yourself or that one diaspora friend that lives, breathes, and bleeds Lebanon.
You’ll find coffee sets perfect for your next sobhiye, Lebanese wall clocks, retro-inspired home décor, playful tote bags, postcards, magnets, and plenty of conversation starters you’ll want to take home.
The space is also too cute to miss. Once you’re done, you can go next door to Café Amor and treat yourself to some coffee.
6. Enjoy delicious cocktails and cool vinyls at Jive in Gemmayze
If you’re looking for a bar with a little more character, Jive should be next on your list.
Inspired by the disco era, this retro Gemmayze favorite pairs creative cocktails with an impressive vinyl collection spinning all night long, making it just as much about the music as the drinks.
Order one of their signature cocktails, grab a seat, and let the soundtrack do the rest.
7. Treat yourself to the viral pain perdu from Nayla in Achrafieh
If you’ve been craving pain perdu, Nayla’s viral version deserves a spot on your weekend plans.
Instead of the usual slices, you’ll get two fluffy cubes topped with vanilla soft serve, caramel or chocolate sauce, and powdered sugar.
It’s the perfect excuse to catch up with a friend over dessert.
We all have go-to last-minute plans. What are yours? Check out the #Hidden Gems section for must-visit spots around Lebanon.
