When in Hamra: 8 Things You Need to Do

Spending the day in Hamra? Here are all the things you need to do in one of Beirut's liveliest neighborhoods.

If you're looking for comfort food: Try EVERYTHING at The JaJa

The beloved Hamra chicken shop just dropped a new menu, and it's definitely worth a try. We actually stopped by to try it ourselves, so if you want to know about everything we sampled (and loved), read our review here!

It's perfect for those looking for classic Lebanese comfort food, offering an array of sandwiches and burgers to chow down on when you need a pick-me-up. We recommend passing by with a group of friends, ordering lots of food, and then just sharing everything you ordered.

For more information, make sure to check out their Instagram! They're open daily from 12 PM until 10 PM.

But if you're going for lunch with your family, we recommend going to across the street to Bana Café instead. They serve up their own twists on delicious Lebanese dishes that we're sure even the pickiest Lebanese parent would love.

If you want to do something fun: Get creative at Dream Factory

For those who want to get in touch with their inner child, Dream Factory is the place to be. At this hands-on creative café, you can have a Build-A-Bear experience, design tote bags, and enjoy so many artsy activities with your friends.

Who said that these experiences are just for kids? If anything, this is a great way to de-stress after a long week. They're located on Hamra's main street, facing Sanwich w Noss.

If you want to do something unique: Find new vintage treasures at Hamra Vintage

The most stunning vintage finds that you'll want to add to your collection IMMEDIATELY. Unique jewelry, vintage purses, pre-loved items, film cameras and old record players that still work—there's so much to discover at this gem.

For those who are familiar with this spot, Hamra Vintage has a new location near Plaza Pharmacy. Click here to find out where it is.

If you want some quiet time alone: Head to Book Bazar to find your new read

Book lovers, specifically ones who love ranting about their favorite reads, will fall in love with Book Bazar. Located on Sidani Street facing Sushi Bell, this gem was only recently transformed into a book café!

It has one of the biggest secondhand book collections in Lebanon, so you can get your hands on very affordable books. And if you're a vintage book collector, there are quite a few valuable finds that might interest you.

If you want to read more about their transformation, click here!

If you want to enjoy something sweet: Grab a donut from Bakerloo

A must-have experience for people who have a sweet tooth. Bakerloo serves up some of the most mouthwatering donuts in the city, but they also have a few quirky creations you might want to try.

They recently brought back their Nutella & Zaatar donut, and though we haven't tried it ourselves, it apparently went viral when it was released last year.

If you want to know more about this donut, click here to read all about it.

If you want something even sweeter: Try the frosted cinnamon rolls from Espressolab

For those who love pairing their sweet treats with coffee, Espressolab is a great spot to enjoy some alone time, and maybe even get some work done. It's very spacious, so you're bound to find a quiet corner all to yourself.

Something this sweet pairs very well with their freshly brewed coffee. Let us know what your go-to order at Espressolab is!

We have more coffee shop suggestions here!

If you're a theater kid: Head over to the newly renovated Le Colisée

The iconic Le Colisée has been filled with cinephiles since it reopened in Hamra, bringing back the city's golden age of cinema and theater. Make sure to grab your friends and check out what's playing.

You can also pay the theater a visit just to see how it was transformed by the amazing Kassem Istanbouli and Tiro Arts Association.

To read more about the renovation of Le Colisée, click here.

If you want a garden vibe: Keep it simple with a trip to Café Younes

No matter how many times we visit Café Younes branch in Hamra, we never get tired of it. It's an excellent garden space with great coffee, delicious food, and serene vibes that let you enjoy a quick escape from the bustling city.

This place can easily lift your mood. If you're looking for more garden cafés in Beirut, you'll find our compilation here.