Beirut/Ras Beirut

It has a mixed population of Christians, Muslims, Druze, and secular individuals. Ras Beirut is home to some of Beirut's historically prominent families. Included in the area are a number of international schools and universities, including the American University of Beirut (AUB) and International College Beirut (IC).

Hamra Street is famous for its sidewalk cafes, elegant restaurants, old-fashioned boutiques, and cinemas. Traditionally, Ras Beirut cafés are places for the educated elite of the Lebanese people

• 🌍 Beirut lighthouse (Manara) (المنارة الجديدة), ☏ +961 1 742 346. Here you can watch the surf or sunset, have a coffee, and view the red-and-white-striped lighthouse. (updated Sep 2020)
• 🌍 Corniche El Manara. Continuation of the corniche from the port area. (updated Sep 2020)
• 🌍 Al Ba'sa. A spite house, built to obstruct view of the house behind it, in 1954. The barely habitable house is only 60cm at it's narrowest point. (updated Apr 2023)

• 🌍 Sporting Club Beach, ☏ +961 1 742 200. Swimming pools and even a tidal pool basin for saltwater swimming right on the sea. (updated Sep 2020)

• 🌍 Taj el Moulouk (pastry shop), ☏ +961 1 365 797. You can really go wild on some baklava and other pastries here. Another highlight is the Ashta, or clotted cream, an Arabic specialty. It probably tastes better than it sounds. (updated Sep 2020)

• 🌍 Bella Riva (Suite Hotel), Caracas Str., Manara, ☏ +961 1 754343, +961 3 640894, fax: +961 1 754349, info@bellarivahotel.com. 
• 🌍 Mediterranée Hotel (4 stars), Chourani st., Charles De Gaulle Avenue, Manara, Beirut, ☏ +961 1 741 824, fax: +961 1 603014. US$78. 
• Riviera Hotel (4 stars), Avenue de Paris, Corniche El Manara, ☏ +961 1-373210, fax: +961 1-365239, info@rivierahotel.com.lb. US$150.