- 05
- Aug.
- 2024
Hodema Assesses Dining Options in Eleven Beirut Neighborhoods
modified on 02 Sep. 2024 à 10:27 Read : 8 minute(s) A A A
Since 2010, Hodema, a consulting and research company specializing in the restaurant and hospitality sectors, has been investigating, analyzing, and studying the dining options in Beirut, which are divided into 11 zones.
To compile the Hodema 2024 report, its experts visited 810 establishments including restaurants, cafés, bars, nightclubs, kiosks, and snack bars within this area. They considered several parameters such as the number of establishments per street, seating capacity, location, concept, average ticket size, and the type of food offered.
This is Beirut presents the key findings of the survey.
Badaro
Badaro is a vibrant hotspot both day and night, featuring a diverse array of cafés that are open throughout the day and restaurant-bars that attract visitors for “Happy Hour” or the "five-to-seven" crowd. The number of dining establishments increased by 4.7% from 2023 to 2024, reaching the same level as in 2019.
However, the growth rate in 2024 was only half of that in 2023. The Badaro market is viewed as saturated, leading investors to establish new venues in neighborhoods where average consumer spending is higher.
The F&B offerings are positioned in the mid-range segment, with an average price ranging from $15 to $30.
Bliss
Bliss is a lively neighborhood around the American University of Beirut (AUB), where dining and drinking spots are mainly popular among students and university staff. Key landmarks include long-standing establishments such as Bliss House (since 1978), the Tonino crepe kiosk (1999), Socrate restaurant (2009), the Lebanese chain Zaatar W Zeit, and Snack Faysal (1984).
Bliss has welcomed new arrivals such as the American chains Oakberry and Cold Stone, as well as the Lebanese brand Al Abdallah, which has locations across the country.
Downtown
The Downtown area is showing renewed vitality, mainly due to the expansion in Saifi Village. Between April 2023 and April 2024, Hodema has identified several new openings: Buco (short for Burger and Cocktails) with 150 seats; Vicoli (Italian cuisine); Villa Clara (French cuisine); Julienne (Mediterranean and Japanese cuisines); Maryool (Lebanese cuisine); and Amaleen (Lebanese cuisine), which, already located in Bekaa, opened its second location in Downtown with a seating capacity of 240. Additionally, Zad Al Bahr has replaced Sultan Ibrahim, and now offers 240 seats.
Half of the new establishments are positioned in the mid-range segment, while, overall, the offerings in this area cater to the upper mid-range market.
The landmarks in Downtown continue to thrive. Key establishments include Meat the Fish, Backburner, Capitole by Analogue, and Clap.
Park Avenue (Downtown)
Park Avenue has sharply developed into a vibrant destination within a residential area of downtown. Located between the Four Seasons Hotel and Kantari Street, Park Avenue is now a bustling and thriving neighborhood popular with an affluent clientele, with average dining bills ranging from $50 to $70. The dining options in the area have increased by 44% between 2023 and 2024.
Hodema has listed fourteen new additions, including Em Sherif Deli, N Café (at the Phoenicia Hotel), Mershak Beirut, and Joe and the Juice. However, the Four Seasons Hotel remains closed.
Gemmayze
The Gemmayze area is experiencing a grand revival, with a 24.1% increase in dining options from 2023 to 2024. The number of establishments rose from 83 in 2023 to 103 in 2024.
Gemmayze is ranked second after Mar Mikhael in terms of F&B offerings. Amongst the new establishments are Un Peu Fou (Lebanese cuisine with a seating capacity of 70); Levant, a café serving Lebanese pastries; Furn Mershak (specializing in manousheh); Mii-Yao (Asian cuisine); and Fred Kitchen & Bar (Italian and French cuisine).
Pasteur Street has played a key role in revitalizing the Gemmayze area. New additions include Cyrano, Mayrig, and House of Butlers. The area's landmarks include Le Chef (established in 1967), Mitsu-Ya the Omakase Bar and Izakaya, Le Petit Gris, and Chez Paul. There are also plans underway for boutique hotel developments.
Hamra
While Hamra was once the nightlife hub—Beirut's Soho—the neighborhood has been severely impacted by Lebanon's economic crisis. Of all the areas reviewed by Hodema in 2024, Hamra is the only one to have experienced a decline in dining establishments. The neighborhood now hosts only 94 F&B venues, down from 101 in 2023, marking a 7% decrease. Since 2019, 84 establishments have closed, including Gelato Show, Tomatomatic, and The Bruws. Nevertheless, some key landmarks remain operational, such as Jai (Asian cuisine) established in 2012, Kababji, Mezyan (Mediterranean cuisine) operating since 2011, and Ferdinand (international cuisine) since 2013.
Mar Mikhael
Mar Mikhael is depicted as a revitalized and rejuvenated area according to the Hodema report. The neighborhood had 104 dining establishments in 2023 and currently has 124, representing an 18.3% increase. It offers the most diverse range of dining options, including kiosks, cafés, restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs. The area is divided into two main streets: Armenia and Pharaon.
Since Hodema’s 2023 report, Mar Mikhael has welcomed 35 new concepts, including Marrow and Bar and The Smoking Barrels, both focused on meat, with seating capacities of 40 and 16, respectively. Enab, a Lebanese restaurant, has also returned to Mar Mikhael after a few years of closure, now with a seating capacity of 300.
However, 17 dining establishments have closed in Mar Mikhael since April 2023, including Ya Ghezayel, Uniun, and Mylos. Nevertheless, nearly 65% of the closed venues have been replaced by new F&B options, highlighting the area's resilience and ongoing growth.
Mar Mikhael’s landmarks continue to thrive. Key establishments include Tavolina, Oslo, Slate, Marinella, Tawlet Souk El Tayeb, Baron, and bars such as L’Osteria, Internazionale, and Central Station.
Monot-Sodeco
The Monot-Sodeco area has experienced a makeover over the past year, now positioned in the mid-range segment with average dining bills between $30 and $50. The number of dining establishments has grown from 74 in 2023 to 84 in 2024, reflecting a 12.2% increase. However, six other venues have closed during this period.
Furthermore, the landmarks in the Monot-Sodeco area are still going strong. Key establishments include Em Sherif, Abd El Wahab, Liza, and Sapa. Pacifico remains a strong player, operating since 1997. The area also features Ritage Garden, a Mediterranean-style restaurant, as well as Kelly’s Fish Lounge, a seafood restaurant, and Le Relais de l’Entrecôte, a French steakhouse.
Amongst the new openings in the area, PizzaWa has opened on Abdel Wahab el Inglizi Street with 65 seats, and the Italian restaurant Amavi, which offers 100 seats.
Sassine
Sassine is a landmark in Beirut, housing a mix of residential apartments, offices, universities, hospitals, retail stores, and the ABC Mall. The dining establishments and cafés primarily cater to a daytime clientele. In terms of growth, the area has seen a stable increase of 1.1%, with the number of dining venues rising from 88 in 2023 to 89 in 2024.
The Sassine area is usually a reliable area for investors, striving to maintain a somewhat timeless appeal. Landmarks such as Starbucks, the Lebanese street food restaurant Hajj Nasr, Freiha specializing in falafel (since 1945), and Boubouffe, known for shawarma (since the 1980s), remain operational. Although not perceived as landmarks, Fine Bouche and Brewholic Café, which have opened recently, are still vibrant.
Verdun
Verdun is a neighborhood that is slowly coming to life. Known for its focus on family outings rather than nightlife, it offers cafés and restaurants but lacks bars. The number of dining establishments has grown to 61 in 2024, up from 54 in 2023. Most new openings in Verdun are positioned in the lower-midrange segment.
Three venues in Verdun have closed since April 2023, all of which were located in the ABC Mall. These include Starbucks, Lily’s Café, and Casper & Gambini’s.
Zaytouna Bay
Zaytouna Bay is flourishing. Its seaside cafés and restaurants attract both residents and tourists from Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan. The number of dining spots has increased from 17 in 2023 to 19 in 2024, with no closures reported since April 2023.
Lebanese cuisine is a strong feature in this area. New additions include Sushi Start, specializing in Asian cuisine; Classic Burger Joint, now rebranded as Szzl by Classic; and Appetito Trattoria, a Lebanese venue serving Italian cuisine. Hodema reported a 6% increase in seating capacity.
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