Beirut/Ain El Mraiseh

Ain El Mraisseh is in Beirut, along Beirut's coastal Corniche, which stretches for several kilometers. It is only a few minutes away from the renovated city center. This district was famous for its nightlife in the early 1970s and is attempting to regain its reputation. It has the highest concentration of luxury hotels in Beirut and hosts internationally recognized coffee shops.

Get in

Ain El Mraiseh is just to the northwest of Downtown Beirut, beside the Beirut Marina. Walking is the easiest way to get there as it is not far at all.

See

• 1 Zaituna Bay, ☏ +961 1 762 814. A place to relax and people-watch or eat at a cafe along the waterfront. (updated Sep 2020)
• 2 Corniche Ain Mreisse (Shoreline Walk). A popular Beirut promenade along the Mediterranean that follows the path of the former Avenue des Français lined with palm trees whose trunks still bear the bullet hole scars from Lebanon's civil wartime. The corniche runs from Saint George Bay in the northeast, around Ras Beirut, and then on to the Raouche sector where the Pigeon Rocks are. A place to sightsee and watch the fisherman or jog. (updated Sep 2020)

Do

• Roller skate along the wide smoothly paved seafront Corniche. At sunset the entire population heads towards the corniche to watch the sunset, so if you'd like some space to skate fast go there in the morning or late evening when the crowds disperse. The Corniche stretches for many kilometers and is absolutely perfect for skating especially because of the stunning view of the sea.

Buy

• Artisans du Liban et d'Orient, Ain Mreisseh (Seafront), ☏ +961 1 362610, fax: +961 1 362611, souk@artisansduliban.com. Artisans du Liban et d'Orient designs and produces ornaments of all sorts. 

Eat

• 1 Casablanca, Ali Al Hout Building, Graham Street, ☏ +961 1 369 334. Open Tu-Su 12:00-16:00, 20:00-00:00; closed Monday. A Beiruti native's gourmet paradise, this fusion restaurant serves up fresh fish and organic vegetables, so it is focused on the healthy and delicious. The setting is funky, colourful and the crowd extremely in. Sunday brunches are good, if a little overrated, especially in summer when the balcony overlooking the Mediterranean is open. Meal for two with wine: USD 70. (updated Aug 2017)
• Abou Sami Rest (Lebanese), Ain El Mreisseh, Choukry Ghanem str., ☏ +961 3 532891. 
• Café d'Orient (Lebanese), Ain Mreysseh Sea Road, Ain Mreysseh, ☏ +961 1 366222. 
• Capmed (Lebanese), Ain El Mreisseh, Palm Beach Hotel, ☏ +961 1 372000. 
• Au Premier (French), Ain El Mreisseh, Le Vendôme Inter-Continental, ☏ +961 1 365553, +961 1 212791. 
• Le Colonial (French), Ain Mreisseh, Palm Beach Hotel, ☏ +961 1 372000. 
• Cadmos Hotel Restaurant (Italian), Ain El Mreisseh, Cadmos Hotel, ☏ +961 1 366089. price=. 
• Splendido (Italian) (Ain El Mreisseh), ☏ +961 1 366222, +961 1 365999. 
• 2 Spaghetteria Italiana, Graham Street, Ain El Mreisseh, ☏ +961 1 363 487. Daily 12:00-00:00. Transport yourself to a Naples trattoria in this old-timer with fantastic views on the Corniche. Fresh pasta to die for and we can’t recommend the spaghetti alle vongole rosse enough. Try the fish at this Italian classic, which has become the haunt of more than one expat foreign journalist. Meal for two with wine: around US$35. (updated Jan 2016)

Sleep

Budget

• Charles Hotel, Ain El Mraisseh, ☏ +961 1-362268, fax: +961 1-363244. 
• Cadmos Hotel, Ain El Mraisseh, ☏ +961 1-374890, fax: +961 1-374898. 

Mid-range

• Palm Beach Hotel, Ain El Mraisseh, ☏ +961 1-372000, fax: +961 1-369109, palmbeach@palmbeach.com.lb. US$60-800. 
• Hotel Monroe, Kennedy Street - Solidere- Ain El Mraisseh, ☏ +961 1-371122, fax: +961 1-371112, info@monroebeirut.com. US$185. 
• Bayview Hotel, Ain El Mraisseh, ☏ +961 1-373090, fax: +961 1-373091, bayview@dm.net.lb. US$135. 

Splurge

• 1 Radisson SAS Martinez Hotel, Ain El Mraisseh, ☏ +961 1-368111, fax: +961 1-370333. US$280-550. 
• 2 InterContinental Phoenicia Hotel, Ain El Mraisseh/Minet El Hosn, ☏ +961 1-369100, fax: +961 1-369101, phoenicia@phoenicia-ic.com. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut is situated along the famous boardwalk, “Corniche” a few minutes from the city’s business and banking district, and the ever lively and entertaining city center. Beirut International Airport is only a few kilometers away.  
• 3 Le Vendome Intercontinental Hotel, Ain El Mraisseh, ☏ +961 1-369280, fax: +961 1-360169, beirut@interconti.com. US$195-2000.