Where to Eat in Lebanon

Lebanon's dining culture is a busy celebration of Levantine hospitality where meals are treated as sacred social rituals meant to be shared and savored over hours of conversation. The cuisine is built on mezze—a spectacular array of small dishes including hummus, moutabal (smoky eggplant dip), tabbouleh, fattoush, kebbeh, and warak enab (stuffed grape leaves)—that reflects centuries of Mediterranean, Arab, and Ottoman influences. Lebanese tables overflow with fresh herbs, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and pomegranate molasses, while grilled meats like shish taouk and kafta are elevated to an art form. Today's dining scene easyly blends traditional family-run eateries serving authentic home-style cooking with contemporary restaurants reimagining Lebanese classics, particularly in Beirut's cosmopolitan neighborhoods where rooftop dining and seaside terraces dominate the landscape.

Key Dining Features:
• Prime Dining Districts: Beirut's Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh neighborhoods are packed with trendy restaurants and bars in restored Ottoman-era buildings, while the Hamra district offers more affordable, authentic street food and traditional eateries. The Beirut Souks and Downtown area feature upscale dining with international influences, and Jounieh's waterfront (20 minutes north) is famous for seafood restaurants with Mediterranean views. In Byblos, the old port area specializes in fresh fish served with tahini sauce and fried pine nuts.
• Essential Lebanese Dishes: Beyond mezze, travelers must try manakish (flatbread topped with za'atar, cheese, or minced meat) for breakfast, shawarma wrapped in saj bread, fatayer (spinach or cheese pastries), kibbeh nayyeh (raw minced lamb with bulgur and spices), and grilled halloumi cheese. For dessert, knefeh (sweet cheese pastry soaked in syrup) from Tripoli is legendary, along with baklava dripping with orange blossom syrup and ashta (clotted cream) topped with honey.
• Price Ranges: Street food like manakish costs 3,000-8,000 Lebanese Pounds (LBP), casual mezze meals run 30,000-60,000 LBP per person, mid-range restaurants with mixed grills charge 80,000-150,000 LBP, and upscale dining in Beirut reaches 200,000-400,000 LBP per person. Fresh fruit juice stands charge 5,000-10,000 LBP, while traditional coffee costs 3,000-6,000 LBP. Note that many establishments now price menus in US dollars due to economic fluctuations.
• Seasonal Dining Highlights: Summer (June-September) brings outdoor terrace dining and beachside restaurants serving grilled fish and cold mezze, while mountain villages offer cooler evening meals with panoramic valley views. Autumn features grape harvest celebrations with fresh arak (anise-flavored spirit) and seasonal dishes using pomegranates and figs. Winter is ideal for hearty stews like moghrabieh (pearl couscous with chicken) and warming soups in cozy indoor settings.
• Unique Lebanese Dining Experiences: The traditional Sunday family lunch is a cultural