Cafes, bars and restaurants in Hamra, as surveyed by consulting firm Hodema. Illustration by Guilhem Dorandeu.
While Hamra used to be the hub for nightlife – the Soho of Beirut you could say – the zone has been severely impacted by Lebanon’s economic crisis. Of all the zones surveyed in the capital by Hodema this year, Hamra is the only one to have seen a drop in outlets. There are now only 94 F&B outlets in the district, compared to 101 last year giving it a decrease of almost 7 percent in supply. Within the time period of 2019 to now, Hamra has seen 84 establishments close, 16 of which have closed since April 2023, including Gelato Show, Tomatomatic, and The Bruws. Of the 16 closures, only five have been replaced with new F&B concepts. Read also: Downtown: Showing signs of life In total, there are nine newly opened outlets since Hodema’s last report in 2023. Two new brands have found their home in The Food Hub on Hamra’s main...
While Hamra used to be the hub for nightlife – the Soho of Beirut you could say – the zone has been severely impacted by Lebanon’s economic crisis. Of all the zones surveyed in the capital by Hodema this year, Hamra is the only one to have seen a drop in outlets. There are now only 94 F&B outlets in the district, compared to 101 last year giving it a decrease of almost 7 percent in supply. Within the time period of 2019 to now, Hamra has seen 84 establishments close, 16 of which have closed since April 2023, including Gelato Show, Tomatomatic, and The Bruws. Of the 16 closures, only five have been replaced with new F&B concepts. Read also: Downtown: Showing signs of life In total, there are nine newly opened outlets since Hodema’s last report in 2023. Two new brands have found their home in The Food Hub on Hamra’s...