Customers enjoying an evening at Aaliya's Books in Gemmayze. Photo credit: João Sousa.
As it does every year, the consulting firm Hodema has carried out a study of the food and beverage industry in eleven areas of Beirut. From Bliss to Gemmayzeh, through Sassine, Badaro and the city center, discover the state of this important sector, boosted by an upturn in tourism in the summer of 2023 and then cooled by the outbreak of war in Gaza on Oct. 7 of the same year.
Cafes, bars and restaurants: Beirut's revitalized catering sector
After a rather successful summer in 2023, prompting the launch of a number of projects, the 2024 tourist season failed to live up to expectations — unsurprising, given Israel’s devastating war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah’s support front in southern Lebanon.
Despite this situation, and just before the geopolitical upheavals of recent weeks, the restaurant sector in Beirut seemed to be doing well. The number of establishments opened in the capital meant a growth of 15.3 percent between April 2023 and April 2024, to reach 810 cafés, bars and restaurants, or 83 percent of the supply existing before the onset of the economic crisis in 2019.
Pedestrians in the Downtown Beirut’s Park Avenue area on March 9, 2024. Photo credit: Sandrine Frem.
Badaro: Back to pre-crisis levels
With a 4.7 percent increase in the number of outlets, from 86 in 2023 to 90 in 2024, the Badaro zone, with its relaxed atmosphere and an average bill of fare of between $15 and $30, is back on a par with 2019.
Monot-Sodeco: A blossoming area
Targeting an older, more affluent clientele on the one hand, and students from Saint Joseph's University (USJ) and people working in the Beirut Digital District on the other, the brands established in Monot and Sodeco offer average tickets ranging from 15 to 50 dollars.
Sassine: A stable offer
Beirut's emblematic Sassine area remained virtually stable throughout the year, with a 1.1 percent increase in the number of chains. The establishments located here are primarily daytime dining destinations but they also manage to attract a certain number of evening customers.
Bliss: A student-focused offering
Located on the outskirts of the American University of Beirut (AUB), Bliss is an area where establishments focus on "street-food," and are mainly frequented by students and university employees. The number of restaurants opened here has risen by 13 percent in one year.
Verdun: A family-friendly destination
An essentially family-oriented destination, located in an upscale residential district that also houses business offices, the Verdun area has seen a 12.5 percent increase in the number of retailers.
Hamra: The decline continues
The Hamra district is the only one of the eleven zones to have seen its number of outlets fall in the space of a year. There are now just 94, compared with 101 last year, a drop of almost seven percent. Iconic spots such as Jaï's Kitchen, Kababji, Mezyan and Ferdinand are still holding their own.
Downtown: A revitalized area
Since April 2023, 15 new establishments have opened their doors in downtown Beirut. New openings are also expected in the near future, as the area has already seen a 40 percent increase in capacity compared with 2023.
Zaitunay Bay: Still in vogue
Zaitunay Bay remains a popular tourist destination thanks to its open-air terraces, seafront location and proximity to hotels. While the area was home to 17 establishments last year, it will be home to 19 by April 2024, with none of the older establishments closing their doors during this period.
Night view of Zaitunay Bay, taken on July 27, 2024. Photo credit: Stephanie Bechara.
Downtown’s Park Avenue: Glamor and luxury
Downtown Beirut’s Park Avenue area, located between the Four Seasons Hotel and Kantari Street, has grown surprisingly fast and is now frequented by a clientele with high purchasing power. The number of shops has increased by 37.5 percent and the average ticket per person is between $50 and $70.
Mar Mikhael: Booming after reconstruction
A residential and commercial zone, Mar Mikhaël boasts the largest offer of the eleven locations surveyed, and remains at the top of the ranking with an 18.3 percent increase in the number of catering establishments in one year. These include kiosks, cafés, restaurants, bar-restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
Gemmayzeh: Dynamism driven by Rue Pasteur
With 103 establishments operational in 2024, 24.1 percent more than in 2023, Gemmayzeh is second only to Mar Mikhael in terms of the number of restaurants in Beirut. Numerous hotel and boutique-hotel projects are taking shape here, and should be operational within the next two years.
