7 Beirut Coffee Shops For Fashion Lovers

by Christelle EL-Daher

7 Beirut Coffee Shops For Fashion Lovers

11 Sept 2024

If you have lived in or been to Beirut, chances are that you are familiar with the local coffee culture. Beiruti coffee shops cater for different tastes and come in different forms. Traditional breakfast places, little popular eateries, and household bakeshops where coffee is served are a permanent fixture of this Mediterranean city. Artisanal and special coffee places offering the finest variety of beans from around the world are a staple of this coffee-loving metropolis. Hippie flower shops and cultural libraries selling espressos and croissants are becoming more in vogue. Moreover, historical mansions converted into cafés offer a unique experience. As you can see, there is something for everybody’s cup of tea — or should I say coffee.

Beirut is also known for its status as a regional fashion hub. Renowned designers, famous houses, prominent schools, dedicated spaces, emerging talents, second-hand and thrift shops, neighbourhood tailors, seamstresses and haberdashery stores coexist in this city and form the links of an ever-growing scene. Being the outsider/insider of the Lebanese fashion industry that I am, I invite you to read this special go-to list of Beiruti cafés that combine two great passions of the Lebanese people: coffee and fashion.

The Slow

Neighbourhood: Mar Mikhael

We start our tour in Mar Mikhael, one of the oldest and most authentic neighbourhoods in Beirut. The Slow holds a special place in my heart since I attended my first fashion event there. Many personal milestones were celebrated in this café. If you are looking for a calm, relaxing and serene space to unwind, it is your best option. Labelled as one of the best cafés and concept stores by Condé Nast Traveller, the Slow serves international wholesome food and healthy desserts. It also has a boutique space, which features indie, niche, unique fragrances, jewellery, and clothes. You can do a lot worse than visiting this space to discover new designers and their latest releases. And if you are wondering what is my favourite menu item, it is the chocolate pancakes. They are all my all-time favourite.

Instagram: @theslowlb

BEYt garden café

Neighbourhood: Mar Mikhael

BEYt and Zawal go hand in hand. I know it is a little bit confusing but bear with me. Once you go through the small door located near the Vendôme Public Stair, a historic landmark, you will be stepping into a three-story building divided into two different yet complementary spaces. On the ground floor, you have a boutique named Zawal. Offering a collection of local and regional traditional handmade products, the two-room shop displays visual art and fashion accessories. The handwoven silk and wool scarves always steal my heart. If you feel peckish after marvelling over slow production and slow fashion, you can go to the first floor where BEYt is located. The café offers a very homey atmosphere. Their menu draws from Levantine saltiness and international sweetness. While you are there, I invite you to appreciate the beauty of this traditional Lebanese house with hints of Syrian architecture. Kept in its original state, the space’s layout allows exposure to natural light. It has different dining rooms, living rooms, and a walk-in kitchen. More importantly, the lush garden at the very end is a true little hidden gem.

Instagram: @beyt.lb

Jacaranda

Neighbourhood: Mar Mikhael

As the sister café of BEYt, the concept and the menu remain somewhat the same at Jacaranda. The building houses two stores. Naseej, a street-level textile exhibition space where antique rugs and textiles dating back to the 1900s are displayed. It hosts weaving and block printing workshops with artisans from all over the Arab world. The owners preserved the 70-ish-year-old jacaranda tree around which this structure was built, which made it the centrepiece of their establishment. During the 1930s, the house served as the residence of a French general when Lebanon was under the French mandate. I assume that he enjoyed the beautiful garden, but I doubt that he would have envisaged converting his rooftop into a terrace.

Sip

Neighbourhood: Gemmayzeh

On the same stretch of road, we keep moving ahead to Gemmayzeh. It is Mar Mikahel’s gentrified sister. It is also the home of Sip. Even though it has a small pop-up section, you don’t go there to shop. You go to network. At any given hour of the day, you are bound to run into someone who is anyone in the Lebanese fashion industry. I know that because it is my unofficial office. The place’s stone walls exude a sense of understated glamour. The staff is friendly and will always greet you with a smile. If you are a regular, they will become your friends. The menu is mostly international, with brunch and tartines options. The must-try options are strawberry smoothie, feta tartine, and banana cake.

Pinch Moi!

Neighbourhood: Gemmayzeh

Pinch Moi! is a high-on-dopamine coffee shop. Vibrant colours are everywhere, from the facade to the store’s interior. The coffee space occupies the left aisle. The right aisle houses the boutique that holds a wide selection of items, such as stationary, home décor pieces like pillows and ceramics, and everything in between. The back room is reserved for the fashion section, where you can find the creations of many up-and-coming Lebanese designers. Most pieces are unique, one out of one, or part of a limited edition since they are specifically created for the shop. The designers are asked to review or recreate their designs to incorporate vibrant colours that match the aesthetic of the place. The showcased creations include clothes, jewellery, and bags.

Atelier 1339

Neighbourhood: Downtown

A short distance away from Gemmayzeh lies the Beirut Central District, commonly known as the downtown. Atelier 1339 is located in the middle of the modern neighbourhood of Beirut, which was completely rebuilt in the 1990s. It is known for hosting shopping pop-ups, especially during the holidays. They always organise activities, such as having your personal look illustrated or giving you the chance to get dressed by renowned celebrity stylists in a way that suits your skin tone and body shape. The boutique is on the second floor, and you will mainly find accessories and abayas. The menu is international.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atelier1339official

Naïve

Neighbourhood: Badaro

We end our tour in Badaro, a 10-minute car ride from downtown. Our final stop for the day is Naïve, a creative community space, café and store. The terrace is ideal for a chill afternoon drink. They put forward crafty creations. They also make a point of displaying products made of upcycled fabrics. The space regularly hosts events showcasing Lebanese talent. They also organise workshops for beginners, which are themed around art and textile techniques like weaving, crochet, leather manipulation and block printing. The menu depends on the availability of seasonal products, especially when it comes to desserts.

Save the article for whenever you are in Beirut, and share it with your Lebanese friends to see if they have any other addresses to add.

by Christelle EL-Daher