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.