B eirut’s nightlife scene is
livelier than ever, and
nowhere bustles with more
activity than trendy Ashrafieh. After
dark fun-seekers flock to its hip
restaurants, bars and nightclubs. On
weekends the fever reaches epidemic
proportions, as revelers reel from
hotspot to hotspot until the break of
dawn. If you want it, Ashrafieh’s got
it. Prefer a sedate ambience? Go to
Title Out. In the mood to dance to the
pulsating beat of contemporary Arabic
tunes? Try Rai. If exclusive is
what you’re after well, it comes
with the turf, habibi. Glamorous crowds dine, dance and
hobnob at select clubs like Alecco’s and Retro. Thinking about
heading to one? Don’t expect to casually stroll in and be
ushered to the best table in the house reservations must be
made days in advance.
Why the stampede? These restaurant-cum-bars-cum-
nightclubs
cater to the highlife. And to satisfy high society,
good food is essential. But bear in mind that there’s a price to
pay for quality cuisine. A three-course meal at Alecco’s,
Gotha, Circus and Al Mandaloun costs $30 to $40. At Retro
it’s about $75. “A meal can go up to $100 if you order caviar
and salmon,” says Jean Claude Ghosn, co-owner of Alecco’s.
Likewise, the average cost for drinks is $10. Obviously,
certain drinks are more. A glass of Blue Label whisky at Cir-
cus costs $21, while the bottle costs $235. After dining at
Retro, patrons can sip Remy Marten extra old Cognac at
$50 a glass. A bottle of Dom Perignon Rose at Al Mandaloun
sells for a cool $950. Don’t be put off, expensive selections
are stocked just in case. Interesting cocktail creations,
priced at about $10, are recommended.
With cigars à la mode, it’s typical to see male patrons
indulging. Aficionados say it’s pleasurable to puff on a
Cuban, but the air of distinction that cigars convey has
undoubtedly helped their popularity. At these places the
finest, such as Cohiba, Romeo & Julieta and Monte Cristo,
are available. Prices range from $10 to $40. Cigarillos are
priced from $2 to $5.
Food, drinks and cigars aside, nothing tops good enter-
tainment. Ghosn attributes Alecco’s nine years of success
to its live entertainment. Alecco’s co-owner Habib sings a
medley of French, English and Arabic songs. To cut the
routine, Circus has live entertainment a couple of times a
week, but never on set nights. And gigs are always changing.
“The purpose is not to bore people,” says manager Walid
Maalouf. “We don’t want to be a place where people come
every Tuesday to listen to the same group our concept is
to have concerts.” In general, during the week entertainment
isn’t as lively as on weekends, when ecstatic partygoers end
up dancing on tabletops.
Dinner reservations are recommended for weeknights and
must be made days in advance for weekends. At Circus and
Gotha reservations are not needed for the bar. On weekends, at
all venues after 1 a.m., when patrons have finished dining and
head to the dance floor, people without reservations can enter
and join the festivities. But make sure to dress smartly, because
selectivity is practiced at the door. Guys, be forewarned
most places don’t accept all-male groups, even for reservations.
The perception is that single drunk guys offend the ladies. However,
all-female groups are welcome. In fact, all places offer special
packages for bachelorette parties. Alecco’s organizes
menus for such all-female nights for $20 to $35 per person.
For parties of 20, Retro has a menu for $50 a person. Al Mandaloun
can be yours any night other than Fridays and Saturdays,
for reservations of at least 150 people. Prices depend on menus,
but the minimum is $45 a head.
