Beirut
You're flying out of Beirut Airport, you have 90 minutes to kill, and you'd like to do better than a Pret. Good news: airport drinking has improved more in the last five years than the previous fifty. Pre-flight drinks at Beirut Airport range from chain reliability to surprisingly polished hotel-style bars in the airport hotels. This is barsforKings's editor-curated guide to drinking better at Beirut's airports.
Mar Mikhael · $$
961 Beer Tap Room draws a steady local crowd in Mar Mikhael. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Hamra · $$$
Anise Cocktail Bar draws a steady local crowd in Hamra. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Mar Mikhael · $$$
Balthus Bar draws a steady local crowd in Mar Mikhael. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Mar Mikhael · $$$
Bar Tartine draws a steady local crowd in Mar Mikhael. Booking is recommended on weekends. Walk-ins are usually possible early in the evening.
Want a real drink before flying? The fastest play is to get to airport hotels next door — most run polished bars that beat anything post-security. We list them at the bottom. If you've got 60 spare minutes pre-airport, see our shortlist of bars in Beirut proper at the end.
Plays for Beirut Airport: post-security, pre-security, lounges, and the airport-hotel cheat code.
Pre-flight drinks, hotel-bar reviews, and the openings we're watching across 176 cities. Friday mornings, no filler.
Looking beyond Beirut? See our guide to the best airport bars worldwide, or compare airport bars city by city.