eat like Bourdain
🇱🇧 Where Bourdain Ate in Beirut
13 places across Parts Unknown & No Reservations
“Beirut is the most resilient, joyous, life-affirming city I have ever visited.”
Bourdain's Beirut episode of No Reservations is legendary — he and his crew were caught in the 2006 Lebanon War and had to be evacuated. He later returned for Parts Unknown, and his love for the city only deepened. Beirut represented everything he admired: resilience, hospitality, and incredible food.
What Bourdain Loved About Beirut
The mezze culture — a table covered in small dishes shared over hours
Lebanese hospitality — the genuine warmth and generosity of the people
The seafood restaurants on the Mediterranean with their feet in the water
The nightlife — Beirut parties harder than almost any city he'd seen
The resilience of a city that has survived everything and still celebrates life
Episodes Featuring Beirut
Parts Unknown — S5 E4: Beirut
Returns to the city that changed his life
No Reservations — S2 E9: Beirut
The famous episode — caught in the 2006 war, evacuated by the US Marines
Travel Tips for Eating in Beirut
Tony's Advice
Order mezze until the table can't hold any more plates. Then order more. This is how Beirut eats.
What to Skip
- ✕Overpriced hotel restaurants in the downtown district
- ✕Touristy spots that don't deliver authentic Lebanese hospitality
Every Place Bourdain Visited in Beirut
13 placesRizk Chicken
"Broasted" chicken shawarma
Radio Beirut
شارع ٧٢
Tony met with a rapper named Chino to talk about this radio station that hosts all types of musicians.
Al Rawda - Shatila - Restaurant
شارع 85
Tony had fish, a meze of hummus and salads, Laziza nonalcoholic beer.
Al Falamanki Sodeco
Tony had tabbouleh, kofta with yogurt sauce and cranberries, stuffed grape leaves, kibbeh.
MusicHall Starco
This huge night club has many different kinds of acts. Tony met with the owner.
Abou Elie Pub
شارع الكويت
Le Chef
Tony went back to Le Chef, where he ate on his last visit (when Beirut was bombed). They had hummus with pine nuts and ground beef, eggplant with tomatoes, chickpeas, and onions. Fun story he told on this episode: The airport got bombed so after he finally got home taking a ship back to NYC, his girlfriend Ottavia met him when the boat docked and they conceived their daughter.
Tawlet
شارع أبو الهول
A rotating cast of cooks provide regional foods from the artisanal market. Labneh, Armenian meat pie, artichoke and fava bean salad, fuul.
Onno Bistro - Bourj Hammoud
Street 81
Tony ate Kibbeh, phyllo, Armenian cheese, spicy potatoes, meat & cheese filled pastries, hummus, stuffed grape leaves
Frank Würst Fine Hotdog
Armenia Street
They had drunken BBQ and chili dogs.
Falafel M. Sahyoun
Damascus Road
Two falafel shops owned by brothers who do not speak to each other, right next door to each other.
Falafel M Sayhoun Original Shop
Damascus Road
Two falafel shops owned by brothers who do not speak to each other, right next door to each other.
Souk El Tayeb
Fakhry Bey Street Beirut Beirut Lb
Bringing together different regions of artisanal and organic foods in a market. "Southern coastal bread bakers, kibbeh specialists from the mountains, wild herbs & vegetables from the Bekaa Valley, and pastries made from almost forgotten recipes. It's all here," Tony says.
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