The Mediterranean nation of Lebanon is the warm, beating heart of the Middle East. Despite its periodic times of strife, the country has remained one of the most beautiful and alluring spots to visit in the region, and the world, thanks to its endearing culture, cuisine and landscape of pine forests, ancient ruins and cool beach towns. At the centre is the capital Beirut, a pioneer in the Middle East’s gastronomic and gallery scene and the region’s nightlife capital. The city’s warmth and creativity is apparent in its bevvy of cool boutique hotels, which channel Wes Anderson frivolity and boast rooftop pools, killer cocktail bars and fragrant, shaded gardens. Here are the best Beirut hotels.

Best Beirut hotels for 2025

InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut

Best for: Grande dame glamour and historic views
Overlooking Zaitunay Bay, the Phoenicia remains Beirut’s most iconic hotel. Reopened in late 2023 after a major restoration, this landmark has hosted royalty, presidents and fashion houses since the 1960s. Inside, you’ll find marble columns, a sweeping staircase, and a grand bar that still draws Beirut’s most glamorous. Rooms are spacious with marina or mountain views, and the outdoor pool is the city’s most cinematic. It’s classic, opulent, and entirely timeless.

Arthaus Beirut

Best for: Creative design lovers and cultural travellers
Originally set to open the day of Beirut’s 2020 port explosion, Arthaus has since emerged as one of the city’s most captivating boutique hotels. Set in a restored Ottoman villa just off Gemmayzeh’s main street, the 25-room property is the passion project of Nabil and Zoe Debs. Rooms are full of character, with soaring arches, original tiles, earthy-toned furnishings and garden-facing terraces. At its heart is a tranquil courtyard with a pool, where artsy guests gather for breakfast or evening drinks under the trees. There’s also a spa in two vaulted stone chambers, a compact gym, and a programme of exhibitions and events that reflect the hotel’s creative spirit.
arthaus.international

Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort

Best for: Resort-style comfort by the sea
For a more spacious, resort-style stay, Kempinski Summerland delivers five-star luxury on Beirut’s coastline. Located just outside the city centre, the hotel features a private beach, a lazy river, and several outdoor pools. The rooms are classic Kempinski – marble bathrooms, warm tones and large terraces – while the spa and beauty salon offer a full wellness menu. Families will appreciate the relaxed atmosphere, while couples can retreat to the quiet corners of the garden or beach club.

The Smallville Hotel

Best for: Urban style and rooftop views
This upbeat, design-led hotel in Badaro offers a modern, playful take on Lebanese hospitality. Interiors are colourful and full of pop art references, and the rooftop pool and lounge have become a local favourite for sundowners. Rooms range from compact city crash pads to larger suites with kitchenettes – ideal for longer stays. It’s well located near the National Museum and lively Badaro cafés, attracting a mix of digital nomads, creatives and frequent flyers.

Le Gray (currently under renovation)

Best for: Downtown Beirut luxury – soon to return
One of Beirut’s most beloved hotels, Le Gray closed following the 2020 explosion but has since confirmed plans to reopen in a new form. Originally designed by Gordon Campbell Gray, it was known for its rooftop pool, sweeping city views, and blend of international design with local flair. Keep it on your radar – Beirut isn’t quite the same without it.

Albergo Hotel

Wes Anderson would certainly approve of Albergo Hotel – a colourful, all-suite boutique hotel housed in a historic buttercup yellow apartment block in the east of the city. The beautifully restored boutique hotel is a visual feast of colour and original design touches – think high-ceiling rooms, a vintage-style elevator that shudders as it travels between floors, ornate arabesque touches and tiling and a stunning rooftop with city views and a swimming pool – the latter setting the scene for hedonistic parties. Lebanese breakfasts are served on the sun-soaked terrace or in the ornate all-day cafe, and highlights include zataar manoush, homemade granola with the thickest local yoghurt and creamy labneh with za’atar, honey and olives. The hotel is a hotspot for dining in the city and attracts a crowd of pretty young things for the Ottoman-inspired The Restaurant, green oasis The Terrace and sultry The Swim Club serving killer cocktails. All 33 suites are individually designed in a Lebanese-oriental style and feature old-world, boudoir-style touches, antique furnishings and a treasure trove of other pieces, complemented with a bathroom stocked with Dead Sea products and handmade local soaps.
albergobeirut.com

Four Seasons Hotel Beirut (temporarily closed)

For modern luxury and the facilities of a global hospitality giant, the best Beirut hotel is Four Seasons Hotel Beirut. Located in the city’s downtown district, close to Beirut’s historic and bustling markets, Zaitunay Bay marina and the brilliant blue Mediterranean Sea, the five-star hotel is best known for having the highest rooftop pool in the city, which is the ideal spot for sundowners, Asian-inspired bites and lazy days with a book. Aimed at a more mature crow, guest rooms are spacious and typical of the global group – with luxurious furnishings, neutral colour palettes and those iconic Four Seasons beds – and there’s a fantastic spa and fitness suite with views overlooking the marina and ocean. Five dining outlets keep guests fed and watered – including sumptuous The Grill with Lebanese classics and prime cuts of steak, laid-back shisha terrace Arabesque and the bright and elegant Lobby Lounge serving traditional afternoon tea.
fourseasons.com

Villa Clara

Villa Clara is a charming family-run hotel in the Lebanese capital, tucked away in a 1920s building in the trendy, hipster neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael. The property is home to just seven artfully designed rooms, decorated in warming pastel shades with original pieces of artwork, and, more impressibly, affordably priced for the visual feast that awaits. The property is bursting with character and charm, and guests won’t want for photograph moments, thanks to high ceilings, hand-painted silk wallpaper, mosaic marble floors, freshly cut flowers and bespoke damascene chandeliers. A stay at Villa Clara feels more like staying in a beautiful private home than a hotel, with the warmth of the artwork and furnishings translating down to the atmosphere and ambience. There are two shaded gardens, a cocktail and wine bar and a tasteful on-site French restaurant serving seasonal cuisine. It’s a short walk from the property to the contemporary Nicolas Sursock Art Museum, keeping with the hotel’s artsy theme.
myboutiquehotel.com

Sign up for the latest travel news, reviews, inspiration and so much more from the Middle East and beyond straight to your inbox.