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Eating Out In Beirut - A Feast for the Senses
The city of Beirut is seeing a renaissance of sorts as it struggles to emerge from the effects of three decades of war. Lebanon has suffered greatly because of sectarian violence that ended with occupation by foreign forces. Incredibly, this amazing city, which is its capital and was once known as the Paris of the East, is now attracting tourists in droves since the violence has died down because there are many things a tourist could do and see here. One of the things that attracts visitors to this city is its wonderful cuisine.
Lebanese food has always been popular all over the world because of the large numbers of people from this country who migrated to other places in search of a livelihood. The food is intrinsically tasty because it uses a large variety of agricultural produce that grows in this fertile land. Predominantly Middle Eastern in style, this cuisine uses many Mediterranean ingredients and techniques that appeals to people in other countries. This country is full of farms, orchards and vineyards that ensure that cooks have the finest of produce to work with.
If you were to visit Beirut you would never be short of places to eat in. There is a huge variety of restaurants and eateries here from tiny places serving delicious street food like shawarma to fancy restaurants that serve food that the best restaurants in the world would be proud to offer. Most restaurants in Beirut tend to serve traditional cuisine and this is indeed something worth tasting. Restaurants serving mezze are very popular with locals and visitors alike. Mezze are appetizers of all sorts that include dozens of hot and cold dishes. Hummus, tabbouleh, fattoush, eggplant purées, grilled chicken livers, savory filled pastries and a variety of kibbehs are usually served as part of mezze.
While most restaurants in Beirut prefer to stick to traditional recipes for Lebanese cuisine, there are quite a few new restaurants that interpret old favorites in a modern manner using new techniques and ingredients. These restaurants are more popular with tourists than they are with the locals who seem to cling to tradition, even when it comes to cuisine, as a way of dealing with the trauma of the past thirty years.
Beirut has been a multicultural city for long and visitors to this beautiful place will find lots of restaurants serving international cuisine. This city also has a great night life when compared to many other countries in the Middle East and an evening out on the town can easily be called a feast to the senses. Tourists make a beeline for the district of Gemmayzeh because it is home to lots of restaurants. The Place de L'Etoile is another popular area for dining because of the many outdoor restaurants in this place. Many of these places serve guests late into the night, making the area a great place to spend time. You can be sure that you'll have a great time in Beirut thanks to all these wonderful places.
Things to Do in Beirut - Top Reasons to Plan Your Vacation Here
Most people do not associate war torn Beirut with tourism because it has suffered three decades of bloody violence. This city is the capital of Lebanon, a tiny little Mediterranean country that has suffered a ghastly civil war. However, it is interesting to know that tourists have discovered this place anew and it is now on many people's travel itineraries. In fact, there are so many things to see in and around Beirut that you can have a truly wonderful time if you travel here on a vacation.
Beirut is a city that is currently in the process of being built anew since the people here are eager to cover up the ravages of war. There are certain parts of the city where the buildings are pockmarked with bullets but these buildings are slowly getting replaced with glitzy new ones. You could take a walk around these areas to see how the human desire for comfort and progress is triumphing over destruction. In fact, you can walk down to the Rue Damas which was known as the Green Line not so long ago when opposing factions took aim across it. There are many options for public transportation but many tourists who visit this place prefer to walk around to see the sights and experience this interesting place fully.
No trip to Beirut is complete without spending time on the Corniche. This iconic promenade along the beautiful Mediterranean Sea is where all of Beirut seems to congregate in the evenings to see and to be seen. You'll see all sorts of people here, from families of working class people to this city's elite. There are lovely little eateries here where you can have a cup of coffee and watch the world pass by. Most tourists also visit the Pigeon Rocks where the waves make an impressive sight as they crash against rocks.
Beirut is a very historic city that has seen a succession of rulers including the Phoenician and Romans all the way down to the Ottomans. Beirut's National Museum is a place where you can see an impressive collection of statues and artifacts that showcase the history of this beautiful place. The city also has many Roman remains that are easily visible. A visit to the Mohammed al-Amin mosque, built by the Ottomans, is a must because it is a fair replica of Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque. This city has a sizeable Christian population and there are beautiful churches and monasteries that you can visit.
You'll love the shopping and entertainment options in Beirut. This is one of the most cosmopolitan places in the Middle East and it has not forgotten its former appellation as the Paris of the East. The restaurants here serve delicious food from Lebanon and other parts of the world. You'll also find it easy to get alcohol in the restaurants here. There are many places of interest a few hours' drive from Beirut and you can easily have a wonderfully educational and entertaining vacation here.
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