When the intention is to make a good romantic impression, there’s always some pressure involved when you’re the one deciding where to take your date for dinner.
You might go on and on considering your options and all their angles. You might also go on making several calls to ask your friends… to add further to your list of options.
Worst probably is if you haven’t gone dating for a while and have lost touch with the romantic scene.
But hey, no worries! We got you covered with these eight awesome spots for a memorable romantic dinner:
#1 SUD Restobar (Mar Mikhael)
Price Range: $$
From the street view on Armenia in Mar Mikhael, Beirut, you can only see a small sign that says “SUD” at the entrance, but once you go up the staircase, you will be delightfully surprised at the expansiveness of the restaurant and its idyllic ambiance.
The place consists of two levels with options for al fresco dining. The menu offers a little bit of everything, from Spanish inspired paella to pizza, steak, fish, and more. It is indeed a great selection to satisfy every pallet.
They also have a nice wine selection, as well as a full bar that offers signature and standard cocktails. Your date will be impressed, so will you.
#2 Centrale (Saifi)
Price Range: $$$
This fine dining restaurant and bar located in Saifi in the Achrafieh district of Beirut will give you and your date a luxury experience.
They have a rooftop bar and indoor bar that is structured like a tunnel and indoor and outdoor dining space.
Moreover, the food is very delicious with dishes like salt-crusted sea bream and lacquered duck breast.
Centrale also has a very extensive wine list, so it’s a perfect place for your date if he or she is a wine lover.
#3 Fin Faim French Bistro (Jbeil)
Price Range: $$
Located in Jbeil (Byblos) further north from Beirut, Fin Faim (fine hunger) serves as a cozy romantic atmosphere for you and your date to enjoy some great food.
It’s situated in a small traditional Lebanese house that was converted into a restaurant and offers the perfect fusion of Lebanon and France.
Like its name stated, Fin Faim French Bistro offers classic French cuisine like bœuf bourguignon as well as other dishes, such as spaghetti bolognese.
You and your date can enjoy the nice selection of wines or a signature cocktail with your meal, as they also have a full bar.
#4 Appetito Trattoria (Gemmayze)
Price Range: $$
Tucked away in a small side street of Gemmayze, Beirut, near Saifi Urban Gardens, Appetito Trattoria is the perfect place to take your date if you’re looking for that rustic Italian feel.
The menu offers a variety of delicious Italian dishes, from pastas to pizzas and main courses, and the tiramisu is an excellent choice for dessert.
There is also a selective offering of Italian goods for sale, like sun-dried tomatoes, Italian wines, and olive oil, which will make your visit feel even more authentic.
#5 Ô Bois Restaurant (Moukarzel)
Price Range: $$$
This restaurant sits high up in the mountains of the Metn district of Lebanon in Moukarzel and offers a lovely dining experience for you and your date.
If you are looking to have a more tranquil time in charming scenery, this is the right place to go with your date. The menu offers a variety of French food, with items like salmon in dill and cream sauce, and escargot (snails).
In winter, there is a cozy fireplace, and in summer, you can enjoy the fresh air by dining outside surrounded by lots of flowers. Romantic by excellence!
#6 Dar Bistro & Books (Hamra)
Price Range: $$
Dar Bistro & Books is an eclectic little cafe near Hamra Street in Beirut and serves as a great cozy atmosphere to take a date.
It has a delightful outdoor patio space covered with vines and other greenery, and an indoor dining area full of cute decorations connected to a bookshop inside.
You can grab a casual sandwich dinner or be a little more indulgent with fish tacos or grilled chicken souvlaki. The menu offers a taste of the world with dishes from several countries.
The bookshop is also well-curated, so you’re destined to find a good read to share an intellectual moment with your date.
Editor’s Note – May 25th, 2020: The place has recently shut down due to economic hardship in the country. If you just landed on this page, please contact the shop to see if it has reopened.
#7 Makan (Mar Mikhael)
Price Range: $$
Makan, located in BEYt Beirut in Mar Mikhael, is a restaurant that offers a unique experience each time you go. They don’t have a traditional menu. They offer instead set menus each week consisting of different cuisines from around the world.
The setting is also interesting, as it’s an old house that now serves as the restaurant’s headquarters, and it’s decorated in a mid-century swanky style with a lush garden for outdoor dining.
They have a great selection of local wines, and the food each week is colorful and delicious, whether it be Thai, Peruvian, Uzbek, and others.
#8 Oyster’s Seafood Bar (Batroun)
Price Range: $$-$$$ (depending on your order)
Sometimes, you just want to keep it casual with some good fresh seafood by the beach. Oyster’s Seafood Bar in Batroun will provide exactly that vibe. They offer a selection of traditional mezza and fresh catches of the day cooked to order.
You can also enjoy an arguileh (shisha) or a cocktail from the bar. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a romantic inspiring sunset with your date.
If you’re stumped on where to take that special someone, these eight unique places in Lebanon are guaranteed to motivate her or him to have more date nights with you.
Whether you’re a local or a foreigner visiting Lebanon, you might just discover your new favorite restaurant among our suggestions!
Are you fancying a romantic getaway instead? Take a look at 10 of the Most Romantic Getaways You Should Take Your Partner to in Lebanon!
Support our independent media - contribute today! Become a Patron!