Food_amp_amp_Travel_Arabia_Vol3_I7_I8_2016_vk_com_ENGLISHMAGAZINES

Tried&Tasted
COOKERY COURSES RESTAURANTS DELIS HOTELS
Four Seasons Beirut
There are few places you’ll be as primed to experience the
best of Beirut, as at the stylish Four Seasons Hotel Beirut.
Housed in a waterfront high-rise in the heart of downtown,
the luxe, modern hotel boasts an unbeatable location – footsteps
away from the designer shopping offerings of Beirut Souqs; across
the road from the bustling marina and promenade of Zaytouna Bay;
and a short drive from the CBD and nightlife districts.
Oozing understated luxury – not in an in-your-face manner, but
whispered rather – with fine furnishings, muted colour schemes,
and clean, contemporary lines, the hotel feels like a serene haven
the minute you walk in from the bustle of the city outside. Each of
the plush Pierre-Yves Rochon-designed rooms feature generous
terraces overlooking the ocean, touches of local art, and their
signature beds, which guarantee a good night’s sleep. For the
ultimate luxury, splash out on one of their spacious suites – with
separate sitting and dining area - which can compete with an
average urban apartment for size! The marble-clad bathrooms are
kitted out with premium French toiletries. These physical luxuries
are complemented by the typical Four Seasons service, of course,
which is unmistakably warm and helpful, yet discreet.
The hotel is home to a tranquil, earth-hued spa, which offers
signature therapies inspired by its location, such as the
Mediterranean Experience – a relaxing massage using fragrant
cedar wood oil and expert strokes.
On the culinary front, Four Seasons Beirut really stands out - not
least for its daily breakfast. A lavish feast of Lebanese dips,
cheeses, freshly baked breads, and homemade jams and relishes,
alongside the usual international breakfast offerings of fruits, cereal,
plus eggs prepared to your liking and served to the table (their
shakshouka is not to be missed!)… it’s not without reason this is
known as one of the best breakfasts in the city.
The breakfast venue also doubles up (after a magical
transformation) as The Grill Room at dinner-time, one of the city’s
finest steakhouses, serving up perfectly cooked premium cuts of
Australian Wagyu and Black Angus, plus seafood specialties. It’s
a great idea to prefix a meal with an aperitif at the adjacent The
Bar, an atmospheric boudoir-like enclave with stunning art,
opulent décor, and an impressive beverage and cigar selection;
this is also the ideal place to have an informal meeting or catch up
with a friend.
The hotel’s piece de resistance however is The Roof, one of the
most stylish lounges in Beirut – and that’s no easy feat in a city
with pulsating nightlife such as this. The open-air 26th floor
poolside lounge (the highest in the city) offers a chic setting,
paired with an Asian-style tapas menu and stunning, panoramic
views of the glittering city, the mountains beyond, and the
Mediterranean at its feet.
Doubles from $510 www.fourseasons.com/beirut
Words by Sudeshna Ghosh
FOOD & TRAVEL ARABIA 81