Metropolis Sofil Cinema

Metropolis is Beirut's only art-house cinema, a refreshing breeze in the stale world of corporate franchises. Open since the 1960s, the cinema stayed open during Lebanon's civil war and serves as a geographical landmark (ask any taxi driver to go to 'Sofil' and he'll know exactly what you mean). Catch film festivals sponsored by European embassies (happily, these usually have free admission), as well as the occasional highbrow Hollywood feature.