Wealthy Beirutis in search of fresh air dominate the guest list at this elegant place. Built in the 19th century as an emir's residence, it opened as a hotel in the 1970s and has been well maintained – though not noticeably refurbished – since then. All of the rooms are large, but the executive doubles and Imperial Suite are the pick of the bunch.
Common areas include an indoor restaurant, a lounge where you can enjoy a coffee and nargileh, a huge swimming pool and a summer-only terrace restaurant that is known for its Sunday lunch buffet (US$44). Note that the hotel is always fully booked over July and August – book well in advance if you are planning to visit at this time. It's hard to feel that summer prices offer value, but they drop off substantially at other times. It's very near Beiteddine Palace.
