Mayrig

Placed inside at the far end of Beirut’s Gemayze quarter, Mayrig is a restaurant that acclimatizes the popular classics of Armenian cuisine, while kindly borrowing from Lebanese and other Meditteranean inspirations, in order to feast guests on an astounding array of flavors. Mayrig, which means mother in Armenian, has been in business in Beirut for 11 years now.

Three rooms and a terrace having walls covered with stones, wood tables with metallic copper squares in the middle, and chairs decorated with green, violet, and beige fabrics reminds one of a homey Lebanese saloon. With supreme dishes like fishna keufteh, or kibbeh balls stuffed with sour cherry coulis, it will simply delight your stomach. A must try is the classic Armenian dish is the Mante, which is beautifully presented in a shallow metal dish. Another is the hummus topped with smoked beef, a typical mix of Lebanese and Armenian culture in a dish. 

Tasty smooth hommos where in every bite, a slight crunch of the cooked basterma is felt, adding a touch of finesse to this sumptuous food. Mayrig mixes old grandma’s traditional recipes with a homey contemporary arrangement. You will be taken back by its hospitality and cheerful mood from the minute you walk in. This restaurant uses spicy ingredients and dewy-fresh harvests from the entire region, delicately hand-crafted creations, and a charming setting that evokes Beirut’s glory days.

Make sure to look around and enjoy dozens of interesting design items all mixed together to decorate this old Lebanese house that has been refurbished into a classy restaurant a decade ago. Magrig is symbolic of the melting pot of cultures that suffuse the city.