RectoVerso Library & Bookshop

Situated a stone-throw from the Monot Theatre, the Oriental Library and the St Joseph Church and at the end of Monot Street, is RectoVerso, a small but well-stocked library with over 900 titles specialised in Lebanese and Arabic art books.

Run by art critic and founder of Fine Art Publishing company Cesar Nammour and his partner Gabriela Schaub, the team behind MACAM (Modern and Contemporary Art Museum in Alita), it is the place to look for art books in Beirut. Here, you can research or buy books about art and artists, architecture and photography, graphic design, calligraphy, sculpture and more...

If Nammour hasn’t published it himself, he will probably stock it or know where else you can find what you’re after. He often receives journalists, researchers, visiting artists and students in this small, cosy space and over a cup of coffee or tea that he will serve you, share his insights into the contemporary art scene and share anecdotes about the past. He is close to many of the big Lebanese artists, which he has followed, promoted and written about for decades.

A great souvenir to get at RectoVerso is Schaub’s book “Cedrus Libani”, which blends beautiful images of Lebanon’s tree with botanical facts and literary excerpts, inspired or dedicated to the country’s iconic national tree. The book cover even smells of cedar tree!

Once a month, on the first Saturday, RectoVerso organises a popular street book sale outside the shop. It’s the perfect opportunity to find second-hand books of all genres, soft and hard cover, meet fellow book lovers and have there usually is coffee and cake and French music.