The Villa

The establishment of The Villa further sets Badaro apart from Beirut’s multiplying nightlife hubs. This isn’t the area for blackout binge drinking, although theres certainly enough booze in the area to facilitate any experience. Badaro however is best suited for a crowd that has grown to appreciate the taste of a well-crafted cocktail and venues like The Villa provide the stage for a night out that’s worth remembering.  

Uber Haus, a company better known for their nightclub in BL, hopes that the atmosphere of their first restaurant will draw their party-going crowd from downtown to their new doorstep across the city. Ever since the venue opened in November of 2015, that strategy seems to have been working.

The antiquated façade of an Ottoman era manor, which the owners estimate to be 80-100 years old, welcomes in visitors and passersby. As one of only 350 heritage buildings left in Beirut, the villa is commendably well preserved. A garden in the building’s anterior courtyard serves as the main dining area and is mostly sheltered from the elements by a transparent awning. Breakfast, lunch or dinner can be enjoyed among blossoming orange trees, in the shad of natural foliage overhead.

This is a great place to meet someone for tea or coffee. If you’re planning to come by in the afternoon its best to make a reservation as The Villa is often fully booked around dinnertime. Although it’s slightly on the pricy side the recipes at The Villa do deliver on what you pay for. Imported US and Australian steak tenderloins and the chicken sandwich are popular dishes among regulars. Inside there is also a bar with 18 varieties of house cocktails such as “A Bit of Heaven,” with cinnamon infused bourbon whiskey. The service is at times unresponsive but the Villa’s refreshing atmosphere always entices visitors to stay a little longer.