Oh Beirut.. For the ones who don’t know it or haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing it yet; we recommend you to make a pit stop in this complex yet beautiful city. Marked by war in some places and art and luxury in others, Beirut never fails to constantly create new hot spots. The who’s who of Lebanon, as well as us mortals, follow these spots religiously and make them our home… well maybe just until the newest spot opens.
However in our last visit to the vibrant Lebanese capital, we had the chance to visit the Sursock Museum or also known as Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum.
The well-known Lebanese aristocrat Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock built the beautiful castle in the city center, which has been converted into a modern and contemporary art museum, opening its doors to the public in 1961.
With its newest renovation a museum store and restaurant were added, which you’ve guess it, had become the new place to be. However this doesn’t feel like it will be short-lived. The restaurant is set right in the courtyard of the beautiful Sursock Museum and provides a view and tranquility in the middle of the city, which is hard to find amidst all the hustle and bustle (and honking).
An inviting outdoor seating can be used pretty much all year long, with heaters provided in the colder months and beautiful Mediterranean weather during the summer. However make sure you reserve before you confidently walk into the restaurant, as it is always busy and packed with artistic and socialite crowd of Lebanon.
We reserved for lunch a few days in advance and we did not regret it. The menu offers fun and fresh Mediterranean dishes which are made with Lebanese products, with the goal of supporting local markets and farmers. Influences from Asia and different areas of the world, such as Italy, Iran and, of course, Lebanon, create the dishes using the freshest seasonal ingredients.
We could recommend a few just to TASTE! The cherry tomato tart, grilled falafel, and beef fillet with pomegranate sauce, for example. However we started our meal with delicious shrimp gyoza and a fresh tuna salad, followed by spicy sliders with shrimp. All this accompanied by a local white wine.
The drinks selection of the menu is quite large, so you will definitely find the wine or cocktail you’ve been craving. We would recommend the Sursock Museum Restaurant to anyone who loves sitting back with friends and enjoy an afternoon/early evening drink, to catch up on the latest stories. It really does feel like an artistic little oasis. The beautiful architecture of the museum as a background and the quirky selection of tableware that are influenced by the Lebanese culture, which can also be bought in the shop next door, make this a place where we will be going back soon to TASTE, TOUCH and SEE.
