Beirut
Must Buys
Local specialities and unique finds

Image courtesy of travelwebshots.com

  •   Anything from L’Artisanat

        
         Image courtesy of www.lebanesemall.com

  •   An inlaid Syrian backgammon set (or indeed antique inlaid furniture if so
       inclined)
  •   The hot CDs from the clubs you danced in (buy - in Virgin Megastore)
  •   Food products from the mountains of the Chouf
  •   Lebanese sweets (of course).
  •   Contemporary Arab art; carpets from the network of the Maktabi family’s
        shops, bequeathed to the myriad sons by the venerable grandfather who
       started the business – the outlet near the Phoenicia is the best one to
       start with.
  •   Soft leather babouche slippers by Johnny Farah (in his Hamra or Saifi
       stores)
  •   Anything from the extraordinary chocolate shops like Paatchi and
       Nougatina, where chocolates come delivered not in boxes but on silver
       platters, colour coordinated ceramics.
  •   La Cigale and Cannelle are among leading patisseries – and well, well
       worth a visit (though tricky to take abroad, maybe! But hey there’s always
       the famed Lebanese packaging, and if you’re travelling first class……?)