There’s some magic brewing atop one of Beirut’s high-rises where the well-groomed and fabulously dressed go to mingle. But this is not your average open-air bar sprouting all over the city; this is The Roof, the Four Season’s luxury playground overlooking the heart of Beirut.
As you set foot on the deck the 360° spectacular view of the marina, city, and surrounding mountains impose themselves on you. And just when you’ve held your breath long enough to absorb it, you begin to take in the place’s lavishness. The design is brilliant in a dangerously meticulous way, the perfect balance between effortless chic and poised as you’d expect from this 5 star powerhouse.
The lounge-y laid back atmosphere and beats synchronized with the customized projector make it the ideal venue for professional after-work drinks (doors open at 7pm) ,the absolute predrink spot before hitting a club or my personal favorite, date night with the man, a chance to sport a sexy pair of stilettos and sip on some of the finest cocktails in the city.
On Saturday night we headed over to The Roof for some quality time, literally. Our waiter was more than happy to walk us through the signature cocktails prepared by the finest mixologist and we were even happier to oblige.
I started the things off with one of the best (if not the best) Lychee Martini I’ve had in a very long time, and for someone who truly appreciates this fruit I was beyond marveled by the harmonious collaboration between the vodka and juice. I drank it a little too fast and our super-attentive waiter was quick to notice my PDA with it, because he quickly recommended I try the Kiwi Cucumber Martini. It hit the spot.
My man being the eternal classic (though he denies it) ordered a traditional favorite Mojito which I was also eager to taste. They say you can really judge a bartender by the Mojito he makes and this one had a great balance of mint and brown sugar.
I’ve heard rave reviews about the place’s Asian Fusion Tapas menu and was eager to see what the fuss was about. We wanted to keep things light so we started things off with a succulent cold starter, marinated fresh shrimps in pineapple and jalapeños, an unlikely combo that totally seduced our taste buds.
Next we had the fried chicken wontons which also came in a traditional bamboo basket, they were as good as most wontons I’ve had.
But the highlight was the main dish we shared, the Kung Pao Chicken, stir fried chicken and peanuts in soy-sesame sauce with hot chili paste. Now let me warn you this is not for the faint of heart, this dish has a real kick to it so if you can’t handle spicy steer clear. I loved how authentically Chinese it tasted but there was a point where it felt like my mouth was on fire.
Finally, the waiter offered us hands down one of the best fat-free vanilla/chocolate ice creams I’ve had with a side of get this: fudge brownies, chocolate chip cookies and cranberries. My heart skipped a beat with every bite.
We couldn’t get ourselves to leave but we were headed to Stereo Club Nights and were running late. I will definitely be making this a regular on my list of Beirut’s hot spots this summer.
Price Range: Average $60 per person (drinks and tapas)
Verdict: The best quality cocktails/venue/view money can buy
Also Try the Four Season’s The Grill Room, read my review here
Leave a Reply