10 Book Lovers' Places That You Should Explore in Beirut
They say that a room without a book is like a body without a soul. Whether it's true or exaggerated, we can agree that books bring us a wellspring of knowledge and expand our personal horizon.
They also allow us to travel without moving, to dream without sleeping, to de-stress without meds, and to awaken our inner passion without the external turbulence of our daily life.
If you are a bibliophile or a bookworm, you already know that the more we read, the more we want to know, and the more we want to explore.
You also know that once we grab a good book, we make ourselves a friend, and turning its last page feels sometimes losing that new friend. And we, as human beings, we are always in need to have good friends.
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In a crowded city like Beirut, crying to revive its cultural aspect, there is a good number of excellent bookstores that offer a large variety of good books, some prone to grant you an escape from reality and some that anchor you in it with new perspectives.
Whatever you are seeking, we have compiled for you this guide of 10 bookstores that are worth exploring in Beirut.
#1 Papercup
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Frustrated by the lack of a cozy curated bookshop, Papercup opened in 2009 in the attractive traditional Mar Mikhael neighborhood of Beirut. Papercup's shelves are full of beautiful books of art, fashion, architecture, photography, and design.
This dedicated specialized bookshop hosts many launching events of new books and magazine re-issues.
To perfect the scene, the store offers daily delightful cakes with a cup of coffee for you to enjoy while the staff search for your must-have novel with the sliding wooden ladder.
#2 Halabi Bookshop
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This interesting bookshop started as a grocery store founded by Hussein Halabi in 1958 and was then turned into a family bookshop when his son Abdallah Halabi inherited.
Located on Hamadi Street, the vintage shop floods with hundreds of books and magazines.
As Abdallah's passion for collecting books grew with time, they had to transform the messy small store into a masterpiece that manifested in the Summer of 2016.
Abdallah and his daughter Lana worked really hard to spread the world about Halabi Bookshop, and they totally got what they desired.
#3 The Little Bookshop
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A heavenly gem, this one-single-room bookstore opened in 2014 in Hamra Street and is managed by Adib Rahhal, who is the owner and also the sole employee.
There is something unique about this bookstore that makes you feel welcomed and special as if you are visiting a friend.
See, for over 15 years, Rahhal dreamt of opening a house of literature. He loves this creation of his and shares his love with each visitor, always ready to discuss any literature book with a cup of tea or coffee.
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Book lovers feel at home in that treasure trove with Rahhal. The curated collection is mainly classical with a touch of beautiful covers that reflects classicism and exacts respect and admiration.
#4 Aaliya's Books
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Named after a character in Rabih Alammedine’s book, An Unnecessary Woman , Aaliya's is a homely gem. The shop became a meeting place for book lovers for weekly readings.
The uniqueness of this bookstore is that the curated collection is mainly English books of Lebanese authors.
Aaliya started with 1000 books, and the collection went on growing with people's recommendations.