Best Lebanese Restaurants Outside Beirut

Some of the best meals in Lebanon happen at long tables in a garden or beside a river, where the kitchen cooks with produce grown nearby. Several of the places below also have rooms, farm shops or walks, so a lunch can easily turn into a full day out. Most are in the Bekaa, with a few in Mount Lebanon and just north of Beirut.

How we chose

Every restaurant here is listed in the Made in Liban directory and is based outside Beirut. We looked for places whose listings explain what they cook and what makes a visit there different, and we included a mix of country restaurants, farm tables and established names along the coast. We have not reviewed or tasted the food; descriptions come from each listing.

Bekaa Valley

Restaurant Nabaa Anjar

Apraham Malkedjian started Nabaa Anjar as a small family business in May 1998, and by the end of 1999 it was a full restaurant on Spring Street in Anjar. The kitchen serves Lebanese and Armenian food built around seasonal produce from Bekaa suppliers, and raw kebbeh is the house specialty. Guests can sit indoors or in the garden, and the restaurant also hosts weddings, puts on live music in season and offers outside catering. Visit Restaurant Nabaa Anjar

Lakkis Farm

What began in 2000 on a small plot near Baalbek is now a family business that controls most of its own supply chain, with an ISO 22000 certified dairy, its own slaughterhouse and land for pesticide-free vegetables. The restaurants are known for sfiha and grilled meats, and branches also sell dairy, butchery cuts, tannour bread and mouneh. After Baalbek came Zahle, Chtaura, Beirut, Jal el Dib and Batroun. Visit Lakkis Farm

Al Haush Agritourism

A haush is the traditional Bekaa farming hamlet, and this working farm in Haush el Ghanam, a short drive from Rayak and Zahle, has restored one into a guesthouse. Its restaurant serves farm-to-table breakfasts and outdoor meals with produce from the farm and house sourdough. A farm shop sells olive oil, raw honey, herbal teas, molasses and jams, and the 14 rooms make an overnight stay easy. Visit Al Haush Agritourism

Domaine de Chouchène

Restored 19th-century houses in Qab Elias, in the Bekaa wine country, hold this guesthouse and restaurant, and the Chouchene river runs right through the property. One of its draws is a Lebanese breakfast served beside the water, while the menu covers mezze, hummus, tabbouleh, grills, kebabs and desserts. A playground suits families, and the estate also organises hiking and climbing outings nearby. Visit Domaine de Chouchène

Al Khan al Makssoud

Built in 2009 by the Lebanese NGO arcenciel next to its eco lodge in Taaneyel, this garden restaurant takes its name from the khan, the caravanserai where travellers once rested. The kitchen focuses on rustic Bekaa dishes, with slow-cooked roast mutton among the best known. Large gardens make it a good choice for long country lunches and group gatherings, and it is pet friendly.

Mount Lebanon

Little Reed

In a family house in Qsaybeh, in the Baabda district, women from the village cook savoury dishes from their own family recipes, so lunch feels more like a meal at a grandmother’s home than a restaurant. Guests can book a medium-level hike under the pine forest beforehand, then tour the farm after eating, where children can see the animals. Mouneh and groceries are on sale to take home. Hikes need to be reserved in advance.

North of Beirut

Al Halabi

Just north of Beirut in Antelias, Al Halabi is a well known address for classic Lebanese mezze and charcoal grills. It suits a traditional family meal without heading far from the city.

Batchig

Armenian-Lebanese flavors are the draw at Batchig in Dbayeh, which serves traditional Armenian-Lebanese cuisine and mezze a short drive up the coast from the capital.

Tips

Book ahead for weekends and holidays, especially at guesthouses and farm restaurants that also host weddings and events.
Combine a meal with something nearby. Several places here offer hikes, farm tours, shops or rooms, so plan a half day or more.
Bring layers if you plan to eat outdoors in the Bekaa or the mountains, where evenings can be cooler than on the coast.
Ask about the house specialty when you order, such as raw kebbeh in Anjar or roast mutton in Taaneyel.
Check directly with the restaurant for current opening days before a long drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which restaurants outside Beirut have places to stay?

Al Haush Agritourism has 14 rooms in a restored farmhouse in Haush el Ghanam, and Domaine de Chouchène offers guest rooms in restored houses in Qab Elias. Al Khan al Makssoud sits next to Ecolodge Taaneyel, so lodge guests can eat on site.

Where can I have a farm-to-table meal in Lebanon?

Al Haush serves meals with produce from its own farm in the Central Bekaa, Lakkis Farm runs restaurants supplied by its own dairy, butchery and vegetable land, and Little Reed in Qsaybeh pairs village-cooked lunches with a farm tour.

Are these restaurants good for families with children?

Several are. Domaine de Chouchène has a playground, Little Reed offers a farm tour where children can see the animals, and Al Khan al Makssoud has large gardens set up for group lunches.