Barometre

How we miss the days of showing up late, and because the tiny inside was too packed, cajoling the staff into bringing out more tables onto your terrace so we could eat the cheapest most delicious mezze in hamra, and then dance to the same great mix of 80s and 90s Arabic hits, jazz, and some latin music (later on those same tables), while we smoked our rolled and clove cigarettes until 6 in the morning, or one of our friends suspected we were about to do something we’d regret and dragged us home.

Barometre, the restaurant/bar our parents used to dance at (though they won’t admit if their experience is similar to ours), opened in the late 90s (we are not that young, it’s just our parents are really hip), before Hamra made its comeback as a place to go out, eclipsing Monot Street and even Gemayze. Just like anything fashionable in our fickle city (hot neighborhoods for example), Barometre is no longer the sizzling spot it used to be, but the food is still great, and weekends continue to host dancing to a slightly-updated playlist (slightly less frequently on tabletops).  

Expect to run into a mixed-age lefty crowd. The makanik is delicious, as is their renowned overflowing fattoush, and the hummus with meat is unparalleled in the neighborhood.

We love Barometre, it’s late 90’s aesthetic, complete with neon sign and vintage posters on the wall. We hope they stay open forever, and promise to start going back. Beirut would be empty without it.