Karim Arsanios first caught our eye with his beautiful recipes on Instagram – but it soon became clear that his passion for food ran much deeper.
After 8 years working in the banking industry, Karim left behind his career in Finance in search of something more meaningful. He headed to San Francisco to study for an MBA in sustainable management, exploring several areas before eventually committing to agriculture + gastronomy.
When he had to return to Lebanon in 2019 due to a family emergency, he ended up staying, and he quickly began building what would become ‘Solar’ - an organic extra virgin olive oil company using his family’s olive trees in the remote village of Kour, in northern Lebanon. Karim also caters private dinners, with his eye on opening his very own restaurant in the future!
As a dedicated foodie, we figured Karim would know some of the best places to check out in the country’s capital, Beirut…
>>>
Karim Arsanios first caught our eye with his beautiful recipes on Instagram – but it soon became clear that his passion for food ran much deeper.
After 8 years working in the banking industry, Karim left behind his career in Finance in search of something more meaningful. He headed to San Francisco to study for an MBA in sustainable management, exploring several areas before eventually committing to agriculture + gastronomy.
When he had to return to Lebanon in 2019 due to a family emergency, he ended up staying, and he quickly began building what would become ‘Solar’ - an organic extra virgin olive oil company using his family’s olive trees in the remote village of Kour, in northern Lebanon. Karim also caters private dinners, with his eye on opening his very own restaurant in the future!
As a dedicated foodie, we figured Karim would know some of the best places to check out in the country’s capital, Beirut…
>>>
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TORINO
"It's the oldest bar in gemmayze, a street full of bars - a real institution. The music is eclectic + the dim lights mixed with the hip décor gives an ambiance close to Berlin's Club der Visionare. Even if it's considered a bar, nights can easily turn into mornings."
LIZA
"The former Abdullah's Boutros palace offers the traditional layout of a 19th Century Lebanese home. Its high ceilings, marble tables, + tasteful wallpaper gives this restaurant an elegance + aesthetics you can hardly find elsewhere. Liza offers a menu of contemporary Lebanese cuisine, giving it a welcome twist."
@lizabeirut
CENTRALE
"An upscale bar/rest, you can enjoy classy drinks with fine dining. It's a chic contemporary space with an architecture of its own. It has a retractable roof to its long, dark tunnel bar, from which you can enjoy the lights of Beirut. The two-storey space occasionally brings DJs that play soothing jazzy beats, creating a flirty atmosphere."
@centralebeirut
All photos are copyright F1FTY except: Portrait (Image courtesy of Karim Arsanios); Torino (Instagram @caspertornblom); Liza (Instagram @lizabeirut); Centrale (Centrale website). This feature was not paid for in any way.