What's New In Zaitunay Bay?

I’m so pleased with the way Zaitunay Bay has transformed. Over the course of this blog, I've been rather vocal (here, here, here, and here!) about how the restaurant strip can’t hope to succeed if it’s tailored exclusively to jet-setting tourists. Well, sure enough, the people have spoken, and by spoken, I mean they didn't give big-ticket restaurants the business they needed to remain afloat in the waters of high rental costs.

So as they shuttered, more familiar and casual dining options moved in, brands the Lebanese recognize and adore. We could have used Café Paul as an example early on in the Zaitunay Bay case study—it was arguably the only venue that consistently teemed with guests, and never once did I feel like it was suffering from ailing tourism or a stagnating economy.

Classic Burger Joint is another telling lesson. It boasts quick and easy dining; a well-reputed brand; and delicious burgers. Expectations were not dashed: CBJ has survived and thrived.

Pinkberry and Starbucks came on board last year, and they’re naturally bustling with customers. These places would do well even in the desolate Siberian tundra. There’s something inviting about consistently good coffee or confectionery in a comfortable ambiance where customers aren't even pressured to buy. You could literally waltz in to either shop, plant yourself in a chair, purchase nil, and never once would you elicit cross-examination.


Roadster kicked off the summer with a festive opening party the first week of May


Opening festivities at Roadster diner

The latest openings in Zaitunay Bay count P.F. Chang’s and Al Forno, both held by the Alshaya retail group, in addition to Roadster. While Al Forno may not be a familiar brand to the Lebanese, it offers affordable Italian cuisine with exceptional customer service—after all, it hails from the land of hospitality, Dubai. There’s nothing a few kitchen tweaks to some of their dishes wouldn't solve. As for Chang’s and Roadster, it goes without saying they’re already forming queues.


Yours truly at the P.F. Chang's grand opening last week


A narrow kiosk called Passion Juice cropped up between Moti Mahal, the luxurious Indian restaurant, and Coast, a diner concept by the Boubess group. It sells fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies and will likely become a favorite with health-conscious pedestrians who frequent the seaside boardwalk.

Ultimately, it looks like Zaitunay Bay went from being a questionable business venture resembling a ghost town to a vibrant dining hub squealing with life. I’d still change a thing or two about its constituent restaurants, but that’s a story for next time ;)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

6 Types of Patrons You’ll Encounter at a Coffee Shop in Lebanon

Image
You haven’t really adult-ed if you haven’t flocked to a coffee shop at least once in the past week, am I right? Admittedly, I was a little late to the game. I started sipping on caffeinated brew when my eldest was born, about six years ago. I’d place him in his stroller and lap around the mall for an hour or two, and when he drifted off to sleep, I’d slide into an armchair at Dunkin’ and order a donut, croissant-wich and coffee combo (yep, that was the ultimate trifecta.).  Fresh-brewed dark roast coffee, served piping hot with the steam blanketing my visage to deliver facial-like effects. Those few moments of uninterrupted peace formed my golden hour. I’d sit back, sip on my cup of joe, and quietly take in the scenes surrounding me. To this day, I love hanging out aimlessly at a coffee shop, merely to study the behavior of other patrons and try to deduce their craft. Here are the most common profiles I’ve encountered. My favorite indulgence at a coffee shop: donut and a cup of ...
Read more

A Crowning Iftar Experience at the Crowne Plaza Beirut

Image
It had been decidedly too long since my first visit to the Crowne Plaza Beirut, tucked in the heart of Hamra along the main drag. Standing tall – a formidable 21 floors to be exact – with sweeping panoramic views of the Lebanese capital city, the Crowne Plaza, an IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group) property, has so much going for it. To begin, the underground self-parking facility cannot be overlooked, as parking is typically nightmare-inducing elsewhere in Beirut. At just 200,000 LBP (USD 2.20) for up to four hours, this is a bargain. Alight the elevator at the ground floor, where a few steps westward will land you at the threshold of the Crowne Plaza. The hotel boasts 190 rooms, and I’m told that you can nab a room with complimentary breakfast buffet including VAT for about $100. You really can’t beat that in or outside of the city! Last Friday, we forayed into Hamra with the aim of trying the Iftar, a traditional Ramadan feast enjoyed at sunset, at Crowne Plaza’s Vivaldi restaurant...
Read more

7 Types of Lebanese Parents You’ll Encounter at School Pickup

Image
For the past three years, I’ve been shuttling my kids to and from school. It’s always a treat to greet them as their scholastic day draws to a close and they melt into your arms, eager to head home.  Right up there after that gratifying reunion is the entertainment value you derive from your encounters with other parents milling around the school building threshold in the minutes leading up to end of day. So amusing is the range of characters you’ll meet – whether they be grandparents filling in for parents tied up at work, or parents able to carve out time to pluck up their offspring – that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to blog about it. Here they are in no specific order. Can you relate?   1. The Haughty Mama : her favorite hand accessory is her smartphone, which she’s either holding to her lips transmitting nonstop nonsense voice notes, or scrolling furiously through her Instagram feed. Her hair is perfectly coiffed, with the essential extensions. She’s got those...
Read more