Hotel: Hotel Albergo Beyrouth
As the only Relais & Châteaux affiliated property in Lebanon, you arrive at the Albergo with high expectations of a special stay. And special it is.
When looking for a hotel in Beirut, I kept coming back to the Albergo.
There are a few contenders in Beirut for travellers who enjoy a higher-end stay, but none seemed to resonate with me as much as this property.
Whilst the website showcases the property very well, it was the small boutique size (just 33 rooms, soon to expand), charming unique style, and Relais & Châteaux affiliation that sold me.
We arrived at the hotel late in the evening following our flight from Egypt. We were met at the airport by a friendly driver sent from the hotel, and transferred just 15 minutes by Jaguar to the hotel.
First impressions? The Hotel Albergo Beyrouth is beautiful.
I love boutique properties that have a sense of unique style, and the Albergo certainly does not disappoint with its quirky collection of decorations and treasures sourced from regions local and afar.
Once check-in formalities were complete, we were taken up to our room. We were so happy with the room we were allocated – it was a great size for our short one night stay (was originally two however we had to change our travel plans).
The room was well laid out with a nook for the bed, a small sitting area with small balcony, and a good size bathroom. All furnishings were of high quality, and we especially loved how, given each room is individually decorated; there was a real sense of place and homeliness given the thought that has clearly gone into the accommodations.
Waiting for us in the room upon arrival was a basket of fresh fruits, home-made pink lemonade and Loukoums – all of which were delicious and much appreciated after our late arrival.
My only issue with the room was that although the shower pressure was amazing, and I appreciated the Molton Brown bath amenities, the bathroom had a tendency to flood due to the shower over bath design. However, this was a minor inconvenience.
Given our short stay, we only managed to enjoy the rooftop bar and dining area on the night of our arrival (it had a nice, calm atmosphere on a Sunday), and the following morning for an amazing Lebanese breakfast overlooking the rooftops of Beirut.
We did have a look around the rest of the property, and as with the rooms, all the common areas are thoughtfully designed with great care and attention to detail – it feels more like a private home than a hotel. Everywhere just feels and looks comfortable.
Unfortunately, I think we were a little early in the season in April to utilise the gorgeous rooftop pool as this was empty during our stay – hopefully we can enjoy it during our upcoming visit in October.
As far as the hotel’s location is concerned, it’s walking distance to everything. You are around a 15 minute walk from the Beirut’s beautiful Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, and then in a few more minutes you reach the beautiful (and very Parisian style) shopping area with its luxury boutiques and cafes to sit and relax.
You’re also not far from the trendy Mar Mikhael area which is a great area to walk through with plenty of bars and eateries, particularly around the Gouraud and Armenia intersection area.
By far my favourite find though was Liza (https://lizabeirut.com/) – an exceptional Lebanese restaurant which is literally just around the corner from the hotel. I highly recommend this place and am looking forward to heading back in October.
Travis and I both really loved Hotel Albergo. They are in the process of completing a large extension to the hotel. I hope that they do not lose the charm of their boutique, homely property, but from what I saw, the extension will add some exception new rooms and facilities to a really great property.
Sojourn Summary
An amazing boutique hotel where old-fashioned charm is done right - it is rare for me to feel so at home in a hotel, and even though we stayed just one night, I did here. We loved our taste of the Albergo so much that we are returning in October to stay a little longer and enjoy some more of the property as well as Beirut itself.
Sojourn Essentials
My sojourn rating: ★★★★★
Hotel’s own rating: ★★★★★
Hotel’s website: https://www.albergobeirut.com/
Loyalty program: N/A
My room type: Standard Suite
My dates: 28 April 19 to 29 April 19 (one night)
How I reserved: Virtuoso rates available when you book your sojourn with me (benefits include: upgrade on arrival, subject to availability; continental breakfast daily served in the restaurant for up to 2 in-room guests; complimentary roundtrip private airport transfers; early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability; and, complimentary Wi-Fi). These special rates are available through select travel agents and are equivalent to the best available flexible rate at the hotel (which are generally room only).