Beirut, the battle of the overpriced coffee shops

Stepping into Beirut sometimes feels like stepping into a parallel universe — one where $10 coffees and $12 matchas are completely normal, and no one even blinks. Stay for a week and suddenly you stop blinking too. You just go with it. Is it normal? Not really. Do people still pay for it? Absolutely.

In Beirut, a cup of coffee isn’t just caffeine — it’s currency for social status. Sitting in the “right” café can instantly position you on the city’s social map. As ridiculous as it may sound, these things still matter here, deeply.

So yes, the coffee shops are overpriced.But the real question is — are they worth it?

Here is our take:

EspressoLab: for a Spanish Latte + Almond Milk: If you want a place where you can sit, enjoy a good coffee, and not get judged Saifi-style (iykyk), this is it.

I still don’t understand how EspressoLab hasn’t made it to London yet, but here we are. Every time I’m in Beirut, I order a whole range of their drinks even the coffees and they never disappoint. They have a branch in Hamra, and they’ve recently opened one in Downtown. Their Spanish latte always hits and is consistently good.

Moody Lemon - Hair Scrunchie *WINTER COLOURS*

£20.00

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Madtcha: for a Honey Cloud Matcha + Almond Milk - I honestly didn’t expect much from this café since it’s tucked inside a Pilates studio (Kaizen), but it genuinely deserves to stand on its own. It’s located on a pedestrian street, so you can sit outside, soak up the sun, and enjoy your cute drink. I rarely find a matcha I actually like outside of my own home, but this one was perfect. The quality of the matcha powder is excellent, and the balance between the matcha and the sweetness of the honey was spot on. If it were closer to me, I’d go every day — or better yet… please join Toters!

Malibou for a Spanish Latte + Almond Milk - When Malibou first opened, I assumed it would be all aesthetics and no substance — especially given its Saifi location, but I was completely wrong. Their Spanish latte is my favorite in Saifi, and the vibes are always immaculate.

Phil & Joes a Spanish Latte + Almond Milk - Finally, a specialty coffee spot at ABC Ashrafieh. Considering half of Ashrafieh practically lives at ABC running random errands all day, it’s wild that it’s been so hard to find a Spanish latte or even a decent matcha. Phil & Joe’s took over the old Lina’s location, and they’ve added a window where you can grab a takeaway and perch on a little stool while you sip your drink. Super convenient, even if you’re just pulling up quickly in the car. The Spanish latte wasn’t the best I’ve had in Beirut, but it still hits after a long day out.

Kharzit Beirut - Taormina II Pearl & Chili Necklace

£35.00

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Roffs for a Spanish Latte + Almond Milk - Roffs is great for a solid coffee, but their Spanish latte can be inconsistent — and when you’re paying nearly $10, you don’t want to risk ending up with a disappointing drink. If you want to try Roffs, play it safe and stick to an espresso or a regular latte, since the coffee itself is excellent quality.

The Brunch Club for a Salted Maple Iced Matcha + Almond Milk -This place was one of the nicest surprises. Opened by Reina Aris, the queen of coffee pop-ups, I had checked the menu beforehand and was so excited to try her specialty drinks that you can’t find anywhere else. The location is perfect, right at the entrance of Saifi, overlooking the peaceful mosque. The aesthetics are clean and fresh, and the drink was incredible. Yes, the service was a bit slow, but they’ve just opened, and I would absolutely go back for that drink. I’m still dreaming about that foam.

This review will have a part two, since new coffee shops have been popping up while we were writing this article. The next one on the list has to be Wisp.

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