Hidden Gems of Hamra and Ras Beirut: A Walking Tour

One often hears about the golden era of Hamra but when walking in the main street today, it's difficult to see the beyond the international clothing brands shops, the shisha cafés.
In the golden era of Hamra, a walking tour through this vibrant Beirut neighborhood would have been an unforgettable journey through the heart of Lebanese culture and intellectual life. Hamra Street, the main street of the area, was a lively and cosmopolitan place, blending the old with the new. Walking along its busy sidewalks, you would hear the clatter of coffee cups in the many cafés, the music of Fairuz playing from record stores, and the lively discussions of intellectuals.
In the 1960s and 70s, Hamra was the center of Beirut’s golden age, often called the "Paris of the Middle East." The neighborhood was a mix of cultures, ideas, and styles, home to Lebanese locals, Arab expatriates, Westerners, and students from all over the world. This diversity was reflected in the variety of shops and establishments on the streets. You could find elegant boutiques with the latest Parisian fashions alongside shops selling traditional Lebanese crafts.
A walk through Hamra in this era would take you to its famous cafés, like Café de Paris or Horseshoe Café. These weren’t just places to drink coffee but were hubs of intellectual activity where poets, writers, and activists gathered to discuss politics, philosophy, and art. These cafés were vital to the cultural and intellectual life of Beirut, nurturing new ideas and movements that influenced Lebanon and the Arab world.
Hamra was also a cultural hotspot, with many theaters and cinemas like the Piccadilly Theatre, where you could watch the latest Egyptian films or see live performances by famous artists. The arts scene extended to galleries and bookshops throughout Hamra, where art lovers and book enthusiasts could spend hours exploring. For instance, at Librarie Antoine, you could browse the latest books from Beirut’s growing publishing industry.
Walking through Hamra in its golden era would be a sensory experience, a journey through a place where every corner had a story and every shop had its own character. It was a place where tradition met modernity, East met West, and the spirit of Beirut was vividly alive. This neighborhood, with its rich mix of culture, intellect, and energy, captured the essence of Beirut’s golden age and left a lasting impression on everyone who experienced its charm.

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