Few hotels carry a city's story the way the Phoenicia carries Beirut's. Opened in 1961, it was the glamorous heart of the city's golden age, endured the country's hardest years, and has been rebuilt more than once. Most recently it was damaged in the 2020 port explosion and closed, then reopened in phases across 2022 and 2023. Today, running as the InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut, it is back as the city's leading luxury hotel, and the guest ratings, the highest in Beirut, reflect a full recovery rather than a nostalgic name.
Is the Phoenicia Beirut worth it?
If you are staying in Beirut and want the city's best hotel, yes, clearly. It is the top-rated hotel in town, and the reasons are substantial: a landmark waterfront location over the Zaitunay Bay marina, a large outdoor pool, a spa, several restaurants and bars, and the scale and service of a genuine five-star property. The recent, thorough restoration means the rooms and public spaces are in strong condition rather than tired. The one honest caveat is not about the hotel itself but the destination: Beirut and Lebanon have faced instability and infrastructure challenges, so any traveler should check current government travel advisories and local conditions before booking. Within that context, the Phoenicia is the most reassuring and polished base in the city.
Where is the Phoenicia Beirut?
The hotel sits on the Beirut waterfront in the Minet el Hosn area of the central district, directly above the Zaitunay Bay marina, a redeveloped harbor lined with restaurants and lined with yachts. That location is a genuine asset: you look out over the Mediterranean and the marina, the Corniche seaside promenade is close for a walk, and downtown Beirut and its business and government district are nearby. The setting is central and walkable to the waterfront's dining and cafes, while a car or taxi covers the rest of the city. For a first or business visit to Beirut, this is the address that puts the sea and the center at your door.
What are the rooms like?
Spacious, classic, and freshly restored. The Phoenicia has around 446 rooms and suites across two towers, the original 1961 Phoenician tower with 193 rooms and the 1968 Roman tower with 253 rooms, plus a residences building with serviced apartments for longer stays. The recent phased reopening rebuilt the rooms and public areas, so the product is current, with the generous proportions and full-service comforts you expect from a landmark five-star hotel. Sea-facing rooms are the ones to request, since the marina and Mediterranean views are a large part of the appeal, and the range from classic rooms to large suites suits both a business trip and a special-occasion stay.
Where should you eat and drink?
Between the hotel and its doorstep, you are well covered. The Phoenicia runs several restaurants and bars along with its banquet and event facilities, in the tradition of a grand hotel that has always been a social hub of the city. Just outside, the Zaitunay Bay marina is one of Beirut's prime dining and cafe destinations, a waterfront promenade of restaurants a short walk from the lobby, which effectively extends the hotel's options onto the harbor. Beirut is one of the great food cities of the Mediterranean, and staying here places you within easy reach of both polished hotel dining and the wider city's celebrated restaurants.
What makes it a landmark?
History and resilience. The Phoenicia is not just a hotel in Beirut but part of the city's identity, a symbol of its cosmopolitan golden age that has been rebuilt each time the city itself has had to rebuild. That heritage, the waterfront position, and the consistent top guest ratings are why it stands clearly at the front of Beirut's hotels. For a traveler, the practical version of that legacy is a large, professionally run, freshly restored five-star hotel in the best position in town, which is exactly what most visitors to Beirut are looking for.
Best for a luxury Beirut stay
For the city's top hotel experience, the Phoenicia's waterfront setting, pool, spa, and restored five-star rooms make it the natural choice. Request a sea-view room over the marina, and use the Corniche and Zaitunay Bay at the door for the best of the waterfront.
Best for business and events
The central location, full conference and banquet facilities, and reliable service make it Beirut's leading business and events hotel. Confirm current facilities and any city conditions when you book, and the hotel handles a corporate trip at landmark scale.
When should you book, and what should you check?
The Mediterranean climate makes spring and autumn especially pleasant in Beirut, with warm, busy summers and milder winters, and the hotel operates year-round. Because it is the city's top-rated property, it books up around major events and peak periods, so reserve ahead for those and request a sea-view room early. The most important step for any Beirut trip, though, is not about the hotel: check your government's current travel advisory and the latest local conditions before you commit, since the situation in Lebanon can change. With that homework done, the Phoenicia is the most polished and secure-feeling base the city offers.
Honest trade-offs
- The main consideration is the destination, not the hotel. Beirut and Lebanon have faced instability, so check current travel advisories and local conditions before booking.
- It is a large landmark hotel. The scale brings full facilities but a busier, more formal feel than a small boutique.
- The best of the experience is sea-facing. Interior or city-view rooms miss the marina and Mediterranean outlook that define the hotel.
- Broader city infrastructure can be inconsistent in Beirut. The hotel is well equipped, but it sits within a city that is still rebuilding in places.
Practical information
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Phoenicia Beirut open in 2026?
Yes. The hotel, operating as the InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut, reopened in phases in 2022 and 2023 after the 2020 Beirut port explosion and is fully operational. As with any trip to Beirut, check current travel advisories and conditions before you book.
Where is the Phoenicia Beirut?
On the Beirut waterfront in the Minet el Hosn area of the central district, overlooking the Zaitunay Bay marina and the Mediterranean, and close to the Corniche seafront promenade and downtown Beirut.
How old is the Phoenicia Beirut?
The Phoenicia opened in 1961 and became one of the most famous hotels in the Middle East. A second tower was added in 1968. The hotel has been restored after damage during Lebanon's history, most recently the 2020 port explosion.
How many rooms does the Phoenicia Beirut have?
Around 446 rooms and suites across its two towers, the original 1961 Phoenician tower with 193 rooms and the 1968 Roman tower with 253 rooms, plus a residences tower with serviced apartments.
What amenities does the Phoenicia Beirut have?
As a five-star landmark hotel it has a large outdoor pool, a spa and fitness facilities, several restaurants and bars, and extensive banquet and event space, with the Zaitunay Bay marina's dining and promenade at its doorstep.
Is the Phoenicia Beirut good for business and luxury stays?
Yes. It is Beirut's landmark luxury and business hotel, with a central waterfront location, full conference facilities, and the highest guest ratings in the city, which is why it ranks first among Beirut hotels here.