By Nour Majdalani | Staff Writer
With classes back on campus and social life finally making its long-awaited return, it’s been hard trying to find affordable spaces to sit back, study, and chill; whether to study or simply to kill time during long breaks between classes. I mean, I’m pretty sure you can relate; at least to a certain extent. But guess what, we’ve got you covered! Here are five of the best affordable spots to hang out at around AUB:
Luna’s Village
Luna’s village is an apartment complex located in Hamra, Beirut. It is commonly known for being one of the most colorful buildings in the city. This complex is home to not only a 100% vegan restaurant and bar, but also a rooftop, gym, and gaming area: simply perfect for all activities your soul desires.
Their restaurant, “Luna’s Kitchen”, which offers a wide variety of healthy dishes, is open 24/7. The price for two typically ranges between 60,000LL and 100,000LL, mostly depending on what it is you decide to order. In my opinion, the pricing is very reasonable given the horrible economic conditions we are enduring. At the bar, you can order a drink with a price ranging anywhere between 18,000LL to 135,000LL at most.
Their rooftop, “Lunatic Bazar”, hosts weekly parties, usually on Fridays, with an entrance fee of around 80,000LL (including a drink and a shot). So whether you’re there to study, chill, have a game night, party, or just eat, Luna’s Village is the all in one kind of place for you; it also holds a 4.4-star review on Google so, it’s worth it.
Here is some customer feedback:
“One of the best places to chill with friends, it’s a safe place and comfortable environment. And the people there are super nice.” (5-star review)
– Hussein Ayad (Local guide)
“One of the few vegan spots in Lebanon, very nice and cozy. The ambiance is amazing, it’s a very beautiful restaurant. There is also a pool table as well as board games. The decoration and the terrasse make it a very nice place to spend the afternoon, there is also arguileh and great coffee. The food is great, the pizza tasted good and the taboulé is one of the very best I’ve had. The staff is really friendly too, I would definitely recommend this place. They also have a bar and vegan alcoholic cupcakes.” (5-star review)
– Amanie El-Hajj (Local guide)
Zaatar W Zeit
If you’re not familiar with Zaatar W Zeit, it’s a restaurant with two branches in Hamra; one on Bliss Street, and the other on Hamra Main Street. The place is open 24/7 and offers free Wi-Fi for those of you that have projects to work on. The restaurant offers both Lebanese and American cuisines and the price for a full meal ranges between 50,000 LL & 70,000 LL, but you could easily enjoy a break with friends, or a study snack, for around 30,000LL by getting a drink, Manoushe, or even a desert.
The restaurant holds a 4.0-star review on Zomato.
YOU
YOU is a resto-café located right on Bliss Street, facing AUB. This spot is perfect for spending long breaks at as it stands at a 2-minute walking distance from the main gate. It is open from 7:30 AM till 8:00 PM and offers both an indoor and outdoor seating area. Their menu ranges across a variety of different cuisines, from Lebanese, to American, to French, and even Japanese. You could get a coffee for around 15,000 LL, or you could have lunch there for around 50,000 LL. The restaurant currently holds a 3.1-star rating on Zomato with very few customer reviews. But you can rest assured that it is worth it, because it is never empty, and I mean never!
B.Hive
B.Hive is a coffee shop, café, and working space located in Hamra. This café is perfect for a group hang-out or a study date, as it closes at 11:30pm. It offers both an outdoor and indoor seating area, in addition to an underground silent study zone with special rooms for meetings or taking exams. Their menu consists of shakes, healthy snacks, breakfast & lunch options, and of course, coffee. Their prices vary between 13,000LL and 30,000LL. The café also hosts a few events from time to time, such as a chess tournament and an open mic session, with very affordable entry fees (approximately 30,000LL including a coffee!). B.Hive has a 4.2-star rating on Zomato; here is some customer feedback:
“One of the best cappuccinos I’ve ever had in Lebanon. The coffee taste is otherworldly, there is lactose-free milk available, the price to portion ratio is excellent, the service was great and the overall decor and ambiance is fabulous. Can’t believe it took me that long to visit!”
(4-star review)
– Marie-Lynn Issa
“Absolutely love this place. Literally a place for everyone. It’s cozy and relaxing and u can focus easily on ur work while downing a gingerbread latte (highly recommended).” (5-star review)
– Ali Souki
Barzakh
Barzakh is a bookshop/café located in the heart of Hamra. This vintage place hosts a variety of events during the week for very affordable entry fees (approx. 35,000LL). They host screenings, stand-up comedy shows, open mic sessions, live music shows, and so on. This place is known as being a hidden gem in Hamra, with a super cozy interior and a diverse variety of books for you booklovers out there, which you can enjoy with a cup of coffee and some good dessert. Barzakh is open from Monday through Saturday and is a simply perfect hang-out spot.