LEBANON – Le Gray Beirut review: A true luxury hotel in downtown Beirut

Lebanon is a small country and most places can be reached as a day trip from Beirut, also called the Paris of the East. When I plan a trip, like my Lebanon itinerary, I always check the Leading Hotels of the World website if they have a member. In Beirut that’s Le Gray Hotel located in downtown Beirut. It was a family road trip, so I booked a 2-bedroom family suite for the first 3 nights. A good choice as Le Gray Beirut truly is unique and perfectly located. Join me on a tour in this Le Gray Beirut review and I am sure you will want to stay as well.

The hotel

Le Gray Beirut is located next to Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut. Many attractions are within walking distance as the Beirut Heritage Walking Trail passes by the hotel. The airport is just 15 minutes away and Hamra Street, the Corniche and National Museum a 10-minute drive. A perfect located and a true Leading Hotels of the World property.

When I arrived the staff warmly greeted me with a smile. They quickly took care of the car parking, the luggage and check in was done in no time. The central part of the lobby is an impressive piece of architecture with an atrium going up all the way to the 7th floor. There it ends with a spiral staircase leading to the rooftop bar. Throughout the hotel art pieces are on display with a rotating exhibition on the first floor. Make sure to check it out.

The contemporary design combined with the friendliest staff is something I can really enjoy. Le Gray Beirut made my visit to Lebanon a memorable one.

The rooms at Le Gray Beirut

Le Gray Beirut has family rooms which is something I prefer when I travel with my wife and kids. Although the kids can stay perfectly alone (14/16 years) a two-bedroom suite with living room is much more enjoyable. So that is what I booked and this Le Gray Beirut review is about. A rather large corridor leads to the living room which is half oval with an outdoor terrace along the oval side with magnificent views over Beirut. Both left and right are the bedrooms (one king / one twin) with their own bathrooms.

The living room is large with dining table and separate lounge seating. There are floor to ceiling windows along most of the oval part which allows a lot of light into the room. I like that as dark rooms make me sleepy. The decoration is modern with light colors and comfortable furniture. There are enough power outlets everywhere and air-condition was working perfectly. It’s a place I certainly would call a home away from home.

Both bedrooms are the same except one has twin bedding and the other a king bed. The beds are not too soft, and pillows are very comfortable. Again, floor to ceiling windows make sure a lot of light gets into the room. Perfect for waking up. The bathrooms are made of dark grey brown marbles and have a large bath and a rainforest shower. Especially for my wife and daughter a bath is a must. I’m happy with a rainforest shower. The amenities are of high quality and plentiful. If you forgot something the staff will assist getting it for you.

I recommend Le Gray Hotel as the family suites are very spacious and comfortable. My family and I had a memorable stay.

Facilities at Le Gray Beirut

Le Gray Beirut has several facilities worth mentioning. Without going into details in this Le Gray Beirut hotel review I mention a few facilities that are standard for a five-star luxury hotel: free Wi-Fi, valet parking, business center, concierge service etc. One more worth nothing is the art exhibition on the second floor. Spend a few minutes there!

In the basement of Le Gray Hotel are the gym and spa. The gym is modern with enough equipment to keep you in shape if you’re not out exploring Lebanon. I haven’t used the spa, but my wife did, and she told me that the staff is professional, and the products used of high natural quality. If you want to have a treatment check out the packages on offer.

At the top floor just next to the Cherry on the Rooftop bar is the infinity pool. It opens during summer months. It’s a magnificent pool for a city hotel and the views it offers over the Mediterranean are amazing. A great place for a dip after a long day exploring the many sites Beirut has to offer.

Altogether Le Gray Beirut has plenty of facilities of which the pool is probably the most welcoming during hot summer months. My family and I enjoyed them all a lot.

Dining & Drinking at Le Gray Beirut

Le Gray Hotel Beirut has several food and beverage outlets. I tried several which I cover in this Le Gray Beirut review. On the ground floor you’ll find Gordons Café which is a great place for a coffee and some sweats. They have a terrace outside which is nice to watch people passing by. The other outlets are on the 6th and 7th floor. During my visit the pool was still closed due to cold weather and thus Cherry on the Rooftop as well which opens once the pool opens.

The main restaurant is called Indigo on the Rood and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It has a large outdoor terrace with magnificent views over old Beirut (see photo below). I normally have dinner at a hotel restaurant the evening I arrive because I’m tired and don’t want to get out. Indigo at Le Gray was a good choice as the food is delicious. My family agrees. We all had steak tartare as a starter and lamb as a main. It was also when I learned about Lebanese wine culture. The staff recommend a wine from a smaller winery from the Beeka Valley which was a great choice. After dinner we just went to bed.

The next day we were back for breakfast. The kids initially didn’t join but when I sent them a message there was steak on the breakfast menu, they suddenly were hungry. Breakfast at Le Gray Hotel is a mix of Western and Lebanese dishes both as a buffet and a la carte. The juice bar serves any juice you prefer freshly pressed. A good start of the day as I had every single day of my Lebanon itinerary packed with sightseeing.

In the evening the cigar lounge, or the trendy Bar Three Sixty are the place to be. One evening I went to Bar Three Sixty with my wife to enjoy a cocktail and Beirut’s night views. Do note that when Cherry at the Rooftop opens Bar Three Sixty closes and the other way around. I cannot comment on Cherry at the Rooftop in this hotel review, but I assume it’s as good as the rooftop bar.

Le Gray Beirut has plenty of dining and drinking options but also make sure to go out and enjoy Beirut’s Lebanese cuisine and nightlife. Good places are Hamra for traditional food or the upcoming and trendy Badaro street near the National Museum.

Conclusion

Le Gray Beirut is the perfect luxury hotel in downtown Beirut. A great place to explore the city or make one of the many day trips throughout the country. Comfortable rooms, plenty of restaurants and even more facilities. The rooftop pool is outstanding for a city hotel. I had a great time with my family there and hope to return one day in the future.

If you would like to know what you can do in and around Beirut then see one of these options: Lebanon itinerary with 8-10 day trips from Beirut. I will add more destination information over time.

For more hotel information and booking options please visit the website of Le Gray Beirut or subscribe to the Facebook page of Le Gray Beirut to receive the latest hotel news.

Stay tuned for more stories and subscribe to the newsletter or follow CTB on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram including Instagram stories; on all social media you can find CTB @christravelblog) to get updated information.

Gallery of Le Gray Beirut

** All opinions are based on a genuine stay, flight or experience. I’m not affiliated with the hotel, airline or tour operator but I might be (partially) sponsored – or paid. **