Where to Eat
Mezzo di Pasta
Very frequently I go to Mezzo and get their large combo meal for 12,500 lires (or $8.33) and that is usually enough to last me all day. True story. For the large combo you get a big helping of their fresh pasta, a small, delicious chocolate crepe & a drink. Also pita bread if you know to ask for it. They have a wide range of pastas and sauces. My personal favorite meal is to get the Indy sauce with cheese, which results in a spicy, delicious, almost curry-like mac & cheese. They're open late (until midnight every day, at least at the Gemmayzeh branch) and they also have excellent 'Happy Hour' meal deals between 4 and 8.
Feyy
In Gemmyzeh, this restaurant actually shares the same building as Mezzo, which is how I found it. Cheap middle eastern & mediterranian
sandwiches & deserts are available, and they too have excellent 'Happy Hour' deals. Their food ain't half bad either.
BarBar
Everyone knows this one, but still, it has to be mentioned...cheap & open late, it's a great choice if you're in the Hamra area and craving a snack.
Random Mankoushe Stands
Mankoushe (prounounced Man-a-eesh for singular or Man-u-shee for plural as far as I've heard) is a type of middle eastern pizza. Like with pizza, you can frequently get a variety of toppings, but unlike pizza in the US, it will only cost you a few bucks for a whole one.
Where to Stay
Hotel Al Shahbaa
Ok so it's pretty much run by the Lebanese version of Michael Scott (and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Like Michael Scott, the guy has a heart of gold. But he can also be strange, to say the least and he
will awkwardly try to flirt with you). If you stay here, you won't have a ton of privacy, the other people running the place frequently walk around in very little clothing and there isn't air conditioning. Why, you might ask, should you then stay at Al Shahbaa? Well like I said, the guy running it is very nice. I had a simple, but large room to myself for only $20. Dorm beds only cost $12 and if you're ever in dire straights the guy will work with you to find someplace to sleep, even if you have little or no money. You'll also get free tea or coffee in the morning. But best of all, there's free access to more-than-adaquete internet.
Talal Hotel
For $13 you get a "dorm" bed in a room with only 3 beds *AND* you get air conditioning. The people are pretty nice here, and let me store some bags overnight for free when I wasn't staying there. They might or might not give you free tea or coffee, but it's certainly more comfortable than Al Shahbaa.
The Mayflower Hotel
For those with larger budgets or who just want to have a treat (like I did on my birthday), you may want to stay at The Mayflower. It's renowned for its former guests- Graham Greene, Russian spies & foreign correspondents during the war- than its service, but it's nice. I wouldn't say it necessarily deserves it's 4 stars, but it's a still a pretty nice find for $70 (as it often is on booking.com's website). The breakfast buffet, nice bathrooms, air conditioning, & free excellent internet probably make it worth it alone.
Hotel Amada
Located a 30 minute walk away from Byblos, this gay-friendly hotel & hostel is worth staying at if you want to spend more than a one night exploring Byblos without emptying your wallet.
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is always of great benefit to adventurous travellers on a budget. Be careful though! I've found there is a higher-than-average number of creepy males lurking on Lebanon's.
Where To Go
AUB
This campus is lush, and definitely worth a visit for it's free archeological museum & the nearby street art that famously surrounds it.
The Pigeon Rocks
Gorgeous, and for less than $10 you can score a boat ride around them.
Nasawiya
This lovely feminist cafe takes payments in donations only. They're also currently selling 3 t-shirts for only 10,000 lire (approx. $6.50!). They frequently hold cool movie screenings & events and they have an excellent library.
