Hotel of the Month

Le Gray

Martyrs’ Square, Beirut Central District

Beirut, Lebanon

Style: Modern Design
Atmosphere: Lively
87 Rooms

Consider it an 87-room vote of confidence in Beirut. Opening a luxury hotel here is a proposition that’s not without its risks, but this town was practically crying out for such a place as Le Gray, and you have to admire Campbell Gray’s nerve in actually going through with it — this is the man responsible for One Aldwych, in London, among others, and his smart service-first aesthetic should export well.

It’s a modern building built from traditional yellow stone, and it dominates its corner, the way a top hotel should. The accommodations are restrainedly modern, identifiably local but not kitschy, and the amenities are absolutely first-class, from the iPod docks and full HD LCD screen televisions to the luxurious bathrooms with their mosaic floors. There’s a gym and spa, neither of which can be accused of going halfway — six treatment rooms deliver Eastern and Western procedures, and the high-tech gym is staffed with personal trainers.

In Beirut the nightlife plays a special role, and Le Gray’s rooftop bar and restaurant offer upscale Mediterranean cuisine from an open kitchen, with views over the city’s rooftops. There’s something almost celebratory about the whole Gray project, and it’s a mood that suits Beirut quite well

contact number: 00961-1-973111