Beirutina

Updated January 2025

I first met Fourat Achkar back in 2012 shortly after she moved here from Beirut, via Barcelona, with her husband Richard Saad (they are both architects). Her passion for food and culture was apparent from the start and for a while she held supper clubs at her home. So when I found out she had channeled her creative energy and gastronomic experience into an actual restaurant – and one a stone’s throw from my house! – I got excited. Indeed Beirutina was one of my top new restaurant openings in 2024 and I’ve been back several times since it opened last October.

Beirutina is a small and tasteful spot on a quiet pedestrianised street just off buzzy Calle San Eloy. The first thing you notice when you enter is the welcoming aromas coming from the open kitchen, at once comforting and enticing. The space is all natural wood, marble, brick and metal… again very comforting and also very charming, with Fourat’s touch for detail noted at every turn. There is the main dining area when you walk in that opens onto a small open patio at the back with lots of plants, including a century-old olive tree.

The menu is short with frequent updates and you really want pretty much everything on it. I have a weakness for labneh, muhammara, and mutabel (aubergine paté) and these are some of the best I’ve tasted anywhere. The Lebanese flatbread is house made and also comes served as crispy fried chips. Lots of great vegetarian options – the baked halloumi cheese is a must have – and for meat lovers there is also beautifully spiced kefta and lambajin and the Shawerma (spiced beef baked under pita). To finish try a selection of the honey-laden pastries on offer or the decadent pistachio-topped cheesy knefeh, along with a cardamom spiced Lebanese coffee or their azahar-infused “cafe blanca”.

A good selection of both Spanish and Lebanese beers and wines are on offer. Service is welcoming and friendly and also available in four languages (Spanish, English, French, Arabic). Open for breakfast and specialising in Lebanese Brunch, Beirutina is a very welcome addition to the barrio. Reservations recommended.

Bread/Service Charge: 1€ (for extra)