Developed as a residential area with a handful of restaurants and shops before the civil war, Badaro has experienced an awakening in the past couple of years and is now home to a growing number of cool cafés, bars and restaurants. On the lookout for exciting concept stores, the street at first glance seemed reticent but with some rummaging through Badaro and its surroundings turned out to be home to some striking creative minds.

Luanatic – A boutique with a fresh and witty take on Lebanese slang. Luana, a graphic designer, spreads Lebanese talk such as Tout tout 3a Beirut and Min Habibi Ana? through posters, magnets, phone covers, mugs, bags and other daily objects. A gentle way to smile at our local quirks; the souvenirs make an amusing introduction to Lebanese distinctive expressions.

Cocoa & Co – In the colorful atelier, tasty and sweetly decorated cookies and cakes are in the making. The owner Hala started baking at home for her children’s parties and the story of Cocoa & Co began in 2008. The sweets tell tales of cartoons, smiley faces, happy occasions and groovy creations such as a chocolate pizza with a cookie crust, topped with cereals, smarties and marshmallows.

ByRania – In the boudoir style boutique, swing skirts, flowing gilets and modernized Abayas bring bright touches of color. The designer Rania welcomes her clients with advice and personalized pieces. She started painting on porcelain before shifting to clothing and accessories ten years ago. Rania sprinkles hand paints and graphic prints on dresses, caps and sneakers adding a pop vibe to her outfits.

Mastike – C-Lab (Creative Lab) – A bric-a-brac of fascinating finds from local furniture designers, vintage boutiques abroad or objects created by the owners; a group of young talented graphic designers, architects and engineers who founded in 2004 the C-Lab studio located above the store. Opened three years ago, the boutique holds recycled glass blown and molded into lamps, wooden palettes from a nearby construction site turned into a coffee table, a garbage container up-cycled as a sofa and an old metro cabin phone.

Pipe Brothers– Water pipes have taken over one section of an electronics store. About a year ago, Tony started transforming old water pipes into decorative objects. In the store, playful shapes of lamps are disposed on an ingenious bookshelf made of re-used pipes and wooden boards. Using recycled and up-cycled materials, the owner designs custom objects for homes, pubs and restaurants.

Le Marzipan – An iconic shop in the area, Le Marzipan has been concocting Aleppo specialties since 1965. Artisanal recipes are used to handcraft the delicacies with pistachio and almonds as key ingredients. A sweet taste of tradition transmitted through delicious marzipans, sugared almonds, chocolate pralines, loukoums, rose syrup and jellab.

The National Museum of Beirut – The beautiful museum holds testimonies of the region’s tumultuous evolution from Prehistory to Ottoman periods, with stops through the Bronze and Iron ages, the Hellenic, Roman and Byzantine periods. Envisioned since the 1919, the museum was inaugurated in 1937 and later destroyed by the civil war. Renovations ended in 1999 and the museum stands again as a beacon of a rich cultural heritage for Lebanon.

Monot street originally developed around Saint Joseph University and Collège des Jésuites. The street emerged from its scars after the war into a bustling nightlife neighborhood. The buzz has since moved to other areas and Monot is now looking for its identity. Walking down the street you will find dilapidated but charming traditional houses and buildings along some renovations and new constructions. Few restaurants and bars have remained from the 90s and some new exciting concepts are now emerging.

Vide-Posh – The treasure hunt starts here. Vide-Posh holds coveted items for home décor; teacups, lamps, vases, clocks, hangers, tableware, jars. The owner Pascale Sloukgi selects each item with taste and also offers home décor advice. In two adjacent rooms, the bucolic themed with pastel shaded flowers, rustic woods and patina aged white furniture, and the other with more trendy touches of concrete or copper and to-do list boards, finishing touches for a dream kitchen, bedroom, living room or terrace can be found in this boutique.

Filigrane – Customized house linen; embroidered tablecloth, hemstitched American sets, or printed cushions designed by a graffiti artist, crafted in workshops across Lebanon make up the store selection. In the 1980s, Josette Dahdah, who lived in Paris, decided to bring her contribution to a torn Lebanon. She designed house linen and partnered with women back home for sewing and embroidery, providing them with a source of income. Her daughter Youmna joined in 2009 and Filigrane is now a concept store, sharing the space with Eat Sunshine, a healthy and tasty eatery, and the events staffing company Diffa.

Timi Hayek – The multi-talented designer featured in a previous article on the blog. In her upstairs atelier, she designs her collections then works on her machine to make each outfit come to shape after carefully selecting the fabrics. Shift dresses printed with Timi’s illustrations, long flowing dresses, wave cropped tops paired with matching pink plissé skirts or linen sprinkled with summery embroidery make up her poetic spring summer collection.

Photo by Timi Hayek

Dodo les bobos – In a soothing pastel ambiance with a modern factory feel introduced by steel fixtures, Dodo les bobos proposes a wide selection of European branded furniture for babies and children. Cradles, shelves, table sets, lamps , bed sheets and wallpaper are displayed in authentic settings to give parents decoration ideas for their children’s bedrooms.

La Rose de Sim – La Rose de Sim revisits Middle Eastern heritage into unique clutches and colorful jewelry. Nestled in the second floor of a beautiful old building, La Rose de Sim takes a nostalgic, and sometimes humorous look at our cultural heritage turning a characteristic ceramic floor tile, a Gebran quote or a family story into vibrant prints for the playful leather handbags.

Oh! Bakehouse – In this mouthwatering pastry shop, the cakes and breads are gluten-free and lactose-free. The owner Rena Dagher came up with the idea after a family history of gluten intolerance, she wanted to demonstrate that eating gluten free does not necessarily mean sacrifice. With the delicious fruit pies, carrot, almond and chocolate cakes, and salty treats, the mission is now accomplished and she will soon add sandwiches to the menu.

Le Domaine des Tourelles – Founded in Chtaura in 1868 by Frenchman François-Eugène Brun, Le Domaine des Tourelles is a pioneer in Lebanon’s winemaking industry. The winery is now owned by a pair composed of a winemaker and an entrepreneur dedicated to safeguarding the domain’s heritage. In the wine cellar named ‘La Boutique” where you can find the classic Red, White or Rosé, Marquis des Beys and the Arak Brun, a bar has been designed to host group tastings and events.

Barjis by Janan B. – The designer Janan works with traditional fabrics and styles revisiting them in a funky modern way. She adds bright touches of colour to a Abaya, or sherwal, transforms the traditional keffia into a hoodie style gilet and complements her collection with lace or crochet tops and dresses. Most of the designs are handmade and the store also offers a line of jewelry and shoes with multicolored pompons, pearls and feathers.

Beit Beirut – The iconic house was a residential building before it turned into a sniper landmark, located on the demarcation line during the civil war. Beit Beirut, previously owned by the Barakat family, will be turned into a museum on the memory of the war.

An upscale residential area with beautiful mansions and charming buildings before the 15 years war, Clemenceau is now getting a facelift with new high rises and business centers. A handful of inventive shops are bringing an inviting vibe to the area and making Clemenceau a must to visit on the Beirut fashion map.

Cookie Dough The land of sweetness, from cute clothes for the little ones, to a wonderland display and care the owner puts to organize events and consulting sessions accompanying parents through welcoming their child home. Cookie Dough sets you up with style to pamper your loved ones; clothing up to 12 years old, childcare products, nursery furniture and gifts such as fine jewelry.

Piaff The iconic store is a reference for fashion since 1980. In a design ambiance the store presents statement pieces for day and evening wear. Piaff introduces Beirut to some of the coolest brands in clothing and accessories from Tsumori Chisato’s urban comfort to Marco de Vicenzo’s elegant dresses, or Jimi Roos cartoonish embroidered sneakers and Rafé ‘s architectural minaudières.

Pop Up Pocket With a casual sporty feel, Pop Up Pocket selects hip items of clothing and accessories for those seeking a distinctive style. One of the rare stores in Beirut to cater to trendy Men, as well as to women and children, the stores carries brands such as Swedish Acne Studios or Japanese Comme des Garçons Play. Quirky and fun Pop Up Pocket is ideal to find unconventional accessories and gifts.

Jacaranda The owner of Jacaranda has a true passion for flowers and plants that she nurtured through books and attending courses with the most recognized professionals in Paris. She spends most of her time in her flower shop, and prepares each bouquet herself adding an enchanting touch of color and warmth to the streets of Clemenceau.

Noir é Blanc – This little boutique is decorated like a doll house with jars of multicolored sugared almonds on the shelves, boxes of chocolate and coated shortbread biscuits with healthy choices behind glass frames, and a pastel pink tea set with a view on Clemenceau street. The delicious chocolates are handmade in Tripoli.

L’Artisan du Liban – This year, L’Artisan du Liban celebrates its 35 years anniversary. The store is a window for the various crafts of Lebanon. Copper worked in Saida, Rashaya and Tripoli, glass from Sarafand or Tripoli, and cutlery with inlaid mosaics from Jezzine, L’Artisan du Liban has been highlighting the fine works of artisans across Lebanon, contributing to the conservation of these precious traditions.

Dar el Nimer at Villa Salem – A must visit, ‘At the Seams’ is an outstanding exhibition on the history of Palestinian embroidery, curated by Rachel Dedman. Dating from more than 100 years old to today, the dresses tell the story of the women who embroidered and wore them. Patches added to hide worn off fabric from work or for breastfeeding, different patterns and motifs for each region before modern transportation brought new hybrid designs, and foreign influences for urban ladies who incorporated details such as french cut or silk fabrics in their traditional dress, that they wore only on occasions, as they had adopted a more western clothing style since the early 1900s, while embroidered dresses remained the daily outfit for rural women. (The exhibition lasts until July 30)

Along Gemmayze’s bars, old houses and mysterious stairs stand a handful of shops that add to the artistic and homey feel of the neighborhood. I had a blast doing my first neighborhood fashion tour and meeting the very welcoming shopkeepers. Below is a little map of what I found

Rana Salam – Graphic designer and art director, Rana has applied her imagination to prestigious projects from restaurants and stores to books and magazines as well as exhibitions in Europe or the Middle East. The space which is both her design studio and boutique is a glimpse into her world of pop with a touch of nostalgia for Beirut. You will find coveted home accessories displayed among found objects that by themselves already command a visit to her fabulous universe.

C by Cynthia – In a little space on Mar Maroun street, Cynthia displays her creations; urban handbags in acidulous colours. Her key model Lucy comes in large, small or micro size and resembles a delightful candy. Her little secret? Cynthia’s husband family business is a leather leader that has been in the trade for 60 years.

Garo Hakimian – Serge, the owner of this hardware store is passionate about vintage objects and decided to sell them along with the hardware (although he admits he has a hard time separating from them). Antique wall clocks, camcorders, trunks, telephones or sewing machines make up a unique space in the boutique that was founded by his father Garo in 1943.

Micha Melucha – funky clothes with a vintage vibe Micha Melucha couples finds from her travels with her own playful designs. Expect bohemian style dresses, shorts with colorful pearls or Mickey Mouse adorned jeans.

Klōk – This store adds an edge to the Beirut fashion scene! Avant-guarde yet casual and laid-back, Klōk holds a designer selection from Japan, Korea, Belgium, Italy, the US or UK. Sheer embroidered socks, daring handbags and clutches in unique shapes and materials or jackets with smooth fabric; every item is a unique find that you will make you go -oh wow!

Ginette – This concept store is one of the only in Beirut to propose a restaurant section coupled with a shopping area. In the polished stalls you will find beauty products, candles, tableware and plants to decorate your home.

Ideo Parfumeurs – Lebanon’s only perfume house has the scent of a Mediterranean love story. Orange Blossom, jasmine, rose or lavender, the delicate creations are composed by the wife Ludmila, the ‘nose’, along with her husband Antoine who infuses inspiration from his travels and overseas the business. The perfumes are produced in Grasse, the land of perfume, while soaps are made locally.

Gems Jewellery by Antoine Oueiss –  A self-taught goldsmith since 1992, Antoine Oueiss mastered the techniques of jewelry making to better challenge them with his daring designs. He opened Gems boutique, a play of words with Gemmayze and precious stones, in 2006. He combines ancient styles such as byzantine inspirations with refined modern skills to create one of a kind pieces breaking the traditional codes: silver encrusted on gold, side diamond setting or even rings designed with coffee beans.

Deviations – A splash of colour welcomes you into the whimsical imagination of designer Danièle Kiridjian. A few years ago, she partnered with store owner Amer Jabali breathing her romantic inspiration in the Deviations collection. Dresses are infused with an elegant yet fantasy vibe to galvanize parties and weddings. And these fairy tales (dresses) are Made in Lebanon.

Photo shot by Sabine Moujaes

On May 27 to 29, the Cabriolet Film Festival will take over the St. Nicolas stairs with outdoor film projections.

Other cool stuff you can find in Gemmayze (mentioned in previous posts on the blog):

-Nafissa’s atelier
-Lara Khoury’s atelier
-Phil and Joe Barbers – grooming salon for men