Bagatelle (CLOSED)

In the back alleys of Hamra, set off from the street by a cute hedgerow, stands the quaint eaterie of Bagatelle. The restaurant is housed insdie a tastefully renovated villa dating back to the 1920s – which already distinguishes it in a city that's known its share of destruction over the past century. Inside, the furnishings are a mix of quirky vintage (hello, Salvador Dali wine fridge) and the inoffensively modern (sleek padded purple benches); but the stone masonry speaks to the house's age. The cuisine goes for that brand of Mediterranean fusion so popular in Beirut – salads, pizza, risotto, capped with a wine list to match the vaguely French ambience – but it's done with more imagination than yer average bistro. Highly recommended.