Most westerners have little clue as to the history of the St. George Hotel that’s a ruinous backdrop to the St. George Yacht Club and beach club located at the famed hotel. Originally built in 1932 by<br />Antoine Tabet and expanded in the mid-50s, the hotel was one of the city’s most gilded until the Civil War that left it in shambles for more than 30 years. In 2005, the property was in the midst of a massive renovation when Rafik Hariri was killed in a car bombing in front of the hotel leaving the hotel’s future uncertain. <br /><br />Today the property continues to function as a pool club only minutes from the downtown are equipped with dining room and bar popular with urban families and occasional poolside history buff. Previously the pool club offered direct beach access and use of a neighboring yacht club, but a massive disagreement with developers and government officials in charge of the hotel’s future have left these venues closed with police enforcement.
Tips
Historic St. George Hotel bides its times as pool club and eatery until powers that be decide its waterfront future. Photos: Courtesy of St. George Yacht Club
Last Word
Open daily in the summer from 9am �" 6pm, a youthful pool scene of teen and twenty-somethings enjoy an adults-only pool area with occasional weekend parties and private events.
