The Scene:

There was something magical about a night at White, the rooftop supper club atop the An Nahar Building known for it's sexy dinners and endless late-night dance scene that's since moved on to a bigger space. In its place comes Iris, a more elegant rooftop dining room and lounge with a similar layout and crowd as it predecessor. The space is exactly what you remember, a lavish terrace but with a little more color and slick white design palette that extends throughout the canopy-covered dining room and open-air lounge that's one of Beirut's top destinations for the under-40 and fabulous. Diners arrive around 9pm and take their spots along a series of built-in banquettes with no-so-comfy cushions but prime views of the bar scene and Lebanese coastline that's nothing short of spectacular. By 1am the scene turns into a full-on lounge as dinner plates are removed and the sounds of live bands and DJ fills the night air.