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.
The Food
It’s a fine line between supper club and nightclub that just happens to sell food, and it’s a line that Iris no longer walks with a more serious menu of regional seafood specialties than former-White. Like a high-end beach club menu, dinner begins with a diverse selection of carpaccio, salmon tartar or traditional Lebanese appetizer staples. Seafood lovers find a raw bar with sashimi and shellfish specialties. Perky salads like a chicken or shrimp have more of a lunch vibe with goat cheese or calamari salads being a lighter starter. Main course is a mix of tiger prawns, grilled fillet, sesame-coated tuna or seared scallops over a bed of squid ink pasta
Last Word
Hybrid restaurant and lounge in former rooftop home of White offers delightful dinner menu worthy of a visit even if not part of the late-night social circuit.
