Beirut's Dreamiest Escape: The Pastel Suite Awaits!
Beirut's Dreamiest Escape: The Pastel Suite Awaits!
Beirut's Dreamiest Escape: The Pastel Suite Awaits! – A Review That's Anything But Pastel (and Probably Needs a Nap)
Okay, so, Dreamiest Escape? That’s a bold claim, Beirut. And the Pastel Suite? Sounds… well, a bit too perfect, right? Like, all fluffy bunny rabbits and Instagram filters? I went in expecting a saccharine overload, but, honestly? The Pastel Suite surprised me. In a good way. But also, in a "I need a strong coffee" way. Let's dive in, because this place is a lot.
Accessibility: The Good, The… Okay, and the "Huh?"
Right, so, accessibility. Important. From the outset, I want to say the website implies pretty decent accessibility. But, like, the reality? Well, let's just say I didn't exactly test the wheelchair-friendliness firsthand, but based on my rambling about the lobby, the pathways might, might be manageable? I did see an elevator, which is a HUGE plus. But the details on specific rooms and amenities are, shall we say, lacking. So, proceed with caution if you need complete assurance.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: This is a bit of a mystery too. Couldn't fully assess it. They had restaurants, but the accessibility specifics were vague. I’d recommend calling ahead and grilling them. Because honestly, a beautiful suite is no use if I can't wolf down some delicious hummus due to mobility concerns, right?
The Internet, Ah Yes, the Internet (and My Sanity):
Okay, let's be real. For a modern human, the internet is basically oxygen. And the Pastel Suite… well, they get that.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: YES! Crucial. Worked perfectly. Fast. I could binge-watch questionable reality TV without a hitch (much to my partner's chagrin).
- Internet [LAN]: I didn't use it, but good to know it's there for you old-school types!
- Internet services: Standard stuff. Nothing mind-blowing.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: Yes. Also worked well. Important for posting those (inevitably filtered) travel pics.
Things to Do (and Ways to Relax) – Where the Dreaminess Starts to Kick In… and Get Messy:
This is where the Pastel Suite really shines. Prepare to be overwhelmed with choices… and then probably nap.
Spa/sauna/steam room: Oh. My. God. The spa! It's a whole other world. I spent a solid afternoon in the sauna, pretending I was a Hollywood starlet. (Spoiler alert: I’m not.) The steam room was… steamy. Perfect for melting away stress.
Massage: Had a massage. It was… heavenly. I think I drooled. No regrets. Consider it a mandatory activity. Seriously. (Don't judge.)
Pool with view/Swimming pool [outdoor] The pool area is gorgeous, a real oasis with views of something. I vaguely recall palm trees. It's perfect for pretending you're on a tropical island.
Fitness center/Gym/fitness: I saw the fitness center. I did not use the fitness center. (Too much relaxing, you see.) Looked well-equipped though, with all the usual torture devices… I mean, exercise equipment.
Body scrub/ Body wrap: Tempting, but I spent too much time in the sauna. Maybe next time.
Foot bath: Now that sounds appealing. Must investigate.
Breakfast in room: YES! Crucial for maximum relaxation and avoiding… people.
Couple's room: Sounds romantic. (I went with my partner, by the way. So there was, ahem, room for two.)
Cleanliness and Safety – Because, Well, Real Life:
Okay, pandemic times, right? They took it seriously, which was reassuring.
- Anti-viral cleaning products/Daily disinfection in common areas/Rooms sanitized between stays / Sterilizing equipment/Professional-grade sanitizing services: All present and accounted for. Felt very protected.
- Hand sanitizer: Plentiful.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Yup. Masks, social distancing, the works.
- Safe dining setup: Tables spaced out, etc.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Seen mostly at the breakfast buffet.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Nice touch.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Prepare to Eat (and Drink) Your Weight in Deliciousness:
They've got options, people. So, so many options. Buckle up.
- Restaurants: Several. One felt like a Michelin-starred restaurant. Another was much more casual. Something for every mood and budget.
- Bar/Poolside bar: The bar was well-stocked. The poolside bar… well, see "breakfast in room" above.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Good selection. The pastries deserve a standing ovation. But it was busy. Honestly? I preferred the in-room option. More peace, fewer people trying to grab the last croissant.
- A la carte in restaurant/Buffet in restaurant: Had both. Food was delicious. No complaints.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Not my thing, but you know. To each their own.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Yes. And very, very good.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant/Coffee shop: Standard. Nothing to complain about.
- Desserts in restaurant: Oh, yes. Absolutely yes. Prepare to loosen your belt.
- Salad in restaurant/Soup in restaurant: Healthy choices available, if you’re into that sort of thing.
- Room service [24-hour]: LIFESAVER. Especially after a particularly strenuous massage.
- Snack bar: Yes. For those late-night cravings.
- Bottle of water/Free bottled water: Always appreciated.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Make a Difference:
They've got pretty much everything you'd expect, which is incredibly delightful:
- Concierge: Super helpful. Arranged a taxi, gave me directions, etc.
- Cash withdrawal/Currency exchange: Useful.
- Daily housekeeping: The room always felt spotless.
- Doorman: Always there to greet you with a smile.
- Elevator Important for accessibility and lugging you and your bags up through the hotel.
- Laundry service/Dry cleaning/Ironing service: Very reliable.
- Luggage storage: Always helpful.
- Safety deposit boxes: For your valuables.
- Terrace: Great for just chilling, having a cup of tea, and watching the world go by.
- Smoking area: For those who like to partake.
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes.
For the Kids:
Not a focus for me, but they seemed to have:
- Babysitting service: Apparently, yes.
- Family/child friendly: Seemed that way.
- Kids meal: Available.
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer/Taxi service: Arranged seamlessly by the concierge.
- Car park [free of charge]/Valet parking: Easy parking.
Available in All Rooms – The Nitty Gritty:
Now for the juicy details of the room!
- Air conditioning: Mandatory in Beirut.
- Alarm clock: Yes.
- Bathrobes/Slippers: Cozy!
- Bathroom phone: Didn’t use it.
- Bathtub: Yes! A glorious bathtub. Big enough to actually relax in.
- Blackout curtains: Crucial for sleeping off the effects of the aforementioned massage.
- Coffee/tea maker/Complimentary tea: Essential.
- Complimentary tea: ALWAYS good. Can't stress the importance of tea enough.
- Desk/Laptop workspace: Fine.
- Extra long bed: Yes!
- Free bottled water: Again.
- Hair dryer: Yes!
- In-room safe box: Yes!
- Internet access – wireless/Wi-Fi [free]: Yes to both.
- Ironing facilities: Thankfully, yes.
- Mini bar: Stocked. Maybe a little too stocked.
- Non-smoking: Mostly.
- Private bathroom: Essential.
- Refrigerator: Always useful.
- Seating area/Sofa: Nice for relaxing.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Excellent.
- Shower/Shower: Yes, you can shower.
- Smoke detector/Fire extinguisher: Safety first!
- Soundproofing: Pretty good.
- Telephone: For emergencies.
- Toiletries: Good quality.
- Towels: Fluffy!
- **Wake
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the pastel wonderland that is… The Pastel Suite in Beirut! This isn't your meticulously planned, Instagram-perfect itinerary. This is the real, messy, and beautiful chaos of exploring a city through the eyes of someone who desperately needs that damn cappuccino, STAT.
The Pastel Pandemic: A Beirut Breakdown (…in a good way)
Day 1: Arrival and the Glorious Chaos (aka, Welcome to Lebanon!)
- 14:00 (ish): Land at Rafic Hariri International Airport. Okay, let's be honest, my stomach is currently doing a tango, a little concerned it's going to turn somersaults the second I get off this plane. Immigration? Smooth enough. Customs… let's just say my overly-packed suitcase raised an eyebrow or two. Lesson learned: next time, pack the 'essentials' (read: emergency chocolate) separately.
- 15:00 - 16:00 (Roughly): Taxi ride to The Pastel Suite. My driver, a charming rogue named Samir, instantly started regaling me with tales of Beirut's history and politics. Half the time I understood, the other half I just smiled and nodded, feigning comprehension. (Secret: I just kept making mental notes to Google everything later). The city? Utterly captivating. Buildings scarred by time, shimmering with a resilient beauty.
- 16:00 - 17:00: Check-in at The Pastel Suite. Whoa. The name doesn't lie. It's… well, it's pastel. I walk in and honestly think I've become a unicorn, it's so sweet. The receptionist, a girl named Yara, is incredibly welcoming, also seems to have seen things, judging by her amused smile when I accidentally tripped while taking the elevator (blame the jet lag, honest!). Room is cute, if a bit cramped. Where do I put all my stuff? (I haven't even unpacked yet).
- 17:00 - 18:00: Deciding what to call the hotel… (I'm stuck between 'Pink Palace' and 'The Pastel Prison').
- 18:00: The GREAT Cappuccino hunt. Seriously, guys. I NEED coffee. Now. Thankfully, Yara suggested a place called "Em Sherif" (classic Lebanese name, very excited) around the corner. Walk there, but get lost in the warren of streets. I'm starting to see why people love and hate Beirut; so much character!
- 18:30: Finding "Em Sherif" – THANK GOD. It looks beautiful. Walk inside, it's totally full. Bummer. The barista, sees my desperate face. Asks me what the problem is. Tells me to sit down. Brings me a coffee, and a croissant! The kindness and generosity made this long flight worth it. The coffee: pure, unadulterated heaven. The croissant: flakiness incarnate. I'm already in love.
- 19:00 - 21:00: Wandering around the neighbourhood, marvelling at the street art, getting utterly lost (again, classic). Stumbling upon a tiny, family-run shawarma place. The aroma alone was enough to make my stomach growl. Oh, the Shawarma! Delicious. Pure bliss. I think I'm going to get fat here.
- 21:00 - 22:00: Trying (and failing) to master some basic Arabic phrases with a local I met at the shawarma place (shukran, and a lot of head scratching).
- 22:00 - whenever: Exhausted but exhilarating, collapsing into bed. Thinking about tomorrow's adventures. This is going to be good, despite the jet lag and the imminent laundry pile.
Day 2: Historical Hustle and Hummus Heaven
- 09:00: Wake up to the sound of… something. I think it's a call to prayer, or maybe just the city waking up. I decide I'm going to skip breakfast. The anticipation for the day is real.
- 10:00 - 13:00: Culture time! Off to see the Roman Baths. Found it! A beautiful, historic piece of stone right in the middle of the city. I stumble upon it, in a maze of narrow streets. So nice!
- 13:00: Lunch at a restaurant that I cannot remember the address of (whoops!). Hummus heaven. Seriously, the hummus here is like nothing I've ever had. Fluffy, creamy, drizzled with olive oil. I almost cried (okay, maybe I did). I got a side order of something I thought was a salad. It was just parsley. Whoops.
- 14:00 - 16:00: Exploring the National Museum of Beirut. So many treasures, so much history. I spent ages looking at statues, sculptures and even a sarcophagus, trying to imagine the people behind it. Then, just as I'm getting all thoughtful, the air conditioning goes out. Not so fun.
- 16:00 - 17:00: Shopping in Hamra Street. The place is packed! Finding treasures, mostly for myself, of course (gotta buy that souvenir, am I right?). Bargaining, with varying degrees of success. I met a lady who sold me dried herbs. She was amazing.
- 17:00: Coffee break. Again! This time, a tiny cafe with an incredible view of the sea.
- 18:00: Trying, and failing, to find a taxi. I think I'm going to just keep walking.
- 19:00 - 21:00: The biggest screw-up of the trip: Missing dinner. I was in a rush, and didn't pay the driver. Then, as I was walking back to the hotel, I realized I lost my phone; I have to return to the place that I went to and let them know I lost it. This caused me some serious anxiety. I'd hoped to go to a trendy cocktail bar in Gemmayzeh. Instead, I spent an hour retracing my steps, panicking, and trying to remember if I even had my phone.
- 21:00: Phone is not found. My evening plans are ruined. Back to the hostel for a pity-party.
- 22:00: Crying (a little-okay, a lot) over the loss of my phone. Realized I was still wearing the bracelet I got from the lady I met. What a day!
- 23:00: Sleep
Day 3: Recovery and Realization
- 09:00: Waking up late. Feeling sorry for myself.
- 10:00: Breakfast at a cafe nearby, the owner is trying to get me to be a friend with his niece. I get along great with these people!
- 11:00: Decide to get a new phone.
- 13:00: Going for a walk to clear my head
- 14:00: Get into a massive chat with a random guy at a cafe. Turns out he's a local artist. He told me about the art scene, and the city's resilience, is inspiring.
- 15:00: Shopping.
- 16:00: Realization hits me: My phone is an inconvenience, not a necessity. I'm here to experience the city.
- 17:00: Evening meal.
- 18:00: Drinking Mint Tea, looking at the city lights.
- 19:00: Trying to get ahold of that lost phone, no results. Sigh.
- 20:00: Going to bed early.
- 21:00: Dreaming of my missing phone, and how I'm going to bring my wife to Lebanon.
- 22:00: (In my head) I'm never leaving this place.
Final Thoughts (and a bit of a ramble):
Beirut is a hot mess, a beautiful mess, a chaotic, heartbreaking, and exhilarating mess. The Pastel Suite? Charming, although, I'm never truly able to unwind. The food? Life-changing. The people? Incredibly friendly, despite everything they've been through. The driving? Terrifying, yet oddly entertaining.
I'll always remember the kindness of the barista with the perfect coffee, the woman who sold me herbs, the shawarma that made me weep with joy, and the utter bliss of not knowing where I was going but loving every darn step. I didn't find my phone, but I found something far more valuable: a city that got under my skin, and in my heart, in all its pastel-tinged glory.
So go. Get lost. Eat the hummus. Embrace the chaos. And for the love of all things holy, make sure you know how to navigate at least some Arabic! I'm leaving, but I'm also never truly leaving. Beirut, you've got a piece
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Beirut's Dreamiest Escape: The Pastel Suite Awaits! (Or Does It?) - FAQ, Raw & Real
Okay, so… is this Pastel Suite *really* as dreamy as it looks on Instagram? Because let's be honest, the filters are STRONG.
Ugh. Instagram. The bane of my existence and the reason I even *knew* about this place. Look, the short answer? Yes, it’s pretty. REALLY pretty. Like, photos-don't-do-it-justice pretty… *sometimes*. But the "dreamy" promise? That’s where things get...complicated.
I went expecting floating clouds and a soundtrack of angels. I got… a slightly less pristine version of the photos. Don’t get me wrong, the pinks and pastels are *there*. The fluffy rugs are *there*. But the reality is a little… lived-in. Think less “ethereal goddess floating on a cloud” and more “stylish aunt who's had a rough week and needs a good nap.” It's charming though! And definitely Insta-worthy. I actually had a slight panic attack before I arrived, convinced I was going to mess up the perfect shot. I mean, the pressure!
What's the *actual* room like? Any real, human-being-ey details?
Okay, so the room itself… starts like a fairytale, then gets a bit… real. You walk in and it hits you: PINK. Everywhere. In a good way, mostly. Then you notice the details. The plush velvet headboard (I almost wanted to move in there!), the artwork – which, honestly, I thought was *slightly* overpriced for what it was, but whatever, aesthetic!
The bathroom? Big. Clean. Good water pressure (a HUGE win in Beirut!). They did, however, skimp on the toiletries. Like, seriously, a tiny soap dispenser? Hello, I'm paying to bathe in luxury! And the hairdryer... bless its heart; it tried its best, but my thick hair just… laughed at it. I did get a glorious view though. So much nicer than my shoebox apartment. That alone almost sold the whole experience!
That balcony… worth the hype or just another tease?
The balcony! Oh, the balcony. It absolutely is worth the hype. It's HUGE. Imagine waking up in the room and deciding it wasn't the right place for you and walking outside for some air on a warm night? That's the balcony. The view of the city? Breathtaking (when the construction isn't going on).
I spent a solid hour just staring out there. Smog, yes, but the energy of Beirut is just...infectious. I could feel the heart of the city pounding below. It did take a while to get the waiter's attention (more on that later) to bring me a drink, but I wouldn't have traded the balcony for ANYTHING. Seriously, if you're indecisive like me, just spend all day there. Problem solved!
What’s the food/room service situation like? Because, let's be real, it's a HUGE part of the experience, right?
Okay, here's where my adoration dips a *little* bit. The menu… it's… fine. Standard hotel fare. Nothing to write home about, and definitely not as aesthetically pleasing as the room itself.
Service, however… is a mixed bag. Sometimes speedy, sometimes… reminiscent of the glacial pace of a Lebanese bureaucracy appointment. I waited *forever* for that drink on the balcony. And the breakfast? Let's just say I had to repeatedly wave my arms like a lunatic to flag someone down for more coffee. (The croissants were good though, I'll give them that). But honestly? This is Beirut. It's part of the charm. You learn to be patient. And if you don't, well, there's a lot of *very* cute coffee shops just a short walk away.
Dealing with the noise? Is it actually peaceful?
Peaceful? In Beirut? That's a bold ask, my friend.
The traffic is a constant hum. Construction? Always. My advice? Pack earplugs (I didn't, and I regretted it. Massively.) and embrace the chaos. You can't fight the noise, so learn to live with it. Honestly, it's part of the city’s heartbeat and it's *exciting*. And, let’s be honest, after a long day of shopping and exploring, you'll sleep like a log regardless of the noise. Maybe take a nap during the day, too!
Would you go back? Spill the tea!
Ugh. The question. I've asked myself this a thousand times. And honestly? YES. Despite the tiny soap, the occasional slow service, and the omnipresent hum of the city, I would absolutely go back. It felt like a bit of an escape. And let's not forget, the room itself is gorgeous. It's just… something about the feeling of leaving the apartment behind!
It’s a splurge, for sure. But sometimes, a little pink-fueled, Insta-worthy escape is exactly what the doctor ordered. Just lower your expectations a *tiny* bit, bring your own shampoo, and prepare to be charmed. And don't forget, that balcony is the real MVP!. That balcony is amazing, and the suites are something that shouldn't be missed! And I'm pretty sure I've got a strong filter game now!
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