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What a beautiful day. It was 9am on an awesome sunny morning when we reached The Four Seasons hotel. With a big smile on her face, the hostess welcomed us in... "Good morning sir, the weather is beautiful, would you like to sit on the terrace?" It was a great choice sitting outside, enjoying a great breakfast while waking up to Beirut's positive vibes.
Arrive at the Four Seasons facing the Zaytunay Bay and give your car to the professional valet. A smiling and attentive doorman will show you to the Grill Room, on the second floor.
They recently introduced a new breakfast formula, which was thoroughly explained by the hostess. I'm not sure why they changed since it was perfect already, but then again, this only shows the brand's professionalism and constant need to improve and perfect their brand.
The new breakfast formula includes a different set of starters that land on your table as you sit, followed with a choice of fresh juices prepared on the spot. Inside, the buffet has been doubled with more fruits, more pastry items and more of everything.
The concept is simple yet sophisticated:
- Pay 58,000L.L all inclusive. Not a dime more
- Choose any freshly squeezed drink you want
- On the table an oriental tower is served (Labneh, cheese platter, mouhammara, freshly baked bread)
- A plate of Lebanese baked pieces is served (zaatar, kechek, cheese, halloum)
- Choose from a wide choice of 12 cooked plates: You can order all if you want
- Plunge into the buffet
Firas approached us for the order. He explained each and every dish while we waited for coffee to be served. Joyfully enjoying his job, he put a smile on my face. That's something I love at the Four Seasons: the staff is a representation of how Lebanese hospitality staff should be. Cheese Mankoushe, Zaatar, halloumi finger with sesame topping, spinach fatayer and kechek. All are excellent specially their soft dough which is filled with tasty ingredients: Zaatar manakish are exquisite. Next to that, on the three stories tower, is a plate of labneh balls, Brie, mshallaleh cheese and emmental. A mouthwatering plate of mouhammara and a last one of fresh lemony labneh. To enjoy this unique selection, a basket of mini Lebanese bread that melt under your teeth like butter.
A breath of fresh air after the rain, a beautiful view of Beirut's waterfront and an outstanding breakfast... I wish it would never end.
The buffet:
- 19 buckets of fruits, fresh or cut in cubes
- Milk and skimmed milk
- 9 choices of nuts
- Honey and a selection of jams: 8 jars
- Jars of Labneh in olive oil as well as cheese and special mixes
- Green and black olives
- Dried fruits of all kinds. 12 jars filled to top
- Croissant, muffins and Danish pastry: cinnamon roll, chocolate cream cake, banana nuts muffin, blueberry muffin, raisin muffin
- 2 cakes
- An interesting basket of bread that includes a nice selection
- Special yogurt mixes
- A salad bar of many vegetables
Let's indulge in some fine food:
- The cheese croissant, its thin crispy layers, rich moist filling of white cheese is superb. Its intense filling, lightly sweet aftertaste and perfectly baked puff pastry layers are succulent
- The dried fruits bread is a basket of fruit in a bite: tiny bits of moist fruits hugging each other in a loaf of bread. Mouthwatering!
- The almond croissant is a must try
- Chocolate roll dipped in sugar will make your heart skip a beat
The breakfast menu:
- Eggs any style
- Egg white omelet
- Eggs Benedict
- Steak and eggs
- Lebanese style eggs (awarma, soujok, shakshouka)
- Foul mdammas
- Fattest hummus
- Smoked salmon
- Charcuterie
- Oatmeal
- Knefeh
- French toast
- Buttermilk pancakes
- Belgian waffles
- Steak and eggs: on 120g of American prime beef topped majestically with two sunny side up eggs. Premium thin slice of tender meat rich in flavor. Look at the egg yolk flow around while you enjoy one bite after the other. Let the hash brown potato with Parmesan shave tickle your taste buds with its interesting crunchy texture and fine salty hints. Don't forget to plunge into the bowl of fried mushrooms. It was lovely but the meat portion was too big for a breakfast.
- Eggs Benedict: I still insist that this is one of the best in town. Two round English muffins topped with salmon and poached eggs on top while Hollandaise sauce flows around. Two poached eggs served individually, each on a thick slice of smoked salmon overlaying an English muffin. Beautifully presented and simple, the eggs are half cooked and covered with a rich and tasty Hollandaise sauce. As soon as you cut into them, the egg yolk flows around making your eyes water.
Although we couldn't eat more, Firas insisted we try their desserts. Generous and professional of him... So let's enjoy some sweets
- Waffles: A circular waffle cut into 4 quarters, condensed and crunchy, can be easily enjoyed as is... Add some Nutella or maple syrup to this airy creation and enjoy. Firas then came afterwards with some homemade caramel paste. Uf! Ouf! Wow! Excellent indeed.
- Pain Perdu: I'm not sure how I can express my disappointment... They used to have the best pain perdu in Lebanon with orange couli. Why remove it?! It was different this time round, a thick piece of bread left as is with an unpleasantly thick border, stuffed with dried oranges. A soggy bread, not juicy, filled with condensed with milk; I felt like I was drinking a glass of milk with every bite. I didn't like it at all - I didn't like its taste, not the milk concentration, and not its thick borders... I would have preferred not to end the experience this way. Please bring back the old one.
The new pastry chef, Mahmoud Abbas created amazing and mouthwatering innovations following the steps of Charles Azar, Lebanon's favorite pastry creator. I enjoyed excellent croissant, delicious cakes, beautiful bites but unfortunately not my favorite of French toasts.
This is what I call a five star hotel… Or breakfast at a five stars hotel. For the same price paid at the others around, the experience was one of the best to date. It was tasteful and soothing while enjoying the Mediterranean Sea view... time passed smoothly until reality checked in.
To confirm, The Four Seasons still offers the best breakfast in Lebanon and a great price. All of the above, starters, a wide buffet, fresh juices, coffee and four different plates for 58,000L.L all inclusive.
Just a quick note: The valet parking, or I mean the money exchange office out at the door, will exchange your $100 to 147,000L.L. Your parking will cost you 13,000L.L. I can't stand that at Lebanese hotels! A shameful way of doing a minor profit. I'll be back for more: Try it you'll understand.
