Breakfast at the Movenpick Hotel Beirut

Serving breakfast “with a view,” The Mövenpick Beirut is one of the country’s five-star hotels located on the beautiful blue Mediterranean. Come early and grab one of the three tables by the window; The last time I came here for breakfast was in 2013 and now back to explore the updates: a different welcoming but the same choice of food. My breakfast at Mövenpick Beirut starts now...

The place described: 

• Violet walls add color to the space.
• Brown square tiles cover the floor. 
• Ceramic design square tables surrounded by metallic chairs make the place look close to a Mediterranean Island.
• The main facing wall is all covered with brick stones and has a long sofa under it.
• Every room is centered by the “piece the resistance” - a big metallic chandelier with soft yellow lighting.
• Here and there, paintings of the touristic places of Lebanon decorate the walls.
• Soft lighting, soothing and classy make you feel comfortable but a bit too dim for an early morning.

A hostess welcomes you; a waiter offers you a refreshing strawberry drink, another arrives with the coffee while I prepared to discover the buffet; let’s see the choices:

• Ready-made sandwiches.
• Flaky croissants.
• A selection of viennoiseries, cakes, and Danish pastries.
• Cheese and labneh.
• Fruits and yogurt.
• Omelet station.
• Hot dishes.
• Live Saj.

I like the food: it felt fresh and made with love. I was sad not to see salmon or be able to order Eggs Benedict. The food is tasty; the choices are enough but not for a five star. I believe that the quality and choices should be checked again.

So I passed by the eggs station and asked for eggs Benedict: not having sauce hollandaise, the chef suggested to simply do them poached. “Chef, can I have salmon or a muffin just to have a nice looking photo.” He nodded and went back to his kitchen to create. Twenty minutes later, I received my eggs; How sad it is to eat eggs as good as the ones I received, with an excellent salmon quality, exceptional crunchy bread but without any sauce. I believe the chef can create delicious eggs Benedict: add it to the menu!

It feels that the chef knows what he is doing: good food... food with a feeling that can be explored much better.

I enjoyed my breakfast with some little details I would have changed to make it perfect:

• A different non-dramatic music.
• More lights.
• Salmon on the buffet.
• Big bowls for fruits and cereals.
• Eggs Benedict, avocado toast... a choice of modern a-la-carte items.

I was greeted by Maurice, the manager who took all my comments into account. I believe this breakfast can turn from good to perfect if only small details are added to the experience.