Beirut

Beirut's original boutique hotel, located in the Christian neighborhood Achrafieh and featuring a pool and panoramic views of the city. Cozy, private. "The romance and refinement of old Beirut still fills [Hotel Albergo's] Ottoman-style rooms." [Bazaar] Tatler adds, "The jasmine-scented terrace [of Hotel Albergo] is the prettiest spot in Beirut for an alfresco breakfast." When visiting Lebanon, Harper's Bazaar recommends a trip to Baalbeck, an important Roman site off the tourist trail, just two hours from Beirut. "Take mint tea at the Palmyra Hotel next door," a wonderful old-style colonial hotel, advises Harper's Bazaar in its November 2008 article, "The top 10 desert breaks." DailyCandy's "quaint but cool" boutique hotel pick for Beirut.