If any blogger knows about the nightlife in Lebanon and follows it closely, it’s Gino and I must agree with him that SkyBar Beirut is not worth the visit anymore, not because of its music or atmosphere but because of the way they treat you. I haven’t set foot in SkyBar this year and am not planning to. You need “wasta” to book a table, you need “wasta” to go in even if you have your table, you need an hour from Biel’s entrance to get to it because of the traffic and on top of all that, you are left waiting in endless lines and arguing with brainless bouncers.
Let’s not forget about the bill of course.
If you are looking for more reasons to stay away from SkyBar, read Gino’s post [Here].
Places that are exclusive are common all over the world not sure what the big deal is. The place is small so they can’t let everyone in anyway. I passed by SkyBar last month for the first time ever and didn’t have any of these problems.
From Biel to SkyBar it took like 1 minute. There was no traffic or anything. There was a short line made up of 2 couples in front of us. We had a table and we were 4 couples and bill came out to $366. Thats $45 a person which is cheaper than going to the beach.
I actually found SkyBar extremely professional, from the valet, to the waiters to the whole set up.
Well it must have been one of your lucky nights. I’ve never had a positive experience at Skybar every since it opened. The only good thing about it was its music and its DJ but there are better places now.
Out of curiosity, did you go on a week day or during the weekend? and what time?
First off:
“If any blogger knows about the nightlife in Lebanon and follows it closely, it’s Gino” That sentence doesn’t really make sense. It should be:
“If there is any blogger that knows about nightlife in Lebanon, it’s Gino” Or something along those lines.
“I haven’t set foot in SkyBar this year and am not planning to.”
So how can you judge a place you haven’t been to for a year?
Also, I’m not sure why Gino would know anything about nightlife in Lebanon, he’s more into clubbing and doesn’t drink alcohol. He should be reviewing clubs, not bars.
“The thousands of hours I’ve clocked in at clubs have been some of my best and of course some of my worst. I’ve been to the most underground hell-hole of a party, to the stinky rich glam-fests that your ears are drilled with every time you turn on your radio.
I don’t really drink alcohol and apart from Coke (as in Coca Cola) my only fix is clubbing.”
I can judge it from the past experiences I’ve had and from my friends’ experiences as well. Keep in mind SkyBar only opens during summer, so I basically haven’t been there this summer and from what I’ve been hearing and reading, nothing has changed except its design.
Thank you for correcting the english But I think u got the point 🙂
And one thing Patrick,
So what if he doesn’t drink alcohol? he can’t enjoy the nightlife and know about it?
Who regards going to Sky Bar as “clubbing”? I’m not one to defend Sky Bar, it’s not my scene, but anyone who judges it as a place to go clubbing has to automatically be considered ridiculous.
Every group of people in Lebanon have their own kind of club. From the rich snobs who love to show off, to the hippies and hipsters. Sky Bar is just a high end place that caters to a specific category of people. Obviously if you’re not part of that category, you’re not going to like it.
SkyBar is a night club and going there is considered clubbing.
whatever najib, skybar is the best club in town hands down. The reason they don’t let you in without reservations isn’t because they don’t like your face but because the bar gets full very early during the night. If you go there at midnight without a table and no available seats at the bar, where do u expect to be accommodated? You wanna be like those douchebags who keep walking around the club all night?
their prices arent any different from all other places.
If you need me to get you in, all u have to do is ask 🙂
I went to Skybar on a weekend and when they had Jimmy Z from Monte Carlo there so it was a pretty packed night, can’t imagine it being more packed than that.
The only bad thing about Sky Bar is the music so not sure how thats the only thing you liked about it lol
Weird how it’s the music you did not like. SkyBar has been known for having the best DJs and its cds are sold everywhere.
Chahe,
I had reservation when I wasn’t let in once.
Skybar isn’t for everyone! it’s an exclusive place and has every right to be selective of it’s patrons. The expensive bill, the wasta, the very long queues, etc, these are all intentional to filter out those who aren’t meant to be there to start with. It’s a place for pple who want to spend money and drink, and an expensive bill isn’t even a consideration to them.
But really the only wasta you need to get into this place is a big wallet and desire to have the best time. Slip a 50$ note to the security and forget about any queues.
I visit Lebanon every July/august with a bunch of aussies, and we spend heaps (it’s not so expensive when u divide it by 4) and we always get singled out and invited again and again coz of the fun atmosphere we create. (we go nuts!)
Hehehe,all I know is not just Skybar but also Pier7 ,which is worse ,all the plastiks go there ,hehehe douchebags????Everyone is Lebanon is a douchebag ,that’s why they call it the most pretentious country in the world ,that’s why I prefer pubs to clubs in Leb,at least Gino is downtoearth to drink a non alcoholic beverage on a night out,badak refill?Loool
The music at Skybar used to be good when Jojo played whatever he liked. Now they basically repeat the same crap you hear on Mix FM and Radio One, and it truly is awful. I went on a Saturday night a few weeks ago, and left after 30 minutes
What I don’t understand is all the people getting over-excited over a song they just heard 20 times in one week
Simon,
Is there a rule that says SkyBar isn’t for everyone? Do they have a check list for people getting in? Cause I haven’t heard of one.
And I very modestly do not consider myself unfit to get in SkyBar even though I like to spend my money wisely.
“Slip a 50$ note to the security and forget about any queues.”
Seems to me you’ve never been there and I’d rather stay out than have to slip a bouncer to let me in even though I have reservation.
zaydoun more like 20 times on their way to SkyBar lol
Najib, i’m pretty sure you knew exactly what i meant. There are no rules to forbid people from getting in. I’m not sure about Lebanese laws, but here in Sydney it is illegal to discriminate.
So Club owners go around these laws by making it extremely hard to get in(queues, expensive, and having girls with you) which are normal procedures to filter out the people who can go in (it’s not rocket science, and nothing new). Basically they want pple who are well off so they can spend, and hot chicks (they don’t want a sausage fest in there). It’s not complicated.
As for slipping the 50$, mate any exclusive place, even if u have a reservation, won’t let you in unless you have girls with you (90% of the times i go there it’s just 4 Aussie guys, no girls). Slip the security dude 50$ and he’s ur best mate for that night. (I assure you i’ve been there, and done it more than once at Skybar…)
Seems you haven’t been to enough clubs or pubs to know how it all works. you go there to get trashed, dance, have a great time. not to spend money wisely.
Simon,
I know what you mean and I’ve been there but all I am saying is that it doesn’t make sense when you have reservation to wait and be humiliated like what used to happen in SkyBar.
As for the 50$ thingy, I’d rather leave than have to pay the guy 🙂
Oh and by the way It’s quite funny that you mention Aussies cause I’ve had some wild parties with my Lebanese Australian friends and their Aussie friends as well. Brought back lots of memories at Citrus.
what an idiot, if he had all that club experience he would understand how to deal with people, at doors and bars… stupid blog, bottom line u are their to enjoy and have fun… i think ur sick of the place bcs u spent a full summer every night that was stupid… i think they are all good places its just what u are looking for… that blog was sooo Lebanese shitty attitude
Najib,
Love your blog dude. Love the fact that you don’t kiss-ass or hype up everything that’s Lebanese in essence just to paint a beautiful picture- something that mostly all Lebanese are great at doing, false advertisement and creating unaccredited hype.
keep up the great work and never be afraid to criticize- because I noticed you do give credit when credit is due.
This post is lame. You should stop being so bitter for a change. And who the F*** is Gino, geeez
To each their own opinion.
well put Nat
Well what makes this blog interesting is the fact that we have different opinions.
Well put Mark
WTF is wrong with pple like OJ? Can’t you just put forth your opinion without insulting anyone and sound so demeaning?
It’s the lebanese shitty attitude 🙂
LOL
oj might be Gino’s arch-nemesis, the Beirut Nightlife guy…
Went to Sky Bar once..wasn’t at all impressed. It’s all in the perception…paying to see and be seen. Seriously what a waste. I agree with GINO!
when u people travel the world and see how great the clubs r out there,u wouldnt give skybar such a credit.
id rather pay extra money to be served well than standing in lines. just pay a hundred bucks to the bouncer and he will be your body guard for the entire night, whats better than that. but i kinda agree with Najib, Skybar was voted the best in the world back in 2008 but man oh man things have changed since then. what happend to beiruf , fourseasons roof , cherry on la grey i find them more attractive with more mature people. they might not be as clubish as skybar but its personal prefrences to what you enjoy more.