Paul on Gouraud Street is the French bakery chain at its most pleasant — a leafy garden terrace, an art nouveau-tiled interior, and a long all-day menu of viennoiserie, salads, and good coffee. It is the right place to write postcards, catch breakfast, or recover from the night before.
There are several Paul outlets in Beirut. The Gemmayzeh location is the most attractive and best placed for a stroll through the neighbourhood afterwards.