Art spaces in Beirut cultivating the city’s creative renaissance

Beirut’s creative scene has always thrived below the surface. To call it “underground” feels reductive; here, creativity is born from an urgency for self-expression. With little stability for long term planning, projects emerge out of passion, yielding an arts culture unlike anywhere else. Craftsmanship, expression and rawness define studios and concept spaces where art, music, and design collide. These vital creative spaces blend tradition and innovation to drive Beirut’s cultural scene forward.

Fabrica Design Platform

Best for: Bold Lebanese design and a return to craft
Address: Dar Khawla Building, Tabaris, Chehade, Beirut 1345
Price: Free entry

In Beirut, Fabrica is where design, craft and community come together. Founded with a focus on ceramics and material innovation, it is part studio, part cultural hub. You can take a workshop, browse exhibitions, or shop one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect Lebanon’s deep craft heritage. At a time when many are turning back to meditative practices, Fabrica channels that energy into clay, texture, and form: reviving traditions while giving them a contemporary edge. It’s both a space for learning and a place to reconnect with the timeless rhythm of making.

Zein Daouk Ceramics

Best for: One of Beirut’s leading ceramicists
Address: Studio Zein Daoukm Hourani Street, Clemenceau,  Beirut
Price: Free entry, by appointment only

In a quiet corner of Ashrafieh – an upscale neighbourhood known for its historic charm, restaurants and retail – sits Zein Daouk’s studio, open to visitors by appointment. One of the most prominent names in Beirut’s ceramics scene, her workshop feels like a sanctuary where clay, light, and silence converge. Daouk’s background in architecture informs her sculptural works, which balance art and function. Shelves hold biomorphic vessels in soft earth tones, each revealing her ongoing fascination with form.

Creative Space Beirut

Best for: Fashion with purpose
Address: Residence bldg, Ground floor, Monot, Beirut

Creative Space Beirut is a pioneering non-profit fashion school offering free design education to talented students who lack resources. Founded by Sarah Hermez, it has become a hub for Beirut’s next generation of designers. The studio doubles as a showroom, where you can meet the talents behind the pieces and shop directly from them.

Mim Museum

Best for: a dazzling gem collection hidden underground
Address: Innovation and Sport Campus, Saint-Joseph University, Damascus street, Beirut
Price: Free entry

Beneath the campus of Saint Joseph University, the MIM is one of Beirut’s most surprising treasures. Opened in 2013, it houses more than 2,000 minerals from 70 countries: crystals, gems and rare stones displayed with cinematic lighting that adds to the experience. It is considered one of the world’s most important private mineral collections, and is the life’s work of Lebanese engineer and collector Salim Eddé. Sleek, immersive displays make the experience feel as contemporary as it is scientific, turning cabinets of minerals into a visual feast. Perfect for a joint visit along with the neighboring National museum, MIM is a glimpse into the beauty and strangeness of the natural world, hidden beneath the city – much like the gems it spotlights.

Saleh Barakat Gallery

Best for: Contemporary Arab artists
Address: Clemenceau, Justinian Street, Beirut
Price: Free entry

Set inside the former Cinema Clemenceau, Saleh Barakat Gallery has become one of Beirut’s most dynamic contemporary art spaces. Known for its sharp eye, the gallery regularly highlights young talent alongside established names, often giving a first platform to emerging artists. There’s always something unexpected to see, whether in the main space or the more intimate Upper Gallery, which favours smaller, experimental shows. Come here to spot the next big names in regional art, and meet Saleh Barakat himself, often on hand to share anecdotes behind the pieces exhibited.

Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture at the National Museum of Beirut

Best for: A gathering space for culture
Address: National museum of Beirut, Mathaf
Price: 5 USD

A recent extension of the National Museum, Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture is dedicated to keeping Lebanon’s cultural conversation alive. Established in honor of one of the country’s great patrons of the arts, it bridges heritage and contemporary expression with a thoughtful programme of exhibitions, talks and performances. Intimate in scale yet ambitious in vision, the pavilion feels like a creative gathering place, hosting seasonal shows and installations by leading regional artists. The adjoining café by chef Hussein Hadid is perfect for a light lunch or coffee break.