Blue House Tea

Blue House Tea describes itself as "born in Beirut," a registered tea house tucked into a hidden garden off Rue Gouraud in Gemmayzeh — reached through an alley rather than fronting the street, deliberately kept, in its own words, as an uncommercial retreat rather than a storefront. It has been serving there since at least 2017, when local press first wrote up its garden setting and English-style afternoon tea service, and Lebanon Traveler magazine has since described it as Beirut's first dedicated tea salon and the largest in the Middle East.

The house sources organic, artisanal, unscented tea selected by what it calls award-winning international master blenders, built into a menu that runs from a walk-in afternoon tea and cake service on weekdays to a full reserved high-tea spread — scones, clotted cream, finger sandwiches, mini cakes — for private groups. The garden itself, shaded by long-established bougainvillea, has drawn coverage from Air France's Madame Magazine as a standout stop in the city, and the brand now sells through additional Beirut outlets including the Sursock Museum Store, alongside a partnership presence in Riyadh.

In a city where coffee culture usually gets the spotlight, Blue House built its reputation on the opposite bet: a private garden, a closed gate, and tea served the way an English country house would serve it.