Grand Kadri Hotel

Carved from a 19th-century building once held by the Basilian Order Chouerite, Grand Kadri Hotel pairs oriental detailing with plainer modern lines throughout its public rooms. It stands in central Zahlé, a short walk from the Berdawni river promenade. Cristal Lebanon carried out the renovation. Rooms and suites run from Standard through Deluxe to the Cristal Suite and two family layouts, each with a minibar, a safe box and a 40-inch screen; the Deluxe adds a Nespresso machine and a writing desk. The Cristal Suite gives guests a private balcony and a separate sitting area with two sofas. Family Suites take two bedrooms and a shared seating area, useful for a longer stay. Downstairs, Le Siècle and the Cristal Terrace & Bar cover dinner and drinks, the terrace catching the evening air over the town. A gym, an outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi round out the amenities. Three function rooms handle events: Al Thuraya seats up to 300, Al Karma up to 100, and The Bridge suits smaller meetings of up to 40. The hotel sits about an hour from Beirut's airport and thirty minutes from the Roman ruins at Baalbeck. Anjar's Umayyad remains and the Bekaa wineries lie within easy reach. It is a landmark building put to ordinary daily use, not a museum piece.