B018 Beirut Club Review :
Built in 1998, the B018 remains one of the most popular clubs in Beirut. Its legacy has also reached an international dimension.
The B018 nightclub sits on a former French protectorate quarantine quarters (Quarantina) near the Port of Beirut. During the civil war around 1976, the premises used to house a camp for Palestinian, Kurdish and Southern Lebanese refugees, most of whom perished in massacres lead by local militia men that also completely wiped out the site.
The bunker shaped B018 is completely underground, embedded in a circular concrete disc slightly above tarmac level. Its legendary design was created by Bernard Khoury (nicknamed the Bad Boy of Lebanese Architecture), comprehensively refurbishing the original premises into an ultra-modern loft-style tomb-like club. The macabre history of the location was in a way incorporated into the club’s general concept. B018 is almost invisible to the world outside, until the late hours of the night when it comes to life and its articulated roof structure constructed in heavy metal retracts hydraulically, exposing the club to the world above and revealing the cityscape as an urban backdrop to the patrons below. A giant distorted mirror over the bar rises and stops at a 50-degree angle to reflect the city and the cars of the freeway into the club. The entrance is located at the south end of the low-lying metal construction where a stairway usually leads to the “angry” bouncers. B018’s floor is tiled with a concrete pavement floor, on which are scattered black leather sofas with collapsible backs, often used as elevated dancing surfaces.
General Information About B018:
Attraction Type: Bar/Club
Directions: Click here to view the Address of B018 and MAP directions.
Time: Mon-Sun 8pm-6am
Telephone: 961 3 800018 – 961 3 810 618
B018 Overall Review Rating : 7/10
Food/Drinks: 6/10
Music: 7 /10
Atmosphere/Setting: 8/10
Crowd/People: 7.5/10
Service: 6/10
Value$: 8/10
B018 was previously known as B018 After, to differentiate it from its other version the B018 Classic. The latter, currently closed, was an old pink house in Sodeco with an oriental architecture that was entirely covered in white wash paint after the windows and balconies were canceled and sealed off with concrete, making the pub one unified hermetically sealed white bloc. It then became Maison Blanche under different management, shortly before completely shutting down. The ‘after’ in B018 After most probably refers to after-party; the real fun at the BO18 supposedly starts at around 3 a.m.!
Those from the Arab World might have seen scenes shot at the B018 in Jad Choueiri’s first music video clip A’ollak Eh.
Now if you face any problems with the bouncers at the entrance, don’t get alarmed as it is all just part of the B018 experience 🙂 Unless you are a VIP or have reserved a table, there is a big chance you will be treated with utter disrespect and (un)welcomed in an arrogant condescending manner. This has been going on since forever now and it doesn’t look like the B018 Management is planning on doing anything about it either anytime soon. So if it happens to you, don’t take it personally!
The music played at B018 is generally electronic music, expect on Thursdays which is 80s Night. You will usually receive free props and gifts (hats, accessories, etc…) while there, for the extra fun. The people on such days are relatively the same from previous weeks, and are from the chic middle class Lebanese society (and to some extent the upper middle class), also known as the Beautiful People 😉 The rest of the days, you will find a more eclectic mix, but sometimes a less interesting crowd if you are unlucky. The venue often becomes over-crowded, so you should expect a bit of pushing and bumping. This is actually an understatement, as you might wake up the next day with your body covered in blue bruises! Except for the cute gentle girls that distribute the free gifts, the male waiters at the club will not hesitate to forcibly push you aside as they pass by to deliver the drinks! The drinks from the bar are generally mild in taste, as opposed to the ones from closed bottles you would get if you are seated at a table. Some might even go as far as saying they are undrinkable.
On average, you should plan a budget of around 35$ per person on Thursdays or during special events. On regular days you only have to pay an entrance fee +1 free drink for 25,000 LBP (approx. 17$).
The restrooms are usually clean, except on some occasions when they might get a bit dirty. You will sometimes also get a knock at the door from the janitor if you stay in there more than 2 minutes lol. This could be quite embarrassing, especially if you had been already humiliated a while earlier by the bouncers. If you are generally a susceptible person, this place is not for you, as your overall experience might not be so positive.
Recommendations: The B018 has a very nice concept that sets it apart from other clubs in Beirut, but the premises need a bit of renovation. The music system also needs to be updated and improved. At the back near the bar, the music is relatively low. The staff members, including the bouncers, might also need a bit of training (bodybuilding alone does not qualify 😉
If you have been to the B018, please leave a comment/review below to share your experience, and use the star rating system at the top right hand corner to rate the venue. You may also upload photos of yourself taken at the B018 to the community shared photo gallery dedicated to this particular club.