Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut
by the TopOfHotel team
The Radisson Blu Martinez is a five-star international hotel with a Corniche-adjacent location priced lower than anything else in Ain El Mreisseh — strongest on value, sea access and that rooftop restaurant rather than top-tier luxury.
The Radisson Blu Martinez is a five-star international hotel with a Corniche-adjacent location priced lower than anything else in Ain El Mreisseh — strongest on value, sea access and that rooftop restaurant rather than top-tier luxury.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut is one of the international hotels long anchored in Ain El Mreisseh, Beirut's old seafront luxury district. The building stands on Phoenicia Street, within walking distance of the Corniche — the Mediterranean promenade where locals jog, drink coffee and watch the sunset every evening. The 185 rooms and suites run a modern-classic Radisson Blu look: warm tones, comfortable beds, sensibly sized bathrooms that just work. Most rooms have a balcony to catch the breeze. Sea-facing units get a wide Mediterranean outlook and soft wave sound, while city-side rooms look onto the busy life of a place many still call the Paris of the Middle East. Repeat guests describe it as sleeping in a European, Mediterranean-style hotel dropped into the Middle East — not the full-tilt luxury of the city's newest top-tier names, but a familiar, easy comfort that's hard to find at this price.
Food and amenities
The heart of a stay here is Olivos, a rooftop Mediterranean restaurant where you eat over the sea at sunset. The menu blends classic Lebanese with Mediterranean staples — mezze, fresh fish, pasta, and a short list of Lebanese wines. Reviews agree the mood is romantic and the cooking is good for a price that's more reachable than the hotels next door. The balcony-edge tables with the full sea view fill fast on Friday and Saturday, so reserve ahead. Next is the year-round indoor pool, a real edge over neighbours that only have outdoor pools — Beirut winters turn cold and rainy, so an indoor pool earns its keep. Beside it sits the Olympia fitness club, which reviewers call larger and better equipped than a typical hotel gym, with plenty of space for a serious workout or a stretch after a day on your feet. The international breakfast is served buffet-style, with fresh European items alongside Lebanese morning plates like manakish, hummus and labneh. Reviews put breakfast at solid-OK — complete and filling, not a standout.
Location and getting there
Location is the trump card that books this hotel for a lot of people. It sits in the middle of Ain El Mreisseh on Phoenicia Street, the seafront luxury-hotel road of Beirut. It's a 3-5 minute walk from the lobby to the Corniche, the promenade that runs more than 4 kilometres along the water toward Pigeon Rocks (Raouche), the twin sea stacks everyone photographs. The streets around here mix old Beirut with newer cafes opening one by one. A few minutes east is Zaitunay Bay, the upscale marina lined with restaurants, bars and moored yachts. For nightlife, the bars of Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael are about a 10-minute taxi away. BEY airport is roughly a 20-30 minute drive depending on traffic, and the hotel runs an airport transfer you can arrange easily. If your idea of a Beirut morning is a seafront walk and coffee on the Corniche before heading back to your room, this address lands it.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. The point reviews raise most often is that the building and decor are dated, not as fresh as recently renovated hotels. Some rooms have furniture, carpet or bathroom fittings with visible wear. Anyone expecting something brand-new like the Four Seasons across the Corniche should set expectations: this is value five-star, not full luxury. Second, sea views aren't guaranteed — rooms facing Phoenicia Street catch the traffic noise of a busy district, loudest in the evening, so if you sleep light or want the water, request a sea-view room when booking and reconfirm at check-in. Third, service is inconsistent by the reviews: check-in can run slow and some requests aren't handled as briskly as at the strip's top-tier five-stars. It's not a dealbreaker, but if you expect to be spoiled at every turn, adjust. Finally, breakfast is fine rather than a reason to book — if it matters a lot to you, the local spots around the hotel are worth a walk.
Our take
After pulling together real guest reviews from Agoda, Booking and Tripadvisor, the Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel Beirut sells one thing better than anyone else in Ain El Mreisseh: value in a seafront luxury district. If your trip looks like an easy stay in Beirut — a morning Corniche walk, a swim in the indoor pool and a session in the gym, then a Mediterranean dinner at Olivos with a sunset, all without paying Four Seasons or Phoenicia money — this is a very tidy fit. If instead you want something brand-new, fully kitted out and luxury-grade in its service, budget up to a neighbour on the same strip. Overall we give it 8.6/10, best for couples, business travelers and families who want an international standard within walking distance of the sea at the kindest price on the block.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Central Ain El Mreisseh location on Phoenicia Street, a 3-5 minute walk to the Corniche and the upscale Zaitunay Bay marina, so you can step out for a seafront stroll every evening without taking a car.
- Rates start around $115/night for a five-star international room under the Radisson Blu brand, which is strong value next to neighbours like the Four Seasons and the Phoenicia that run well past $400.
- A year-round indoor pool — a real edge over nearby hotels that only have outdoor pools, since Beirut winters turn cold and wet — paired with the Olympia fitness club, which reviewers call large and properly equipped.
- Olivos, the rooftop Mediterranean restaurant, lets you eat over the water at sunset. Reviews praise both the atmosphere and the Lebanese-Mediterranean cooking, at prices more reachable than the neighbouring hotels.
- Most rooms have a balcony and meet international standards — sensible square footage, comfortable beds, reliable air-con and Wi-Fi — which works well for business travelers and families who want everything in one place.
- The building and interiors are showing their age compared with recently renovated hotels. Some rooms have furniture and carpet with visible wear, so anyone expecting a brand-new property should reset expectations — this is value five-star, not full-tilt luxury.
- Sea views are not guaranteed in every room. Units facing Phoenicia Street pick up the traffic noise of a busy district, especially in the evening, so request a sea-view room when booking and reconfirm before check-in.
- Service is inconsistent by the reviews. Check-in can run slow and some requests aren't handled as briskly as at the top-tier five-stars on the strip. Breakfast lands at OK — complete and filling, but not a standout.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Beirut
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Insider Tips
- Always request a sea-view room when booking. Rooms facing Phoenicia Street catch the traffic noise of busy Ain El Mreisseh, while the sea side is quieter and throws in a free sunset.
- Head up to Olivos on the roof in the soft late-afternoon light for sunset over the Mediterranean. The balcony-edge tables fill fast, so reserve ahead, especially Friday and Saturday.
- Walk the 3-5 minutes to the Corniche, where locals jog and drink morning coffee along the seafront. It feels safe and shows you real Beirut daily life rather than a tourist version.