Hamra
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Rue Hamra (Hamra street) is one of the main streets of the city of Beirut, Lebanon, and one of the main economic and diplomatic hubs of Beirut. Due to the numerous sidewalk cafes and theatres, Rue Hamra was the center of intellectual activity in Beirut during the 1960s and 1970s.[1] Before 1975, Rue Hamra and the surrounding district was known as Beirut's trendiest, though in the post-war period it has arguably been eclipsed by Rue Monot in Ashrafieh, Rue Gouraud in Gemmayzeh, the fashionable Rue Verdun and the lavishly rebuilt downtown area. [2] In the mid 1990s, the Municipality of Beirut gave a face lift to the street to reattract tourists all year round. Today it is a commercial district with a number of hotels, furnished apartments and coffee shops.
It hosts a large number of western chains (including Radio Shack, Costa and Nike Town), as well as many local shops. It is also known for its tourist appeal and variety of hotels. Its main landmark is the Crowne Plaza. The street buzzes with life during the summer when many tourists, espicially from the gulf area, flock to Lebanon.
Before the Lebanese civil war, Rue Hamra was known as Beirut's "Champs Elysées" as it was frequented by tourists all year round. Beirut's Piccadilly Theatre was one of the major theatres in the Middle-East. Rue Hamra is a first-rate commercial district which proudly displays the latest fads in fashion. It also hosts a good number of hotels, furnished apartments and coffee shops that cater to visitors and students from the nearby American University of Beirut and Lebanese American University.
Although it has yet to revive fully its pre-war legacy, Rue Hamra has undergone many renovations and is still regarded by many as the heart of the city.
[edit] Geography
Hamra runs through the heart of Ras Beirut/Beirut Bay area and connects Downtown Beirut with the inner Western Beirut Areas. The street is also a walking distance from the American University of Beirut and Lebanese American University.
