It’s all about the espresso in Ristretto, one of the greasy spoons in Beirut regularly packed with students from local universities AUB and LAU in Hamra. Having been around for a good few years, this simple American-style diner serves respectable pancakes and eggs for breakfast to an enthusiastic and loyal customer base that quickly packs out the few available seats. The vibe is constantly buzzing, as is the coffee, and thus Ristretto becomes an ideal place to nurse your Friday night hangover before tackling anything quite as ambitious as the papers. The service is friendly, too, and if you’re feeling like you haven’t spoken English for a while you’ll probably bump into some local students or professors only too willing to debate on local politics, history and the art of coffee.