Soumi and Chantelle Tannous of Bar Beirut. Photo: Petra Jungmanova.
In 2021, when Bar Beirut owners Soumi and Chantelle Tannous morphed their late-night drinks venue Bunker Bar into a fully fledged restaurant named Bar Beirut, they did so with a touch of reluctance.
Despite their passion for the bar that allowed them to share their love of Beirut club culture with Canberra, the popular nightspot wasn’t compatible with COVID restrictions. The relaunch brought with it a new focus on modern Middle Eastern food and was a way to keep the doors open in the challenging environment Soumi and Chantelle faced.
Speaking of sharing his culture with Canberra, Soumi talks of his home city of Beirut with intense admiration.
“In Beirut, we start shimmying before we start walking; it’s part of the culture. When we go home, the moment we leave the airport the music starts, the Lebanese spirit of joy and celebration is always on,” he explains proudly.
Since the relaunch, Canberra has embraced Soumi’s shimmy and there’s barely an aspect of Bar Beirut’s offering that hasn’t been lavished with accolades.
Most recently it landed the much-revered 2024 Good Food Guide Readers’ Choice Award for Best Middle Eastern in the ACT.
Two years running the bar has taken top gong as Canberra’s best cocktail lounge at the AHA Awards. And in recent years it’s been recognised with both Bartender of the Year and Best Front of House team at the AHA Awards.
The awarded cocktail bar at Bar Beirut. Photo: Ben Calvert.
Chantelle reflects on what makes Bar Beirut a winner across a broad range of categories.
“We’re both deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the business, which allows us to be nimble,” she says.
”We also encourage our team to be creative and that extends from the kitchen to the bar. Everyone who works with us has a chance to have input on the menu.
”At Easter, we had a chocolate cocktail on the menu that was developed by one of our junior staff members, and it was incredible.”
Despite the relaunch being their first foray into the food scene, Canberra has embraced the modern Middle Eastern menu, and Chantelle is proud of their take on Lebanese cuisine.
“We respect traditional Lebanese cuisine but we wanted to present it in a modern way that didn’t compete with anyone’s Tete (grandma),” she says.
”Our menu was developed by a Scotsman, Struan Preston, who didn’t have the burden of a preconceived notion of what the food should be. He worked hard to develop the modern interpretation of the cuisine to our brief that no-one leaves hungry.
“The mantle of head chef has now been passed to Mags Hamilton, who has continued to develop the menu. Her honey grilled halloumi has become one of our best-selling menu items.”
Canberra has embraced Bar Beirut’s modern take on Lebanese cuisine. Photo: Ben Calvert.
Since the venue’s transition from club to restaurant, Soumi and Chantelle have kept the Beirut party vibes going with their weekly belly-dancing nights, which see early patrons treated to dinner and a show.
“When I moved to Australia in 2014, I felt there was a lack of joy in the Australian dining scene,” Soumi reflects.
”The food and service were great but there was a lack of fun. The weekly belly dancing fills that gap – it brings a slice of Lebanese joy.”
Chantelle sees the party vibes and belly dancing show as big drawcards to the restaurant.
“On weekends the restaurant is full of people who are coming from regional towns, Yass, Goulburn, Leeton, all over the place,” she says.
”They’re seeking out an experience that is more than just dinner. We even have people coming from Sydney seeking out our Beirut club culture.”
Popular belly-dancing nights keep the shimmy alive at Bar Beirut. Photo: Avon Dissanayake.
While the shimmying might still be alive with the weekly shows, Soumi and Chantelle have missed the late-night Beirut club vibes of the restaurant’s former iteration, which is why they have set plans in motion to reopen Bunker Bar.
With construction timelines unknown, the venue is secured – just upstairs from the restaurant – in the former residence of Anton’s Hair Salon.
“We’re excited to bring back the shimmy to Canberra,” Soumi says.
”For those wanting to kick on after dinner, we will be sending them up the stairs to the new Bunker Bar. We’re still in the early stage of doing the fitout but we can’t wait for the return of Bunker Bar.”
Bar Beirut is open Tuesday to Saturday 5 pm to 2 am. Belly dancing is performed every Friday and Saturday on the main floor of the restaurant. Book a 6 pm sitting to catch the 6:30 pm show.
Bookings to get your shimmy on can be made online.
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