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Nabil and Zoe Debs are the founders of Arthaus, a collection of home-style boutique hotels in locations like Beirut and Havana. Art is a cornerstone of the collection, and each guesthouse has been a former home to the couple, who relocated to Lebanon after years in Europe.
This interview is part of The World Made Local, a global collaboration between the seven international editions of Condé Nast Traveler in which 100 people in 100 countries tell us why their home turf should be your next destination.
How would you describe Lebanon’s creative scene?
Lebanon’s creative scene is certainly striving—we have chain exhibitions of visual art, an array of cutting-edge designers, and local entrepreneurs taking advantage of the financial crisis. As a consequence, qualified labor is cheap, allowing us to domestically produce gin, whiskey, wine, fashion, and furniture, adding to an ever-growing list.
If someone is visiting for the first time, where are places they should visit?
In Lebanon, they must go to Beirut’s unmissable [nearby cities]: Baalbek, Byblos, Batroun, and Tyre.
What’s one thing you wish people knew about Lebanon, but often don’t?
Lebanon has an important and beautiful coast but is also mainly a mountainous country. Each valley has its own wild fauna and different culinary specialties; there’s so much to discover. It’s also got such diverse terrain: Being able to move within 90 minutes from ground level to 3,000 meters in altitude allows the Lebanese to grow all sorts of fruits and vegetables because the temperature and climate are so varied.
When you’re looking to get inspired, where do you go?
The nature in Lebanon is very inspiring; there’s so much of it. But simply walking in and out of the amazingly romantic and unspoiled archaeological sites is amazing—there’s so many from different periods to explore.
What makes where you live unique?
Lebanon—and particularly Beirut—is a giant lab. People get inspired and are willing to try anything, to bring something new to the table, and they’re not afraid of failure. If one thing doesn’t work out, they’ll immediately pick themselves up and start on another idea. People are incredibly resilient.
Follow Nabil Debs on Instagram @nabildebs
