Before I first visited Chez Maguy’s in Batroun, I’d heard plenty of rumors that it was the place to try for great seafood, and go figure – it’s literally right ON the sea! Can’t get any fresher than that, right? The rumors were true, needless to say, and I love visiting this little restaurant shack whenever I’m in Batroun.





Rather than going to a commercial seafood restaurant, as you’ll find scattered all along the coast with flaring Arabic music and impatient staff, try something different. Chez Maguy’s doesn’t promise to offer much more than what it is: A small shack built right on the sea with no frills or fuss, just a whole lot of personality and a pretty creative use of recycled furniture. Few of the chairs actually match, but that mix-and-match works for this shack that’s also built in a very mix-and-match manner on the sea coast. Engineers would have a party analyzing how it was built and is still standing in that way.
Every time I visit it with friends from abroad or just for a little city get-away with friends, I’m charmed by the little knick-knacks she’s added to her decor. It’s so personal, and go figure – it’s also her home. It’s almost as though someone’s inviting you to have a bite at their place and that kind of casual atmosphere makes Chez Maguy’s so welcoming. You’ll find local children walking in, playing in the sea underneath the shack and plenty of tourists. I can’t help but compare it to Le Chef (in Gemayze) in its popularity with the foreigners as a (not-so) secret spot to try off the beaten tourist track.
Maguy herself is quite the character – and a boisterous one at that. You’ll find her joking around with her staff, always in a swimsuit ready for a quick dive when it gets too hot and letting out a deep-hearted laugh in the background somewhere. Besides the food, the experience itself is what keeps me coming back. Having just visited it again this weekend, I’m even more tempted to pack up and move to some exotic beach and open up a restaurant shack to enjoy the simple life (Chez Loryne perhaps?). Maybe in the future, who knows?
Call Maguy on 03-439147 if you’re ever in Batroun to reserve a table (it gets pretty crowded during the peak tourist seasons). Come hungry with your bathing suits and get ready for a small escape from city life. For an inside story, ask her about the turtle.







































