LEBANON IS A MELTING POT of Arab, European, Mediterranean, Eastern and Western cultures, with Beirut at its epicenter. Welcome to the city that never sleeps.

As the traditional workday ends, the capital morphs into a vibrant international city fueled by excitement and chi-chi spots. It’s most notable as you walk along the fabled seaside corniche of this cosmopolitan playground all aglow in light and life. Still, it’s hard to believe more than a decade ago former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri was assassinated on this sundrenched strip in a horrific car bombing.

Since then, the Mediterranean country has undergone a revival and renaissance, and, yes, Beirut is back, bolder than ever. For the LGBTQ community, for the most part Beirut is a gay-friendly destination, but don’t dismiss rumblings as laws are being challenged. Lebanon is in the midst of repealing homophobic laws, with the life-loving Lebanese rattling the chains of change.

If it’s kicking up the heels that appeals, head to gay-friendly Saint-George Yacht Club in Zaitunay Bay, where members of the incorrigible young and eligible crowd mix and mingle. The Mediterranean seaside location is now decked out with ultra-luxe mega-yachts.

Along bustling Hamra Street, one of the main thoroughfares where intellectuals in the 1960s used to gather, find a ribbon of ultra-cool shisha bars, restaurants, sidewalk cafés and pubs like Bodø, known for 6 a.m. late closing times and ladies’ nights on Tuesdays.

But if happy hour is more the thing, call Uber for a quick jaunt east of Zaitunay Bay to fashionable Mar Mikhael for more restaurants and bars like Locale and Lock Stock, both of which offer happy hour retreats.

Meanwhile, in the heart of Beirut’s famed Martyrs’ Square, the bold and the beautiful and those who never scrimp on luxury gather for some joie de vivre at the posh boutique hotel Le Gray. At this multistory of nightlife, also gay-friendly, decide where to hunker down. Perhaps it’s the Sky Bar, the place to be seen in Beirut, or maybe it’s Bar ThreeSixty, the Cigar Lounge, Indigo on the Roof or Cherry on the Rooftop.

Whatever the locale in dynamic Beirut — neighborhood pub, swanky yacht club or boutique hotel — there seems to be no end to the nightlife. The other sure thing is, Beiruters love life.