Al-Manhal is a cafe, bakery and library currently being established by a French-Syrian journalist and an American social entrepreneur with a bakery in Beirut. The name translates to "The Fount" – a place to gather and exchange ideas. Set in a lovely Ottoman-era shop, it bakes artisanal wood-fired sourdough bread, focaccia, cookies, and cakes, all made with organic, locally milled Syrian wheat – still a rarity here – along with speciality coffee. On the cosy upper level, it will also soon offer a selection of books to read or lend.