This Valentine’s Day, instead of just laying a long wet one on your date's waiting lipps, why not add a spark of romance in a beautiful setting? Danny Qiblawi and Colette Cavanagh point out Beirut’s 5 best kissing spots...

1 Pull your loved one into a cart, wait till you get to the very top, and hope that it stops while you’re up there. The ferris wheel at Luna Park at the Manara allows for a gorgeous view of the sea that will have anyone with an ounce of romance in them quaking at the knees. While you’re at it, try some of the other cute couple rides and enjoy some messy, sticky cotton candy that’ll give you even more excuses to touch each other’s lips.
Luna Park General de Gaulle Ave, Near Sporting Club, Manara.

2 Another spot that many a lover has memories of is the Marina, Dbayeh. The wave breakers make for perfect niches, giving you and your companion the privacy needed to lounge, wrapped up tight in each others arms. It also provides for a great view of the sunset and will blow away any worries of cold weather. Once the sun is down, why not enjoy a hand-in-hand walk around the marina? Or, if you’re feeling feisty, there’s just enough obscurity for naughty nibbling.
Marina, Dbayeh

3 These stairs have been the hideaway of almost every star-crossed student couple that attended the American University of Beirut. We can even imagine that a few professors have snuck their way to these steps as well. The stairs are nestled in a forest, sheltered by the leaves of looming trees, creating a picturesque nature feel for your encounter. Enjoy a little role playing - she can pretend she’s Pocahontas and he can be John Smith, out in the wild.
AUB Steps AUB Campus, Main Gate entrance, Bliss Str, Hamra.

4 If you’re feeling cultural, or if one of you is a foreigner discovering Beirut, head to Pigeon Rock, one of Beirut’s most famed landmarks. There are two ways to make the trip particularly romantic. The less adventurous, but still pretty cute idea is to take a walk nearby, crossing over the fence lining the pavement, to the edge of the cliff - take in a stunning view of the rock and the sea and enjoy a nice smooch. The other, bolder and whackier idea is to hire a local fisherman with a dinghy to take you on a ride under the rock. Don’t forget to scream while cuddling when you’re directly beneath the rock - it’s a local tradition!
Pigeon Rock General de Gaulle Ave, Manara.

5 Maybe you’re a married couple, and you can’t shake off the kids, or maybe you’ve chosen to spend the day as a family. Jdeideh Public Park is a great place where you can let the kids loose with a football while you both perch yourselves on a swinging bench, hands clasped and fingers intertwined. You could lean against each other and maybe lock lips a couple of times, reminding yourselves how lucky you are to have found each other.
Jdeideh Public Park Kanayess Str, near intersection with Hikmeh Str, Jdeideh