A dad's guide to a Saturday in Jounieh with the kids
A good Saturday with the kids in Jounieh can be simple: book them into a hands-on workshop or supervised play at Luciole in Jounieh Souks, then sit in the café next door with a coffee and breakfast. On Saturdays the café opens at 8 am and workshops start at 10 am, and Luciole welcomes dads, single fathers and every kind of family.
Saturday morning. The kids are up at seven, full of energy, and the day is yours to fill. Maybe it is your weekend with them. Maybe their mother is working, travelling or just taking a well deserved morning off. Either way, you want a plan that keeps them busy, lets them make something with their hands, and still leaves you a moment to breathe.
Here is the plan we see work again and again at Luciole.
Is Luciole only for moms?
No. Luciole was founded by two moms, Jinane and Sophanie, and it is built for families. That means dads, single fathers, grandparents, uncles, anyone who shows up for a child on a Saturday. The atelier welcomes your kids whoever brings them, and the café & bistro is open to everyone, with or without children.
So if you have ever walked past a kids' space and wondered whether it was "a mom thing", you are in the right place. Come in, order a coffee, and let the kids get messy.
A simple Saturday plan
| Time | For the kids | For you |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am | Arrive at the Chiha Building, Jounieh Souks, and have breakfast together in the café | A croissant and a coffee in the café |
| 10:00 am | A hands-on workshop or supervised play by the hour | A second coffee, the newspaper, a call you have been putting off |
| Midday | Show you what they made | Lunch together: a sandwich for you, something to share |
| Afternoon | A walk around the souks | Takeaway dessert for later |
This is only a starting point. Some dads stay for one workshop and leave. Others make a full morning of it. You decide.
What will the kids do?
The atelier runs hands-on workshops and supervised drop-off play by the hour. Think crafts, building and making things they can carry home with pride. If you want ideas for the kind of activities on offer, our guide to kids' workshops in Jounieh walks through them.
Got a toddler?
Little ones aged 1 to 3 join sensory play with a parent. That is a lovely hour for a dad and a toddler: hands in the materials, no screens, just the two of you discovering things together.
Older kids
Older children can join supervised play while you sit in the café. The café is a separate space, quiet, with a view over Jounieh Souks and the roundabout, so you can actually enjoy your coffee while they create.
What should you order?
The bistro menu works for a hungry dad at any hour of the morning. A few ideas from the current menu (it may change with the season):
- Quick start: a cheese, thyme or chocolate croissant ($2.5) with your coffee.
- Proper breakfast: the omelette ($12) or the turkey & cheese croissant ($10).
- Lunch: the truffle chicken sandwich ($10), the croque monsieur ($13) or the turkey & cheese ciabatta ($13).
- To share with the kids: sun-dried tomato hummus ($10) or the creamy spinach dip ($9).
- The reward: Nutella mousse ($5) or cheesecake ($8).
Tips for a smooth dad day
- Book ahead on WhatsApp. Send the kids' ages and the time you want to arrive, and we will confirm what is running.
- Feed them first. A croissant before the workshop means fewer meltdowns during it.
- Bring a spare T-shirt. Hands-on means hands-on. Paint happens.
- Keep your phone on. If they are in supervised play, the team needs to reach you at any moment.
- Let them show you. Ask what they made and how. It is the best part of the day.
Single dad? This is for you too
If you are raising your kids on your own, or you have them every other weekend, Saturdays carry a lot of weight. You want the time to count. A morning where they create something and you get a calm coffee is not a luxury, it is how you both arrive at lunch in a good mood. You will find other parents here, dads included, doing exactly the same thing.
Looking for more ideas for the rest of the weekend? Read our list of things to do with kids in Jounieh.
Good to know
- Where: Chiha Building, 1st floor, Jounieh Souks, Keserwan.
- Café & bistro hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Closed Mondays.
- Atelier hours: Tuesday to Friday, 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Closed Mondays.
- Booking: WhatsApp +961 81 540 282.
- Takeaway and delivery: available from the café.
