Latakia is a coastal city in Syria with a cosmopolitan vibe. It's a more liberal city and seems to have a lot of youth and places to hang out. If you're missing western food, you can head over to the "American Quarter". It's a neighborhood with a cluttering of restaurants. Here you can find pizzerias, a diner, Mexican, and Italian restaurants. The food itself probably won't calm your cravings, but you can get some descent lasagna. The pizza is another story, and is really best avoided. The atmosphere of the neighborhood is also quite interesting. It gives you a little insight into how western and American culture is perceived here.