Café entertainment in Egypt
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A
Simonds
The recent overhaul of this century-old French-style cafe has divided locals: some say that all the faded charm has been thoroughly sterilised, while others welcome the fresh coat of paint and bold new look. Whatever your opinion, at least the coffee is still good.
reviewed
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B
Groppi’s
Distinctly not part of the new coffee wave, Groppi’s high point was more than 50 years ago when it was one of the most celebrated patisseries this side of the Mediterranean, as well as the preferred venue of ritzy society functions and concert dances. Today, the offerings are sadly poor and overpriced, and the tearoom reeks of cheap tobacco. The only hint of glitter remaining is in the beautiful mosaics around the doorway, but it nevertheless continues to appeal to hardcore nostalgia buffs.
reviewed
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C
New Oum Koulsoum Coffee Shop
Pleasant ahwa (coffeehouse) right at the heart of the souq, on a large terrace with welcome mist machines, where you can recover from shopping and haggling in the souq and watch the crowds without any hassle. On the menu are fresh juices (E£10 to E£15), hot and cold drinks and a good sheesha (E£10) as well as ‘professional Nespresso’ coffee (E£15).
reviewed
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D
Metropolitan Café & Restaurant
A pleasant, popular outdoor cafe, right on the Nile, in front of the Old Winter Palace Hotel. Beers (Stella E£15) and a wide selection of cocktails are available, served on a terrace with rattan furniture and mist machines. The perfect place to enjoy a sundowner, but apart from some snacks with the drinks, the food is pretty mediocre.
reviewed
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E
Maratonga Cafeteria
This friendly outdoor cafe-restaurant, in front of Medinat Habu, is the best place to sip a cold drink under a big tree after wandering through Ramses III’s magnificent temple, or have a delicious tagen (E£35) or salad for lunch. The view is superlative and the atmosphere is relaxing.
reviewed
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Sindbad Café
A large pleasant terrace in the grounds of the Wena Hotel, overlooking the back of Luxor Temple, with old rattan chairs. This is a laid-back friendly place serving some of the cheapest cold Stella beer in town, tea and sheesha and simple Egyptian fare including grills and salads.
reviewed
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F
Nile Terrace Café & Bar
The terrace in front of the Old Winter Palace Hotel is the most elegant place in Luxor to watch the sun slowly set over the Theban hills. Starched collars and gin and tonics are the rule here, but there is also ice-cold beer (E£35); or you can order afternoon tea if you prefer.
reviewed
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G
Campione Cafe
We can’t argue with Campione’s slogan: ‘life is too short for bad coffee’. Run by a groovy Alexandrian guy, it serves imported Italian coffee made with a bona-fide imported espresso machine and prepared any way you like it. Latte, anyone?
reviewed
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H
Coffee Roastery
Its fast-food menu, blaring music videos and young staff make this an extremely popular meeting place for groups of young locals. The coffee, served in 30 different ways, is surprisingly good. Don’t bother with the food.
reviewed
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I
Ebad Alrahman
Right in town, Ebad Alrahman fills up with locals at night smoking sheesha, downing tea and slapping backgammon pieces with triumphant vigour. Its tables often spill out onto the town square.
reviewed
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J
Zeytouna
Right in town, Zeytouna fills up with locals at night smoking sheesha, downing tea and slapping backgammon pieces with triumphant vigour. Its tables often spill out onto the town square.
reviewed
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K
Cafeteria Stella
Marked with a tiny red neon sign, this spit‘n’sawdust–style place gets good reviews from Downtown expats, who find it a more cheerful and welcoming place than similar bars nearby.
reviewed
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L
Zahret al-Bustan
Formerly the haunt of intellectuals, journalists and writers, this coffeehouse has more recently become a favourite with backpackers and students from the nearby AUC.
reviewed
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M
Dreamers
Lively cafe open late, where you can smoke a sheesha on an old-fashioned sofa while watching TV with locals, or drink a juice listening to reggae music.
reviewed
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N
Cafeteria Port Tawfiq
Dark and reasonably inviting, which is very typical of Cairo’s Downtown scene.
reviewed
