Hotel Crillon

Smack-dab on the Corniche, this place has oodles of character but is a little rough around the edges. It boasts high ceilings, cream and white painted walls, and balconies with cane furniture and a divine vista. That said, the furnishings are a bit worse for wear, the shared bathroom could be cleaner, and there’s no fan or air-con. You can have breakfast served on your balcony – ask for the traditional Egyptian spread of fuul (fava beans cooked with garlic and garnished with olive oil and spices), with cumin, paprika, salt and lime, and eat it while admiring the view of the graceful sweep of the harbour.