Welcome, friends, to part two of the Cairo Neighborhood Guide Series! This week, we’ll be checking out Maadi, the “bubble” that keeps locals returning to the same great spots weekend after weekend. It can be a bit overwhelming to an outsider, but that’s what we’re here for today. So let’s get started and dive right in to the most happening spots worth checking out in Maadi.
ACE Club
A fitting place to start for an expat such as myself, although I have yet to visit. Mentioned as a favorite spot by a couple of the Maadi locals I interviewed, the ACE – Association for Cairo Expatriates – Club is right “in the heart of Maadi, Victoria Square to be specific,” says Kurt Galalah, “where Egyptians clash with foreigners in the best way possible.”
The Tap
The Tap was actually one of the first spots I went to in Cairo. I think it was my second day here. Anywho, The Tap is is located next to the Olympic stadium. According to Eric Boussot, “it is a very modern yet English style pub (like the ones that are privately owned in the UK) that has live music from different genres and imported booze as well as… the best buffalo wings you can ever taste.”
Abou El Sid
“Abou El Sid is a great place because it has delicious Egyptian food, shisha, and it serves alcohol… 3-in-1! I love the chilled out vibe; the outdoor area is super cute,” says Aileen Henry.
Khayrat el Sham
Eric calls this spot on road 233 “one of my favorite places… in the whole of Maadi.” Elaborating, “from the beef mixed with fries, garlic dip and greens to a plate called ‘Fattah Mix’ which is a variety of sliced beef and sliced chicken shawarma mixed in fried bread called ‘saj,’ [served with] basmati rice and garlic dip on top.” Sounds pretty delicious to me!
Villa Belle Epoque
Their Instagram account claims they’re “A boutique hotel & restaurant bringing the comfort and elegance of a bygone era to modern-day Maadi.” Kurt says that Villa Belle Epoque is “one of [his] favorite hidden gems in Cairo. You instantly feel like you’re not in Egypt as soon as you step inside this boutique hotel. Corkage is also free so you can always get your own booze for a lovely Friday afternoon there.”
Caracas
Delicious Lebanese food, loads of shisha flavors and a great place to “chill with friends,” according to Eric. “If you’re a fan of shisha, I recommend the place right in front of Greco called Caracas which [is] a Lebanese themed cafe that has very good shisha and good hot beverages.”
Road 9
There’s a whole lot going on around Road 9. Aileen says, “Road 9 is a good place to walk down, with lots of shops and restaurants to choose from. Sometimes it’s just nice to window shop and stretch your legs!” One of Kurt’s favorite spots in Maadi, Italian restaurant Mermaid, can be found here. There’s plenty to explore, make sure to give yourself a whole afternoon to stroll around and window-shop.
Shopping (according to Aileen)
“Nefertari is a great little shop, especially if you’re into natural products. They sell They do gift boxes too, which include some soaps and other Egyptian cotton towels…a great last-minute present idea!”
“Tee-pee is another great little shop in Maadi, also a good place for gifts. They sell lovely house decor items, as well as other knick-knacks. I can’t go in there without buying at least one thing!”
“Carlitos is a great jewelry shop, and sells affordable but quality pieces. They can also make whatever you want, such as your name in Arabic on a necklace. I love spending ages looking through each glass cabinet of jewelry!”
Honorable Mentions
Aileen – “A felluca on the Nile is one of my favorite things to do, as it is so relaxing. I love going at sunset and cruising along with a beer. We bring speakers to listen to music too.”
Eric – “Ovio which is on road 15 ( I think ), it is one of the best places that serves breakfast in the morning and if you are lucky to get a seat as it is always crowded during the morning time. The food is great, always fresh. I would recommend the smoked salmon dish as it’s my favorite.”
Kurt – “I’ll have to go with three different restaurants which I love all the same, but for different reasons, partly because one is Korean (Gaya), Chinese (Joy Luck) and Filipino (Pinoy).”
WE SAID THIS: For those of you that missed last week’s guide, click here to check out what Zamalek has to offer.
