Welcome to the first installment of my Cairo Neighborhood Guides Series! Today we’ll (virtually) travel to the ‘hood of Zamalek, where we’ll check out all the cool places to eat, drink and relax. I’ve interviewed several locals to get their input on what they think is the best Zamalek has to offer.
O’s Pasta
#Farfalle #Basil #Tomato #Oliveoil #Garlic #Pasta #passionforpasta #barilla #delicious #ospasta
A photo posted by Ospasta (@ospasta) on Oct 31, 2016 at 11:54am PDT
Mentioned by every single person I interviewed, O’s Pasta was high on everyone’s list. Omar El-Deeb said “O’s Pasta is the best pasta I’ve had in Egypt,” going on to say that it is a cozy spot with few tables and mentioned that the owner is always there, making sure that his original recipes are received well by his guests.
Maison Thomas
Another restaurant mentioned nearly across the board, this Zamalek favorite has been around since 1922! Biko Ibrahim said, “Thomas Maison is the best place for pizza!” while Omar backed up his assertion calling it a classic with its own style of pizza.
L’Aubergine
“Best place to have a drink at is definitely L’Aubergine,” says Biko, while Myrna Ghanem lists it as one of the best spots to go for gourmet food. It was also the first Zamalek restaurant to offer a vegetarian menu.
Cairo Opera House
I’m just going to let this quote speak for itself regarding the Opera House: “The name is probably misleading, by Western ‘standards’ of what an Opera House is or isn’t, but there’s something for everyone, and I appreciate that an awful lot,” says Hilary Baboukis, “you will hear all sorts of lovely things there, from Aida and the pro orchestra and ballet company, down through the ranks to recitals by professionals, recitals by less-[than]-professionals, pop shows and so on. It has a good ‘split’ between Western and Arabic music, and it also features the ballet and the opera companies regularly, and the orchestra pretty much every Saturday night, and and and… Lots happens there.”
Get outside!
A good friend and long-time Zamalek resident, Noor, is particularly fond of the many nature-y things that Zamalek has to offer. From the century-old willow tree near Dino’s Café to the Zamalek Grotto and Obour Garden, there are plenty of places to relax and take in the scenery. The grotto, also known as the Fish Grotto or Fish Garden, is a man-made cave that used to be an aquarium but is now home to thousands of fruit bats. Right across the street you can find benches in Obour Garden upon which to relax and “see all kinds of birds and nice trees.” They have a 5LE entry fee, but the cafeteria that serves hot and cold drinks has no minimum.
Honorable Mentions
Myrna – “If you’re looking for something more casual there’s this trend of burgers that’s been going on for a few years now so Burger Factory and Mince are good for that, and fancy local food would be Zooba or Cairo Kitchen… also Baraka the shawarma guy on Brazil street.”
Omar – “Makino is an authentic Japanese place opened by Japanese businessmen who missed their food back home…So it’s legit!”
Biko – “There is Crave which is awesome and Euro Deli is perfect. Chick Shack is also a great place for Chicken. Mori Sushi and Fuego are the best places for Sushi in Zamalek.”
Noor – “The Flamenco Hotel bar is my favorite place for drinks. It’s on the ground floor. It’s really nice, cozy.”
WE SAID THIS: Stay tuned next week for another installment of your friendly, local Cairo Neighborhood Guide Series! Coming up we have Maadi, Dokki and Mohandeseen and who knows what else!
