Top ten cafes in Cairo

How to list the top ten cafes in a city of coffee and tea shops, each with they own passionate clientele? Fired up on caffeine, we gave it our best (espresso) shot and came up with these favourites.

Filled with antiques, this characterful café is a cosy place to hang out and enjoy the atmosphere. You can eat dinner, including pizza, while listening to jazz or old music. And, if you fall in love with any antiques, there are some for sale.
8 Brazil Street, Zamalek

https://www.facebook.com/antiquekhana/

This café in the InterContinental Cairo Semiramis Hotel offers great views of the River Nile, although you pay for the setting. It has some nice light bites, including sushi, but the pastries are our favourites.

Corniche El Nile, Downtown

http://semiramis-intercontinental-hotel-cairo-11511.hotel-ds.com/en/

You will find this chain throughout Cairo, where they offer a great alternative to the big brand international names. Sadly, their prices are more international than local but their latte frappe is addictive.

Various

http://www.cilantrocafe.net/

This deserves an entry for being open 24/7 alone, never mind the quality of their coffee as well. Famous for their cappuccino, this café’s motto is “Coffee that’s always the way you like!”. Serving Illy coffee, with sandwiches and a few cakes.

21 Street 233, Maadi

https://www.facebook.com/CoffeeCorner.EG/

One of the oldest cafes in Cairo and the best place to enjoy the passing show of Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar may have a reputation for hosting too many tourists during the day, but it has always come into its own at night. Also open 24 hours a day.

El-Fishawi Alley, Khan al-Khalili

Offering a lovely garden setting in the heart of Cairo, this cosy shop has coffee, backgammon and music. Relax and enjoy the atmosphere over weekend breakfasts or morning coffees.

25 Orabi Street, Maadi

https://www.facebook.com/Elqahwa.khan/

Stick to the main bar if you just want a quick espresso. If you’re feeling braver, your coffee can be customised from a choice of six different beans, then brewed in any way you want, from their signature cold brew to French press.

Point 90 Mall, New Cairo

http://espressolab-eg.com/

The free wifi, outdoor terrace and efficient A/C indoors make this a popular hangout spot for Cairo’s fashionable crowd. It’s still worth battling through them for one of the very best coffees in town. Lovely cakes and cookies are a bonus.

9 64 Road, Maadi

https://www.facebook.com/Cafe-Greco-176622889204550/

A quiet haven amid the bustle of Downtown, Kafein also has walls lined with art to soothe the senses. Live evening jazz sessions are the latest addition to the attractions here, but the focus on the very best coffee remains.

28 Haret Wesst Al Balad, Sherif, Downtown

https://www.facebook.com/kafeinegypt/

This book café is a great place to hang to all day, browsing Arabic or English titles or just reading. They serve sandwiches and pasta dishes but their chocolate cake is the main attraction after the coffee and literature.

12 Sayed El Bakry Street, Zamalek

https://www.facebook.com/Sufibookstoreandmore/