Cairo is truly the city that never sleeps! Wherever you wander, chances are you will come across a restaurant or a bar that you’ve never noticed before. While some places aren’t well known because they pretty much suck, others deserve some recognition. This list could go for days, but we’ll try to pick our most favourite underrated venues in the city!

 

Cake Cafe

cake cafe

Right opposite Gezira Club, this place might actually be the best breakfast venue in Cairo. With fair prices, the cafe has everything from breakfast and brunch to all types of patisseries, including wedding cakes.

Address: 14 El Gezira Street, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt

Windsor Hotel’s Bar

Windsor Hotel Cairo

What really makes this bar so special is its rich heritage. For many years, Windsor has served as a colonial British officers’ club before being purchased by a Swiss hotelier as an annex of the legendary Shepherds Hotel and converted into the ‘Hotel Windsor-Maison Suisse.’ (We copied this off their website cause we couldn’t have said it better). So you could head there and enjoy a few drinks with old souls who will certainly be sharing some interesting stories.

Address: 19 Alfi Bey Street, Cairo, Egypt

Naguib Mahfouz Cafe

Naguib Mahfouz Cafe

Located at the heart of Khan El-Khalily, this is the only place that makes going through the crowded alleys worth it. The place has a cafe section, for drinks and shisha, and a restaurant that serves some of the best oriental food in town.

Address: 5 El Baddistan Lane, Khan el-Khalili, Cairo, Egypt

Swiss Cottage

swiss cottage

 

Honestly speaking, this place is tacky and looks kinda cheap. As soon as you taste their food, however, you immediately feel like you’re eating out at a restaurant in Europe. The place is a bit pricy, but worth every penny!

Address: 21 Road 254, Degla, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

The Greek

The Greek

Another Maadi place that gives you an authentic European vibe is The Greek. This place is cozy and the staff are all extremely friendly. You get the feeling as if that you’ve been reunited with your long lost Greek family. The food is amazing, and the prices are reasonable.

Address: 19 Road 231, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

The Vegan Kitchen

Vegan kitchen

I know, I know. You’re probably thinking “What kind of hipster stuff is this?” and I agree. I was very skeptical when I first went to try this place. Vegan or not, you’ll enjoy the food there. Everything is very healthy and fresh, you feel as if you’re eating straight from a garden! Their gluten free products are quite addictive as well.

Address: 10 Road 256, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

Raoucha & Kandahar

Kandahar

I bet you must’ve passed by this place a million times before, but never really realised it’s a restaurant. Located right next to the Computer Mall on Sphinx Square, this place has 2 restaurants. Raoucha, a Lebanese restaurant, and Kandahar, an authentic Indian restaurant. The chefs are all natives, and the staff are highly trained. Everything about this place is just excellent.

Address: 3 Gameat Al Dewal Al Arabia, Sphinx Square, Giza, Egypt

Antique Khana

antique khana

 

This place is starting to get quite popular, but not as much as it should. The bistro/gallery is all very vintage, with great food and great art all around. The staff are very helpful, and they let you enjoy your privacy. The place usually hosts musical events, so be sure to check their facebook page for all the updates.

Address: 8 Brazil Street, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt