The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Hello Cairo!

This whole heat thing is getting out of control. We’re sick of walking into the office in the morning feeling like we need another shower.  But as traitors and defectors plot their escapes to El Gouna, Sahel and beyond, the Cairo Weekend Guide reminds us that we have all we need in Cairo to live the good life – albeit a few wee compromises.

Thursday is all about Cairo’s nightlife, with DJ Lyon providing an evening of pop-nostalgia at Top of the Pops, DJ Simon spinning at Roof Bar and DJ Feedo dropping some bombs at Otium’s R&B Night.

Options to relax and unwind after a tough week  come courtesy of Alchemy’s Heart of the Equator – where cocktails are the order of the day – and Amici Heliopolis, where Happy Thursday offers Cairenes a spectacular buffet of food and drink.

At the Fairmont Nile City, two more DJs go head-to-head at Student DJ Battle #4, while Cairo Jazz Club hosts an evening of live music, with Daniel Malak and Screwdriver taking to the stage. More live music comes via Live Jazz Night at Jazz Mate in Zamalek and a special Darb Al Ahmar Art School show that will feature the Percussion Show.

Alternatively, authentic Nubian music comes courtesy of NubaNour, who perfrom at El Dammah Theater, while things get grimy at Almaz’s Sha3by Night.  

In one of the standout events of the weekend, the Africa by Egyptian Eyes Festival has a line-up of musicians from around the continent performing by the Great Pyramids of Giza. Meanwhile, the Fountain Park compund in New Cairo unveils its masterpiece of a fountain with a day of bazaars, activites and a special perfromance led by meastro Omar Khairat.

Friday kicks off with ElVenue’s Grand Opening Carnival; starting in the afternoon, the event offers something for everyone, with shopping bazaars, dining options, live music and a special guest star.

Later in the evening, Cairo’s bars and clubs come out to play; Cairo Jazz Club welcomes DJ Mars and DJ Ouzo for a night of house music, Tamarai kicks off the summer with Back 2 Basics Summer Gate, and you’ll have to choose between R&B Night at O Bar and R&B Night at Care Café Club – choice, choices.

There’s more live music today, with the highlight coming at 100Copies Music Space; electronic producer, Maurice Louca, oud player, Khayam Allami, and choreographer, Karima Mansour, combine their talents in a unique performance.

Meanwhile, Jazz Mate hosts a Rockabilly Party, at which local rockers, the Cadillacs, are the guests of honour. Elsewhere, DJ Roro is back at Graffiti and DJs Pedro, Tamer and Disco El Funk provide the entertainment at Otium’s Latin X Party.

Saturday offers an eclectic selection of events, starting at Sufi in Zamalek, where Hanan Mosallam leads a session of Dancing Meditation or at Nūn Center’s weekly Farmers Market.

In the evening, Amici Zamalek gets the fondue pots and wine carafes ready for another Wine & Fondue Night, while Graffiti welcomes the DJ stylings of Onsy & Nataly. Elsewhere, Karaoke Night returns to Deals 2, r&b and hip-hop rings through the air at Almaz’s Sizzling Saturdays and after-hours club, Bamboo, brings a little taste of Beirut to Cairo with Lebanese Love.

New art has, this week, come at Hanager Arts Center, where Andreas Georgiadis’ ‘Crossing the Nile’ exhibition is on show, while ‘Dikotomous’ opened at Al Kahila Art Gallery.  

Remember: this is just a snapshot of the delights that await you this weekend around the capital – check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more!