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

Health and fitness have been increasingly popular amongst Cairenes. The growing trendiness of this lifestyle has inspired many to open restaurants and cafes that cater to the needs of those trying to eat clean. So naturally, when we heard about Lyfe, a new healthy eatery in Maadi, we simply had to give it a try.

Upon entering, you’ll be welcomed with an incredibly cosy and earthy atmosphere. It’s easy to feel at home here, with many customers using their laptops or even meeting for study groups. The soothing colours and down-to-earth décor guarantee a feel-good dining experience.

We started out with an antioxidant wellness shot (20 LE), because why not? As one would expect from a shot made up of beetroot, activated charcoal, and spinach, it was a bit bitter. However, it tasted freshly made and all the vitamins certainly make up for the mildly bitter taste. We then went for the Quinoa Salad (85 LE) which is a great option for anyone following a plant-based diet. This salad comes with quinoa, lentils, tomatoes, fresh herbs, avocado, and a lemon vinaigrette dressing. It had an all-around wholesome taste and was quite satisfying, as it was filled with protein and healthy carbs. The dressing was delicious, but the salad could have used some more flavour overall. Perhaps ask for extra lemon and some salt and pepper. Unfortunately, there was not enough avocado for the size of this dish.

We moved on to the Grilled Chicken Hummus Wrap (70 LE) and the Green Chicken Curry (120). The wrap had an amazing flavour and just felt incredibly fresh. It comes with a side of baked potatoes which were just the right amount of crispy. The curry also had great flavour but was a bit dry. Some more sauce would have been beneficial, and the rice did feel a bit overcooked. However, the portion size of chicken and mushrooms was perfect. Many restaurants can be a bit stingy when it comes to the meat and vegetables in a sauce, but Lyfe certainly did not hold back.

We finished off with one of the smoothies and a freshly squeezed, cold-pressed juice. We tried the Broc-n-roll Smoothie (40 LE) which contains broccoli, kiwi, and lemon. We ordered this is mostly because, I mean, BROCCOLI in a smoothie? We were extremely curious. Much to our surprise, this smoothie was incredibly sweet. The combination of kiwi and broccoli is perfectly balanced and the lemon added a fresh tangy flavour. We highly recommend this smoothie to anyone dining here. Also, it’s a lovely bright green colour and it’s not a bad way to get your veggies in for the day! As for the juice, we settled on the Immunity (35 LE) which contains orange, carrot, and ginger. This was not as sweet as the smoothie, but it definitely fulfilled its purpose. Its also important to remember that there are no added sugars to the juices, so all the sweetness comes from natural fruit sugars. Keeping this in mind ensures a rewarding feeling of filling your body with good stuff.