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

Once December arrives, the city gets all prepped up for a season to remember. Every venue brings a wide range of Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations, but the Semiramis InterContinental Cairo offers more than just the usual Christmas celebrations.

From the 1^st to the 7^th of December, join the Embassy of Italy’s World’s Italian Cuisine Week celebration at the hotel’s Italian restaurant Pane Vino, where this fourth edition sees Chef Giovanni and his skilled team deliver a menu of Antipasto all’Italiana, Spaghetti alla Carbonara, and Fritto Misto. The second level restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, from 12.30 PM to 1.00 AM, while the terrace is open from 11.00 AM to 1.00 AM.

On Friday, December the 5^th, the hotel’s Thai restaurant, Birdcage, celebrates Thailand’s National Day, with Chef Narong serving a deliciously fragrant 5-course meal that includes the restaurant’s signature Shrimp Konafa. Located on the 2^nd floor, Birdcage is open daily from noon to 4.00 PM for lunch, and from 7.00 PM to 12.00 AM for dinner.

As for Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations, Birdcage, with its serene setting, celebrates, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day with an exclusive à la carte menu, and numerous set menus for New Year’s Eve. Lobby-level Indian restaurant India Along the Nile celebrates the season in a colourful wrap of rich Indian culture, offering a round of exotic tastes from the à la carte menu, or its special tasting menu.

Sushiramis is also ready for the season with a colourful spectrum of sushi items that will satisfy your sushi craving. You can enjoy the restaurant’s sushi range at any of the hotel’s culinary outlets.

The festive season comes with a Lebanese twist at Sabaya, where à la carte menus are awaiting on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, offering a selection of Levantine delicacies. When New Year’s Eve arrives, Sabaya throws a massive celebration, serving a host of delightful mezzehs to savour over the sound of the Oriental beats.

Pane Vino celebrates the Italian way on Christmas Eve, bringing Ahmed Harfoush to the stage for a host of jazzy tunes, on a night that also sees a special dinner. As for New Year’s Eve, the Italian restaurant serves a round of specialities that comes with live entertainment.

With a live pianist and flautist, The Grill’s Christmas Eve celebration, Noël sur le Nil, comes with a set menu created especially for the season, while its New Year’s Gala Dinner Dance includes a special menu, and live music. The venue also opens its doors for private Christmas celebrations.

Night & Day serves another classic Christmas Day Brunch, offering a range of international delights that cater to all tastes, in addition to a diversity of activities for all family members. Welcoming 2020 with a bang; Cleopatra Ballroom brings a unique New Year’s Eve party, where scrumptious food meets a surprise entertainment programme.

Haroun El Rashid brings a star-studded New Year’s Eve party, which will end 2019 on an Oriental tone.

All through December, expect live music by the Trio Band, and pianist Iman Shaker at the hotel’s Tea Garden, where a round of delightful canapés and traditional Christmas desserts are served. Speaking of desserts, Café Corniche is ready for the season with an array of Christmas classics that are available for takeout; from Yule logs to chocolate Santa, and gingerbread cookies. On Christmas Day, the pastry shop sees a special appearance by Santa, picture-perfect ready to take holiday snaps with the children.

If a private function is is how you want to celebrate, the hotel has numerous ballrooms to cater for any number of guests, ready to host your Christmas or New Year’s events.

If you’re hosting a Christmas party at home, and you don’t want to get through the preparations hassle, Semiramis InterContinental Cairo has you covered with an army of  professionals that will take care of everything;  from the menu selection to service, and even the cutlery and presentation.

For more information and reservations, call 02-27988188.