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

Having just opened at Sheikh Zayed’s Arkan Plaza, this beautifully chic restaurant has delightfully surprised us. Delicious tapas and many tasty creations are all on La Ventana’s speciality menu. Furthermore, the interior is top-notch. Every corner is different, and there are beautiful attributes everywhere to be seen. Soak up the tropical Spanish vibe while you dig into well thought sharing plates and delicious paellas. Whether you choose to dine alfresco or cosy up at a table inside, La Ventana’s vibe is one for the books for sure.

We visited a couple of days after their soft opening. The place was beautifully decorated with greenery, trendy, modern wooden tables, and utterly stylish Spanish elements – especially the indoor area. We took a seat outdoors as the wintery sun was rather refreshing and began to order one non-alcoholic Sangria Jug to share (200 LE). The Sangria was a party of flavours, with cinnamon sticks, orange slices, mixed berry juices and crunchy apples – it was pretty enjoyable in the crisp warm weather. We then decided to get one tapas plate to share as well. We settled on the Mejillones con Tomate (85 LE) – mussels with herbs, homemade tomato salsa, and harissa. This appetiser came in hot, spiced, and the salsa was herbaceous heaven—the texture was a bit watery, but the garlicky flavour of the mussels was on-point.

You can’t go to a Spanish place without ordering at least one paella dish, right? We got ourselves one serving of Paella Senyoret (270 LE) – seafood paella with peeled prawns, mussels, and sepia. This paella was a work of art; the rice was creamy, flavourful, and perfectly spiced with the authentic Mediterranean palette, while the seafood had that delicate yet firm bite we all crave. We also had ordered the Rulo de Pollo (180 LE) – slow-cooked chicken roll with spinach, manchego cheese, mushrooms, and black pepper sauce. Even though it didn’t strike us as Spanish or Mediterranean, the dish was fantastic. The roasted potatoes were fork-tender, the chicken had a delicious colour and went along great with the creamy pepper sauce.

After this beautifully presented meal had finished, we couldn’t wait until we got the sweet part. We browsed through the dessert section and finally ordered the Banoffee de la Ventana (100 LE) – banana ice cream with peanut crumble, chocolate, and caramelised banana. This unique mix of flavours was impressive; the chocolaty tones with the soft banana married well with the crunchy peanuts and velvety ice cream – simple and subtly sweet flavour flawlessness.

Our experience was exceptional in every way; the atmosphere, the food, the staff, and everything resulted in an unforgettable experience. The prices were reasonable for a casual meal out, making La Ventana a value for money restaurant to add to your list.