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

Image via Il Pannello

Drinking coffee together is already a fantastic way to spend time with your loved ones. However, if you ever want to add depth to your hangout experience and decrease your screen time, then doing a side activity is the answer. Group activities are one of the best ways to enrich your bonds with others; they boost your mental health and give you a great sense of community and belonging. Also, doing something with your own hands while engaging with your company helps you live more mindfully and stay in the present.

These six cafés in Cairo serve excellent quality food and beverages while providing a welcoming environment in which to do something different and have fun.

Il Pannello Ceramic Café

Image via Il Pannello

Il Pannello represents such an interesting combo. It’s a ceramic painting studio, a restaurant, a café, and a bar that co-exists in perfect harmony in a two-story cosiness in Heliopolis. The café’s painting activities are that you get to choose a pottery piece of your preference from their numerous pieces of mugs, plates, or bowls, and they give you a painting kit to sit and paint in peace while you’re drinking your coffee or eating your pasta. Then, after you finish your ceramic artwork, they will have it ready in their oven, and you can receive the final ceramic piece within a week.

The ceramic painting activity adds an interesting touch to the usual breakfast or lunch with your partner, friends, or any group, enabling you to strengthen your bond by creating art together. Besides that delightful fun, Il Pannello serves strong, delicious coffee, outstanding Italian pasta and pizza, and a well-executed menu that covers all kinds of meals and beverages, including vegetarian options.

Room Art Space

Image via Room Art Space

For a thrilling night of the performance arts, Room Art Space holds karaoke nights weekly, every Tuesday in Garden City, every Wednesday and Thursday in their New Cairo branch. An exciting way to spend time with your friends and discover your hidden talents surrounded by lovely company. Their other group activity events include trivia nights and open mic nights for all kinds of performers. 

For the food and beverages part, Room’s menu has a variety of fresh foods, rich, strong coffee, and other refreshments. Room Art Space also holds frequent concerts and stand-up comedy shows by a variety of underground extraordinary artists. You can check out all of their events and services here.

Mamushka Cooking Experience

Image via Mamushka

Ever wanted to try cooking with your partner or friends? Mamushka Cooking Experience is the answer. Don’t risk messing up your own kitchen, and enjoy an interactive curated experience in Maadi. Prepare a variety of delicious foods with your own hands with high-quality ingredients, love, and tons of fun.

Mamushka provides private dinners, date nights, exclusive cooking classes, events, catering, and special events for occasions, which must be reserved by contacting them through WhatsApp. You can cook pasta, pizza, chocolate, and several other options.

Emm & Demiane’s

Image via Emm & Demiane’s

An adorable ground level and yard in Maadi that is full of vibrant spirits coming together to learn or create their signature art. Emm & Demiane’s is a cultural centre holding specialised art courses that include musical instruments, acting, writing, painting, sculpting, and so much more. The classes cater to beginners and pros, encouraging everyone to embrace their creative sides.

Besides serving fantastic rich coffee and snacks, Emm & Demiane’s also holds karaoke nights, small indie concerts, yard sales, and occasional hangouts, which makes it a great spot for bonding activities and being a part of a passionate community.

The Dog Café

Image via The Dog Café

Spend your day in the stunning outdoors surrounded by the cutest creatures. The Dog Café is a place where you can hang out with your friends while making new ones with the fluffiest doggos residing at the cafe in Zayed. 

The Dog Café serves nourishing, flavourful breakfasts, tasty coffees, and a huge portion of pure love and cuteness. A perfect space for hanging out or working outside in a stress-free environment, guaranteed to receive love and good energy all around.

Diwan Bookstore

Image via Google

For a quiet hangout, sip and read your favourite books at Diwan Bookstore at their Downtown, Maadi, Zamalek, Heliopolis, or Zayed branches. Besides a structured selection of Arabic and English Books, Diwan serves delicious coffee, sandwiches, and pastries in a calm ambience to enjoy reading quietly with your company.