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

Finally! The weekend we’ve all been waiting for; we think we speak for everyone when we say this Eid break couldn’t have come any sooner. If you’re feeling a little disheartened about not following the masses to the beach, don’t worry, there’s plenty to do, right here at your doorstep.

Diving straight in with some serious partying tonight, Y Lounge’s ‘El Wa2fa Night‘ welcomes a number of DJs whilst Underground Nights are back for some hardcore raving at Mercedes Villa. For something a little more low-key, Jazz Mate invite Sarah Essam and Roberto Rashad to jazz things up and it seems the Swiss Inn hotel is getting in the mood too, bringing some exotic, Latin sounds to their pool party.

For a more ‘mature’ evening, head to the Oum Kolthoum Museum where Eman Abdelghani will be singing live for one night only. Alternatively, prepare to sing the night away to old classics performed by the boys and girls of the Group Classic at El Sawy Culturewheel.   

Thursday sees the long-awaited re-opening of favourite nightspot, Cairo Jazz Club, with some explosive sets from DJs Hussein Fahmy and Fabric. DJ Carlos makes a come-back at O Bar’s House Arrest, too, and Bamboo get firmly ‘Back in the mix’ with DJs Zizo and 3bkarino. Over in Heliopolis, Sun City’s Cavallini is throwing its own ‘Eid Party‘ with DJ Mash on the decks.

Friday’s a big one, as roof-top sun-trap, Roof Bar, hosts an all-day pool party, teaming lots of tanning with plenty of cocktails. Sophisticated nightspot Tamarai flings open its doors for an Eid party with DJ Lyon, whilst regular R&B nights return to O Bar as if they’d never left – with DJ Feedo spinning the best gangster beats.

Zamalek’s staple watering-hole, Amici, gets back into the swing of things with ‘Summer Reboot‘. Over in Giza, Car Cafe Club is brewing up a riot at ‘El Wa2fa Night‘ with DJ Hook, and Cavallini sees DJs Khaled Hussein and Yassin spin tracks side by side. Otium are getting ‘On the Mix‘ with DJs Pedro and Tamer and, if you’re still standing by the end of the night, after hours bar, Bamboo, carries the party onwards with DJs Kiko and 3abkarino – for the second night running. 

Recover from the weekends mayhem on Saturday with a chilled performance from local group Ashara Gharby at Cairo Jazz Club. One Man Show, ironically made up of both Tony and Nedal, grace Sun City’s Cavallini before DJ A.R takes over as usual.

If you fancy a more cultured weekend, as always, Cairo is offering up a series of art exhibitions for your viewing pleasure.  Recently opened exhibition ‘Masterpieces XI’ shows off the work of over twenty artists at Zamalek Art Gallery. Other group exhibitions include the on-going ‘Khadra 2013‘ at Darb1718 and ‘Urban Visions’ at GIZ. 

Whatever you do, remember to be good – but if you can’t be good, be safe. Happy Eid, Cairo!