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

A long Easter weekend awaits as Egypt celebrates Sham El Nessim, but while many are adding the last touches there beachside getaways, many are facing the prospect of staying in Cairo, cursing friends, family and acquaintances, many of whom are already on the road to Ain Sokhna, Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh and El Gouna.

But worry not, Cairenes; you’re city has plenty in store.

Thursday sees Downtown Cairo’s Sherezade welcome ISMAEL, Boikutt and Birth of Joy for the D-CAF music closer, while more live music comes courtesy of guitarist, Danny Malak, and rock band, the Cadillacs, at Cairo Jazz Club. Meanwhile, CJC’s sister venue, Alchemy, is having another whiskey infused-night with Molten Amber, while Garden City’s Rooftop Lounge welcomes DJ Baher for a night of tech house.

Elsewhere, Korba bar, the Garden, welcomes DJ Lyon Avakian for We Funk on Thursdays, while Zamalek’s Gu Bar kicks off special two-night party, WKND, with DJ Tony L taking to the decks for the first night.

Also in Zamalek, Peking Lodge welcomes back singer, Dina Saleh, on a night that will also see Mo Ayad flex his DJing muscle, while over at Fairmont Nile City, Noha Taha performs at Saigon Restaurant & Lounge and Riham Mostafa performs at Onyx Lounge.

Speaking of Onyx Lounge, Friday sees Lana perform and night two of Gu Bar’s WKND welcomes DJ Nenio, while Eat & Barrel hosts UAE-based DJ, Kaboo, for another edition of Eat to the Beat.

Deep and commercial house is on the menu at Cairo Jazz Club, meanwhile, courtesy of DJ Miesh, while at the other end of the entertainment spectrum, the Moscow Ballet takes to the Cairo Opera House Stage for the last night of Nutcracker Fantasy.

In one of the more unique events of the weekend, meanwhile, Dandy Mega Mall hosts a ‘Bollywood Extravaganza’ featuring a spectacular Indian dance performance, while El Sawy Culturewheel celebrates Nubian heritage with Torathna; a concert that features a multi-act line-up.

Saturday is a little scarce with events, though Basheer weaves his trademark Nubian-infused music at Cairo Jazz Club and local psychedelic folk-rock band, the Invisible Hands, make a rare appearance, performing at Balcon Lounge in Heliopolis.

Elsewhere, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra takes to the stage at Cairo Opera House and Peking Lodge hosts Karaoke Night, while Ahlein at the JW Marriot Hotel hosts belly-dancer, Amie Sultan.

Things pick up on Sunday, however, with soulful songstress, Michelle Rounds, performing at Cairo Jazz Club, while Rooftop Lounge hosts a special Easter Party with DJ Joe providing the music. There are more Easter shenanigans at Cavallini in Heliopolis, meanwhile, who kick off the first of two-night party, Easter Groove, while Amie Sultan is back in action, but this time at Giza after-hours club, Bamboo.

Another belly-dancer, Nesma, performs at Almaz’s Easter Bells & Cymbals alongside DJ Eslam, while Peking Lodge’s own Easter Party welcomes back singing duo, Mona & Amr.

Monday is all about Easter brunch and there’s no shortage of options across the city’s hotels. Fairmont Nile City are hosting a buffet, live music and activities for kids at its Skypool and Kempinski are doing likewise, while Four Seasons Nile Plaza’s Lebanese restaurant, Zitouni, is hosting breakfast and lunch buffets, too.

More Easter dining options come in the form of Sham El Nessim Day at Four Seasons First Residence’s Aura, while New Cairo’s Dusit Thani Lakeview is doing Sham El Nessim with a touch of Thai flair at Ruen Thai’s Taste of Thailand brunch.

These are just a few of the options available, though the likes of Fairmont Nile City, Conrad Cairo, Kempinski and Marriott have other offers and promotions covering dining, special room rates and more – which we’ve put in one convenient place here.

Later in the evening, Cairo Jazz Club welcomes Student DJ finalist, Nourre Fahmy, and former winners, Aguizi & Fahim, for a night of tech-house, while Easter Groove moves into its second night at Cavallini, as does Easter Bells & Cymbals at Almaz.

With the city set to be significantly less crowded of the Easter break, the next few days are the perfect opportunity to take to enjoy some art and there’s plenty to see.

This week saw the launch of CARAVAN’s annual travelling exhibition – this year titled, The Bridge – and is currently showing at SODIC’s West Town Hub, while Mashrabia Gallery in Downtown Cairo hosts Mohamed Abdalla’s unique exhibition, Parallel Life. Elsewhere, Art Lounge Cairo is exhibiting Halla Erfan Shafey’s I Have a Garden, Nile Art Gallery hosts Reda Abdel Salam’s In Search of Ecstasy Amid Forgotten Times, and Darb 1718 recently launched sound instillation, Ritornello, while music lovers can catch Steve Double’s Here We Are Now photography at Maadi bar, the Tap.

These are just a few of the events taking place over the break – check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more and Happy Easter!