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

Hello Cairo!

It’s never easy to keep up with the breakneck speed of life in Cairo, but with the weekend at our doorsteps, it’s time to switch off, tune out and generally just lose your inhibitions.

It’s been a busy week at Mizan, and Thursday sees the Maadi venue welcome the ‘Esmo Eh…?’ Theatre Company for Mime Night. Elsewhere, Cairo Jazz Club get the weekend started with a double-header of live music as Deja’vu and Bluenotes perform, while Dokki nightspot, Alchemy, weave some magic with vodka at Shiver.

The Salah El Din Citadel kicks off two days of music with Fete de la Musique, offering an impressive line-up of local bands including Salalem and the Egyptian Project. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Nathalie Saba takes to the stage of Zamalek’s Jazz Mate, while Egyptian Hip Hop Union brings together top local hip-hop talent at El Sawy Culturewheel.

Cairo’s bars and clubs are coming out swinging as always, with Top of the Pops at Tamarai, DJ Simon providing the music at Roof Bar, another edition of Music Loves You Back at Y Lounge and Car Cafe Club hosting its weekly Commercial Night.  

Doing things a little differently this weekend, Almaz are holding a rather peculiar Incognito Costume Party; nothing says naughty like a dressing up, wouldn’t you say?

We begin Friday bright and early at the Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah, where the Zamalek hotel is throwing a La Fete de la Musique of its own, with an eclectic range of live musical acts taking centrestage at several of the hotel’s venues. Elsewhere, Roof Bar’s Summer Splash is offering Cairnenes a bit of sunbathing, drinking and DJ Zizo on the decks.

Somehow making the link between fashion and Ramadan, Arkan Mall welcomes Cairo’s fashionistas and shopaholics to Feminine Touch’s Ahlan Ramadan bazaar. Elsewhere, film lovers will enjoy Balcon Lounge’s Darren Aronofsky Movie Marathon, while Cairo’s musicians are invited to Vibe Studios in Dokki for Open Jam 3.

Later in the day, Baha El Ansari perfroms at 100Copies Music Space and  Hungarian songstress, Sofia Balogh tales to the mic at Jazz Mate one last time.

Things pick up even later in the day at Cairo Jazz Club, where DJs Hassan Abou Alem, Fahmy and Samba will take to the decks, while O Bar hosts another R&B Night and Amici Heliopolis celebrates Cairo’s blessed weather with Summer Atmosphere.

Fitness is the order of the day on Saturday, as Zamalek’s Aquarium Grotto Garden hosts the Heartbeat Zumbathon; a day that will also include live music and entertainment – plus, 75% of the proceeds go straight to the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation. Alternatively, Belly Lorna will help you get a sweat on with Bellydancing for Beginners at Euro Club Heliopolis.

Live music comes courtesy of Sarah El Gohary and Ashara Gharby at Cairo Jazz Club, as well and the always interesting No Comment, who are back at After Eight, while Amici Zamalek pulls out the fondue pots for another Wine & Fondue Night.

On the art-front, several exhibitions are kicking off this weekend, including ‘We are the End of the World’ by Mohamed El Masry at Artellewa and Summer Collection at Picasso Gallery.

These are just a few of the events awaiting you this weekend; check out the Cairo 360 events for more.

Happy Weekend Cairo!