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

Winter is com…no, only kidding, that phrase is so last year. Instead, let us consider this; winter is fleeting in Egypt, yes, but the cold season’s short stay can be brutal.

But we’re not here to talk about wearing warm clothes or cuddling up the couch with a slanket; let the warm embrace of The Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski wash over you with these five refuse

–Go Oriental at Bab Al Qasr

We all know and love Bab Al Qasr as an outdoor venue, but The Palace have moved things indoors for the coming colder months, offering a cosier Oriental experience with all the expected trimmings.

Top Lebanese and Syrian food, infused with Egyptian flavour? Check. Live Oriental music on-tap? Check? Sizzling belly-dancing performance? Check and then some, thanks to Egypt’s most in-demand belly-dancer, Amie Sultan and live singing.

–Feel the Vibes at Vibes Lounge

There are few more comforting things in the winter than the smell of freshly baked goods – something that there’s plenty of at Vibes Lounge – home to one of the best bakeries in Cairo, where you can enjoy breakfast, take some goodies home or just indulge in some midday munching. Yummy.

-Cuddle Up with Chef Antonio at Lucca

Notice how this (and the below) is labelled Chef Antonio at Lucca rather than just Lucca. You see, many have claimed to offer authentic Italian cuisine over the years, but thanks to the skilled Chef Antonio Carrano, that’s very much a reality at Lucca, where signature dishes include his trademark pizza, as well as homemade gnocchi and risottos.

-Spoon with Chef Prapai at Yana

Chef Prapai Pattamang, meanwhile, has been weaving his own magic at The Palace’s Asian restaurant, Yana, by tailoring his own new menu. Asian cuisine is usually thought of as quick and casual food, but Prapai has taken all the comfort of that and fused it into a fine-dining master-class. The proof? Try Yana’s papaya salad and seared Wagyu beef medallions, or go for classic with some spicy Thai red curry. Better yet, starting November 13, you can enjoy Chef Prapai’s gastronomical creations for lunch, too. Yum.

-Spend a Weekend at The Palace… or a Weekday!

Yes, for the ultimate in closing yourself off into a lap of luxury, The Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski has rooms starting as low as 1590LE per room, per night with beakfast. Though it’s one of the newer hotels in Cairo, The Palace has the kind of lived-in feeling that is so lacking in hotels usually – that intangible x-factor that will make you feel at home and not at some kind of stop-over. Dining, nightlife, wellness are all at your fingertips.

Form more on The Palace, check out the hotel’s Facebook page. Stay warm.