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

With Ramadan just a few days away, Cairo is bubbling with festive vibes, as we embark on a month of fasting, shorter work hours and lavish food.

With some of the best restaurants and most seasoned kitchens in town, there’s a certain grandeur that the city’s hotels bring to Ramadan. The World Cup may dominate minds, but with special menus, buffets, Ramadan kheimas and more, here’s what some of the city’s top hotels have in store.

Fairmont Nile City

Fairmont Nile City is taking a nostalgic take on Ramadan, with Bab El Nil. Screening World Cup matches and Ramadan TV shows throughout on the hotel’s rooftop Sky Pool, for a classic Ramadan atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Napa Grill is offering a fetar buffet for 280LE. For reservations, call 02-2461-9494

Fairmont Heliopolis

Events Pluw, Event House and Promovision have teamed up with Fairmont Heliopolis again to resurrect the ever popular Si Omar Ramadan tent for 2014 along the hotel’s pool. Offering fetar and sohour, Si Omar will also be screening all the World Cup matches a special selection of shisha flavours. For reservations, call 16989.

Le Méridien Cairo Airport

The newest kid on the block, Le Méridien Cairo Airport, is going all out at restaurant, EVOO, with fetar and sohour buffets on offer. For more information and reservations, call 02-2265-9600.

InterContinental Semiramis

Hundreds of football fans have been flocking to InterContinental Semiramis’ Capoeira Lounge, which offers an excellent setting for World Cup viewing. When the tournament is over, Capoeira Lounge will continue as a Ramadan tent. For reservations, call 02 27971818.

Four Seasons First Residence

The ever so slightly kitschy Four Seasons First Residence gets even kitschier with Ramadan tent, La Gourmandise. Putting a modern twist on the traditional kheima La Gourmandise – as well as Aura Restaurant – is set to offer a number of fetar and sohour options. For reservations, call 02-3567-1600.

La Gourmandise

Fetar Buffet: 300LE
Sohour Set Menu: 200LE
Sohour A La Carte Menu: 150LE Minimum

Aura

Fetar Set Menu: 280LE
Sohour Set Menu: 220LE
Fetar A La Carte Menu: 150LE Minimum
Sohour A La Carte Menu: 150LE Minimum

For reservations, call 02-3567-1600.

Four Seasons Nile Plaza

Across the river, Four Seasons Nile Plaza won’t be hosting a tent like its sister hotel, but it does offer a range of Ramadan dining options across its restaurants.

Lebanese restaurant, Zitouni, offers a Ramadan buffet of traditional Egyptian dishes, while the hotel’s outdoor lounge, Pool Grill, will have fetar and sohour with a special selection of shisha flavours.

Elsewhere, Bella is doing Ramadan Italian style for fetar. For reservations, call 02-2791-7000

Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah

Zamalek’s Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah is home to some of the most popular hotel restaurants in Cairo and isn’t holding any of the stops for Ramadan, with special menus and entertainment at Moroccan restaurant, La Palmeraie and Egyptian grill, El Kebabgy, as well as Sud.

El Kebabgy

Fetar Set Menu: 195LE
Sohou Set Menu: 140LE

La Palmeraie

Fetar Set Menu: 190LE
Sohou Set Menu: 140LE

Sud

Fetar Set Menu: 190LE
Sohou Set Menu: 140LE

For reservations, call 02-2737-3737.

Stay tuned for more – Ramadan Kareem!