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

Zamalek’s all-time favourite Nile-view bar and grill has just opened a new branch at Arkan Plaza Extension. Last week’s grand opening created quite the buzz as celebrities and public figures joined for the opening of the much-anticipated nightlife hotspot. Arkan Plaza Extension has a fantastic variety of restaurants, eateries, and bars, and having Crimson open just across from Relais de l’Entrecote and the movie theatre is rather convenient. 

The venue occupies a relatively spacious area on the second floor of the plaza overlooking the mall’s shops and restaurants. We headed there one early evening to try their beverage and food menu. We opted for an outdoor table because the weather was breezy. Still, the indoor area had a contemporary yet relaxed ambience that would be more suitable for winter weather. As we got to our corner-side table, we were greeted by the staff and handed the menus straight away. After enjoying our bread basket, we decided to order one cocktail each. Unfortunately, after deciding on our drinks, we were told that most of the spirits and liqueurs weren’t available. However, the bartender was nice enough to suggest two– the Crimson Bellini (420 LE) – vodka, peach syrup, lime and sparkling wine, and Caipirinha (380 LE) – white rum, lime and sugar. Our drinks were more than perfect; the balance between the subtly sweet and sour tones was on point. The bartender also added passion fruit puree to the Caipirinha to give it a cool fruity twist. 

As we were revelling in the cool afternoon breeze, the fruity drinks, and the overall classy atmosphere, we decided to skip the main courses and have two appetisers to share. The Sheikh Zayed menu seemed close enough to the Zamalek branch, with a few minor differences. After some deliberation, we decided to get the Moules Mariniere (250 LE) – whole mussels, herbs, butter, and white wine. This dish was pure perfection; the mussels were tender with a satisfying chew, and the buttery wine sauce was rich and creamy. The white wine sauce was so herbaceous and delicious that we ended up having it like soup after finishing the mussels. Our second choice was as successful as the first; we got the Grilled BBQ Beef (280 LE) – grilled beef served on a bed of rocca salad topped with Parmesan shavings and bbq sauce. The meat cubes were juicy and tender with a delightful char – the perfect choice to accompany cocktails if you’re not too hungry.

Our night was amazing, to say the least, from start to finish. The drinks and food were as delightful as ever, while the attentive service made the experience that much better. The classy yet laid-back atmosphere of the place is definitely a winner and will probably make Crimson’s newest branch the next big thing at Arkan Plaza.