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

When considering the range of restaurants in Cairo, much is usually expected of the city’s hotels. Though there are several Ramadan kheimas – tents – erect across said hotels, when it comes to food, you needn’t look further than their restaurants.

Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah

Long thought of as the proprietor of some of the best restaurants in Cairo, Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah is coming out with guns blazing. El Kebabgy is offering fetar and sohour from its spectacularly simple menu – try the mixed grill and you won’t regret it – while Le Deck also offers both options, but with a slightly more laidback setting. Elsewhere, recently revamped Moroccan restaurant, La Palmeraie, has a special à la carte menu and live Oriental music awaiting you. Lastly, Sud is offering fetar and sohour buffets – now we’re talking. For reservations and more information, call 02-2737-3737.

InterContinental Semiramis

It’s been a strange 2013 for Garden City’s Semiramis. Following some rather unpleasant protest overspill earlier in the year, the hotel came roaring back with the Spring Festival, which allowed Cairenes to wine and dine at restaurants like Birdcage for less. Stepping things up for Ramadan, Night & Day is offering lavish fetar and sohour buffets, while Sabaya Under the Stars welcomes one and all for a laidback Lebanese sohour by the pool. For reservations and more information, call 02-2795-7171.

Ramses Hilton

As one of the more forgotten international hotels in the city, Ramses Hilton is pulling all the stops this Ramadan. Garden Court Café offers à la carte sohour options, while the real magic happens at Terrace Café, where buffets are the order of the day – for both fetar and sohour. In addition, a whole host of Ramadan sweets can be found in a special Ramadan set-up in the lobby. For reservations and more information, call 02-2394-6902

Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers

Both Fairmont hotels in Cairo don’t do anything by the half and Ramadan 2013 is no different. Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers is hosting Oriental buffets at My Kind of Place and Aqua e Luce, while Pizza Bar is serving up a special Ramadan set menu. But that’s not all for Pizza Bar; the terrace eatery is offering more set menus, but this time for sohour, with a promised plethora of shisha concoctions. The hotel is even offering special rate for group sohour and fetar, and there are murmurings of some unbeatable Eid room rates. For reservations and more information, call 16989.

Radisson Blu Hotel

Heliopolis hotel, Radisson Blu, is keeping things simple this year, with most of the Ramadan revelry unfolding at Mix, where fetar and sohour is offered, courtesy of renowned chef, Nasser Ewais. Italian restaurant, Filini, is getting in on the act too, while the hotel’s swanky atrium hosts sohour at 1122 and Terrace on 9 offers a more relaxed sohour by the pool. 02-2696-5656

Kempinski Nile Hotel

Another often undervalued member of Cairo’s hotel collective, Kempinski Nile is home to one of the most celebrated restaurants in the city – we of course speak of classy eatery, Osmanly. This Ramadan, the Turkish restaurant is offering a supposedly Ottoman-inspired fetar buffet. There’s more buffet madness at Floor 10 – which promises some of the most breathtaking views of the city, while the Roof invites Cairenes to enjoy snacks and exotic shishs flavours for a soothing sohour. For reservations and more information, call 02-2696-5656.

For more special Ramadan menus, why not take a gander out Five Fetar Menus You Have to Try.

Ramadan Kareem!