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

With a culture and history as rich as ours, it’s no wonder Egyptians have spent years crafting the perfect recipes for every meal. At Al Khal restaurant in the iconic InterContinental Cairo Citystars hotel, you can experience the divine flavours and dishes fit for the ancient pharaohs. 

We decided to make our way there to try out their tempting new Pharaonic Set Menu for lunch and were blown away by the intricately prepared dishes. As soon as we entered the restaurant, it felt like we were being treated like royalty thanks to the outstanding service and friendly staff.

The atmosphere was refined with classical Egyptian music playing in the background and charming details, including menus written on papyrus. We chose to sit indoors and felt nice and cosy on the brightly coloured cushions placed on the restaurant’s wooden furniture. Al Khal also offers a gorgeous poolside view. 

Taking in the ambience and the delightful amuse-bouche, a fresh bread basket served with besara and cheese, we couldn’t wait to tuck into the variety of ancient food prepared in a unique, traditional manner. We started with a deliciously cooked Duck Salad paired with a light grape dressing and crispy bread.

Next was our favourite part of the meal; a delicious Pigeon Clear Consommé served with quail egg. From the moment it was placed on the table, our stomachs rumbled with anticipation as we saw the steam coming off the bowl and the aromatic scent hit our noses. It had a rich flavour without being too heavy and was the perfect thing to warm us up on a chilly afternoon.

We moved on to the Chargrilled Grey Mullet—a Pharaonic style marinated fish—and loved the refined flavour of the dish and the fresh vegetables it was prepared with. However, the real star of the show was the Poussin Chicken in Salt Crust. Watching our food being unwrapped from papyrus had us feeling like this meal was worthy of Cleopatra herself. The chicken was tender and juicy, and the salt crust infused it with flavour. 

Although we were stuffed at this point, we could never say no to dessert, and Al Khal ended it right with their delicate Date Tartlet. Its sweetness was perfectly balanced, and we enjoyed every bite of the crumbly crust topped with warm dates.

At EGP 855, this set menu is more than worth the price, with carefully crafted dishes and generous portions. We left feeling totally satisfied and were even treated to the restaurant’s complimentary hibiscus drink and sweet at the end of the meal.

Hearing details from our attentive waiter about the cooking techniques passed down from ancient times made us realise that every dish at Al Khal has a story. The closest you’ll ever get to the times of Cleopatra and King Tut is right here with the Pharaonic Set Menu, an unparalleled dining experience that you can’t miss.