Cairo can be such an overwhelming city for those caught in the madness of its streets. From a rooftop, however, the chaos is almost beautiful. Venture out and spend an evening overlooking the capital from one of the following rooftop bars.
Nomad – Dokki:
Nomad is one of the most pleasant and affordable rooftop bars in Cairo. The place stands atop the King Hotel in Dokki and overlooks the Dokki and Mohandessen neighborhoods and beyond. Nomad went through some renovations lately, changing the decor entirely and adding more space. This bar is one of the very few places that offer alcohol and shisha at the same time. Nomad serves various pizzas, pastas and meat dishes that are of mediocre quality but good value. While the staff is usually nice and presentable, they really enjoy playing loud 90s music there. Expect a lot of Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. Nomad is open daily from 5 PM to midnight, with a LE50 minimum charge.
Phone number: 23359455 – 23350939
Address: 20, Abdel-Rehim Sabry Street, Dokki
Zamalek Nile Bar – Zamalek:
If it wasn’t for the amazing view this place has, the Zamalek Nile Bar would not have made it to this list. The place, located on the edge of Zamalek, overlooks the Nile and the World Trade Center and Conrad hotel buildings on the other side. Despite the value of the breath-taking view, the bad service there will likely keep you from returning. The bar staff are lazy, unwelcoming and generally rude. They offer shisha as well but there are often complaints about its quality. When we passed through, our beer glasses were also dirty. A redeeming factor would be the Thai Restaurant downstairs delivers to your table upon request. So, if you are willing to go through the hassle for a lovely view, we recommend you order your food from the Thai restaurant and drink the beer from the bottle. Two beers will cover the 30LE minimum charge.
Phone number: 02-27351846, 02-27350220
Address: 21 El Maahad El Swesry Street, Sedqy Square, Zamalek
Carlton Hotel Roof Garden – Downtown:
As you enter the Carlton hotel lobby, you are immediately transported to the 1940s. The place belongs to that bygone royal era and is a living example of the drastic changes Downtown has undergone. You enter a precariously hung elevator that creaks as it takes you up eight storeys to the rooftop bar. The Roof Garden is a typical Downtown beer-joint. They offer nothing worthwhile but beer and a view of the pedestrians on the 26th July Street and the huge billboards and movie posters of the nearby cinema. The funny thing about this place is that they consider it an actual garden and have small trees planted all over the place.
Phone number: 257-55-022.
Address: 21, 26 July Street, Downtown
The Revolving Restaurant Lounge – Garden City:
If you think about it, the LE120 minimum charge here is not that bad of a deal. This club-style seating lounge on the 40th floor provides a 360-degree view of Cairo, including the Pyramids and a number of Cairo suburbs while sipping on some of the best cocktails in town. Quiet and tasteful music plays in this calm spot. The service is, of course, topnotch. No reservations are required for the fancy place on the 40th floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Garden City and it stays open from 7 PM until 1 AM.
Phone Number: 23651234
Address: Corniche el-Nil, Garden City, Roda Island
