Pub Crawl: A Look at Cairo’s Oldest and Most Iconic Bars
Cities like Cairo are not always for the faint of heart, but if you know where to look you’ll find hidden gems tucked away in almost every little nook and cranny. This city has so much to offer, far more than many of us realize, and more often than not, the best parts are not the most obvious ones. Cairo’s older bars, while perhaps a little shabbier than the new ones, are a haven of nostalgia and authentic eccentricity. It’s in these bars and pubs that you’ll find the most interesting and diverse crowds, and many of them have histories as fascinating as the people who frequent them.
Cairo Cellar – Zamalek (Taha Hussein St.)
With its dim lighting and cozy, underground ambience, the Cellar really does stay true to its name. Designed in the style of your typical English pub, Cairo Cellar opened for business in 1978 and very little has changed since then. They do have an extensive menu that features a lot of great local delicacies like brain and marinated sprouted fava beans and their music is always on point, definitely worth a visit, alone or with friends.
Pub 28 – Zamalek (Shagaret Al Dorr St.)
Established in 1974, this Zamalek pub has been a long-time favorite of locals, especially residents of the island and its surroundings. Much like Cairo Cellar, Pub 28 has a great rustic ambience, taking inspiration from the English pub. The staff has more or less stayed the same over the years and you’ll always find old regulars popping in for a drink and a snack in the evenings.
Café Riche – Downtown (Talaat Harb St.)
Open since 1908, Café Riche is one of Cairo’s oldest bars and as such has been witness to much of the city’s history. It is said that the revolution of 1919 began here, and icons like Umm Kulthoum and Naguib Mahfouz were regular customers. Big windows all around give you a great view of the street, perfect for people watching while you enjoy a nice cold beer. The food is not the best though, so don’t go hungry.
Estoril – Downtown (Qasr El Nil St.)
Built by a Greek couple and opened in 1959, Estoril rests in a small walkway in Downtown Cairo. The name apparently is a tribute to the Portuguese town that the couple visited on their honeymoon. The atmosphere here is cozy and intimate, with a constantly revolving exhibition of local art. The prices are great and the food, although simple, is usually quite good. Like most of the bars on this list, very little has changed over the past 60 years, including the menu and the staff. If you’re bar hopping around Downtown Estoril is an essential part of the tour.
Greek Club – Downtown (Mahmoud Bassiouny St.)
The Greek Club was founded in 1906, but originally catered only to the local Greek community who had memberships. It opened to the public in the 1950s and has since become a staple of the local bar scene, frequented by everyone from the local residents of Downtown to the expat community and tourists passing through. The menu is mostly Greek and quite extensive, but the food has suffered a bit over the years and it might be best to keep your expectations in check. But the ambience and crowd more than make up for this, and so do the prices.
El Horreya – Downtown (El Falaky Square)
Founded in 1936, El Horreya is another of Cairo’s iconic bars. Supposedly built over the remains of Ahmed Orabi, the Egyptian officer who led the 1879 mutiny against Khedive Tewfik, the bar has managed to preserve its social and political heritage through more than one revolution. The name means “freedom”, which matches its history and current ethos perfectly, and it has always been a place where artists, intellectuals and activists meet to share stories over a cold beer.
Felfela – Downtown (Hoda Shaarawy St.)
This quaint and eccentric little space was built during the 1950s and has since become an icon of Downtown Cairo frequented by locals and tourists alike. The food here is always delicious, with a strong focus on traditional Egyptian cuisine. Their Besara, a dip made out of the same ingredients as Egyptian falafel, is to die for, as is their breakfast, and all very affordable. They don’t have a full bar, but they do serve beer. The atmosphere here is lively and the décor is quite special, definitely worth a visit.