10 Best Bars In Cairo (A Local’s Guide)

There’s nothing like a cold Sakara beer and a Nile view to melt away the noise and stress of everyday Cairo living.

And luckily Cairo has some great bars to kick back and unwind in – from the historic and weathered baladi bars of downtown to the ritzy lounges of New Cairo.

I’m an expat living for over a decade in Cairo and I love the city’s lively bars to relax, meet friends or enjoy a Nile view.

So whether you’re a local looking for your next favorite hang-out, or a tourist who wants a better nightlife option than a belly dancer and soggy buffet, then read on for my best picks of bars in Cairo.

(Note: These are purely bars – not restaurants that also serve alcohol where you’ll feel obligated to order food (or forced to, as at Cafe Riche)).

So without further ado, here are all my favorite bars in Cairo that I’ve been visiting for years and highly recommend:

1. El Horreya Cafe, downtown

Grab an Egyptian beer at this run-down yet charming baladi bar that’s always lively with downtown locals, artists and expats.

There’s tea and coffee in the front of the cafe, where older men gather to play chess, and cold beers in the back including favorite Egyptian lagers like Stella and Sakara.

El Horreya has paneled beige walls with mirrors that are great for people-watching and weathered wooden chairs stamped with the Stella logo. It’s open until 5 am – and it’s often packed with NGO workers, locals and friends.

And it’s all in the heart of downtown, just a 15-minute walk from the Egyptian Museum (if you need a drink after pondering your mortality over the ancient statues).

But tread lightly on humid summer days. The AC isn’t great though the beer is ice cold and the service is friendly.

Insider tip: There’s a shop nearby called Al-Yemeni Cafe where you can stock up on some amazing freshly-ground coffee in dozens of roasts and flavors. For fast food, there’s Gad a few doors down that serves sandwiches with falafel (called “ta’ameya in Egypt) and other street food.

2. Happy City Hotel rooftop, downtown

Happy City is a rundown 3-star hotel that I’ve never stayed in – but their rooftop bar is magical for cold beers, friendly staff, shisha and a lively crowd.

Happy City (like El Horreya) is a great unpretentious local bar in the heart of downtown, about a 20-minute walk from the Egyptian museum.

Enjoy the free snacks (flatbreads and cheese) and the sweeping views over Cairo’s concrete jungle of apartment buildings. There are no snobby waiters or minimum charge fees to cramp your style.

The rooftop is especially nice on summer nights with its cool breeze and unhurried vibe.

3. The Tap East, New Cairo

The Tap is a fun spot with cold beers, foosball tables, game nights and retro DJs.

There’s also a small but mighty menu with burgers, buckets of chicken wings and beer towers that recall the good-time American bars where The Tap got its inspiration.

Tucked inside the upscale suburb of New Cairo, The Tap East is great for beers in the afternoons and random conversations with the regulars.

They also have what’s probably Cairo’s best selection of Tex-Mex food.

The Tap East also has live music – from up-and-coming Egyptian artists to well-known regional favorites. Pop in on a weekend (reservations recommended) and you’ll likely hear blues or a local band.

4. Nile Zamalek Hotel rooftop, Zamalek

The rooftop bar at the battered Nile Zamalek Hotel has some of the best Nile views in the city – they are so sweeping and grand that they truly give you a feel for the majesty of Africa’s longest river.

The rooftop bar is lively with Zamalek locals and expats sipping Stella in the shade. It’s where my (now disbanded) book club would always go for an after party – and it’s always relaxed and friendly.

It’s a 5-star beer drinking experience at an otherwise 2-star hotel (which I’ve never stayed at). And it’s breezy even on the most hot and humid of Cairo summer days.

The rooftop bar is tattered around the edges with vintage beer posters and chandeliers made from beer bottles. But the atmosphere is great. And the bar really feels like a little serene getaway from the city noise.

5. Crimson, Zamalek

This chic cocktail bar serves up ritzy drinks with gorgeous Cairo views through its tall glass windows.

Perched on the rooftop of the Riverside building on a quiet sidestreet in Zamalek, Crimson boasts sleek interior design and an open terrace with sparkling city views.

This upscale gem serves up deliciously creative cocktails amid a minimal decor dotted with leafy palms.

Crimson is a great spot for a romantic meal (their food is delicious) or a celebratory get-together with friends.

6. 1897 The Bar & Cigar Lounge, New Cairo

Filled with plush leather chairs, rich ochre walls and heavy curtains, 1897 The Bar is an atmospheric lounge for a cigar puff and glass of wine.

Nestled inside the Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski, this bar is away from the city and perfect for business meetings or pre-dinner drinks (the Royal Maxim has some great restaurants, especially the Asian/Thai Yana).

1897 reminds me of those old world European cigar rooms where I imagined the gentlemen retired to in Charles Dickens novels. It’s plush and elegant without being overbearing.

7. Cairo Jazz Club, Agouza

A champion of the city’s independent music scene, the Cairo Jazz Club is a prime spot to catch local musicc (from rock to hip hop) with a cold beer and a lively crowd.

The crowd is chic, stylish and young, and the music is always pounding – whether it’s a live act or a special DJ night.

Cairo Jazz Club is great for a night out with friends and for a taste of the city’s local music and party scene.

They also host international acts, fun tribute bands and music from across the Arab world from Egyptian folk to Lebanese rap.

8. Pub 28, Zamalek

Pub 28 is a comfortable neighborhood bar with the rustic ambiance of a British pub and a roster of regulars.

Pub 28 has been a Zamalek favorite since its opening in 1974. And it’s an unassuming spot with an intimate feel and a menu of international dishes.

Dark and wood paneled, it’s a cozy spot to catch a football match. And it’s also great for solo female travelers looking for a quiet meal with a drink.

9. Cairo Cellar, Zamalek

Cairo Cellar is a dim and cozy little bar in the style of a traditional English pub that’s changed little since it opened in 1978.

Nestled in the basement of the President Hotel in Zamalek, Cairo Cellar feels like a subterranean cave with a large liquor cabinet and friendly bartenders.

There’s lots of Egyptian specialties on the menu if you want a bite with your Stella or Sakara.

10. Odeon Palace Bar, downtown

The Odeon Palace Bar is another dusty downtown rooftop bar with sweeping city views and battered chairs.

It’s a bit dingy with peeling paint and dusty palms balanced precariously on a roof. But it’s great for lively crowds gathered over beers that flow cold, plentiful and cheap.

It’s also open 24 hours a day so you’ll never hear that tragic refrain for “last call.”

The Odeon’s retro ambiance and downtown spirit draws in an artsy, hipster crowd with a sprinkle of expats gathered over marble tables of Sakara and shisha.