Nightlife & the Arts in Cairo

The Cairo cultural scene defies preconceptions. You can go to a concert of classical Arabic music in a restored medieval house, watch dervishes whirl in an old palace, then take in a performance of La Bohème by the Cairo Opera Company, and end the night on a club's dance floor. Layered around this traditional cultural season is a thriving and hip nightlife scene that's one of the best in the Middle East, with bars and clubs that attract vacationing Gulf Arabs as well as Western visitors and expats. Occasionally the two meet in a fusion style—a jazz concert of trumpet and oud (an Arabic stringed instrument), for example—that is unique to this city. For the latest listings and movies, check the English-language al-Ahram Weekly, Middle East Times, the weekly Cairo Times, or the monthly Egypt Today. Always call ahead to double-check performances because arrangements can and do go awry.