8 Best Nightlife in Downtown Cairo, Cairo

Locals gather on this beautiful terrace, on the eighth floor of a 1930s family-run hotel, to escape the city’s chaotic streets and to take in the incredible skyline views. Staffers are quick on their feet and friendly, and there's a wide range of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. The indoor area, with hardwood floors and large windows, is the place to be when it's chilly.

Founded in 1908, Café Riche was once the social headquarters for members of Cairo's theater and literary communities. The historic ambience makes it a great place to enjoy a relaxed drink and, perhaps a French-influenced Egyptian grill dish from a menu that has changed very little in more than a century.

This low-key Downtown bar, with an eye-catching display of backlit bottles, serves a wide range of cocktails, beer, spirits, and wine to accompany its selection of Middle Eastern mezzes. Nonsmokers take note, though: indoor smoking is allowed.

This quintessential local bar has been the go-to spot for leftist intellectuals, writers, artists, poets, and expats since the 1930s. You can sip coffee, tea, or a cold beer, all under one roof.

Like many other Downtown spots, this bar is a favorite of political activists and artists. It was established in the 1970s by a Greek couple, and it sits in a passageway between two buildings. The food is hit-or-miss, but the service is excellent, and the bar is lively—often filled with a mix of locals and visitors lingering over bottles of red wine or beer.

The modern, stylish rooftop bar at the Fairmont Nile City hotel serves delicious food to accompany its drinks. You also can't beat the view of the Nile backed by Cairo’s skyline.

On one of Downtown’s hippest streets, this cozy pub and restaurant offers an international menu, a decent selection of drinks, and terrific service. You can't miss the place: just look for its Art Deco–style facade; inside, though, the decor is less flamboyant.

Although founded as a Greeks-only establishment in 1906, it became a go-to spot for liberal Egyptians and expats in need of a beer when it opened its doors to the general public in the 1950s. The decor still nods to Greece: tables are topped with blue-and-white checkered cloths, and the outdoor terrace is lined with blue wooden pillars. Although the food isn’t anything to write home about, this is still a great place for a casual night out.