Food, beverages and entertainment are aspects within the Egyptian environment that are located throughout the country including shopping malls, 5 star hotels and airports. Cafe’s vary from size; popularity; menu and prices depending on the location and the company; some of the cafe’s specialize in Oriental cuisine while others possess a twist of Western edibles in their menu along with a decorative theme that not only adds Culture to the cafe, but also a unique appearance that is required in a competitive industry. These themes also include seasonal celebrations including Halloween; Christmas and Easter decors that further add to the environmental energy. Furthermore, some Cafe’s also consists of ‘art themes’ where you find paintings; literary works; musical instruments and historical works in display as you indulge in your meal or beverage. A twist to this theme is a library that consists of a cafe; this can be found around Egypt including in Diwan library in the Zamalek or New Cairo vicinity.
Some of the most popular, and widely spread, Cafe’s in Egypt are: Beano’s; Cilantro; Costa Coffee; Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf; Pasqua; Coffeeshop Company; Starbucks and Crave. In addition to the popularity of the mentioned Cafe’s is their reasonably priced menu’s; ‘smoke friendly’ environment; child friendly atmosphere(with playgrounds); oriental and modern furniture and, of course, the view of the Nile (Corniche) where most of these cafe’s are located. Along with this is the local and global music and (Cable) television that is usually found in most of the Cafe’s where football/soccer is more of a mutual interest to most of the customers than just entertainment.
Shisha (Hookah) and Ahwa or Gahwa (Turkish style black coffee) are two of the most acknowledged and savoured factors in, and out, of the cafe’s. The Shisha can either be used indoors or outdoors depending on the setting of the Cafe although most of the Cafe’s located on the boats by the Corniche provide Shisha in the open air. The gahwa can be seen as a liquid dessert as it is usually consumed after a meal although it is most enjoyed with an Oriental delicacy such as the Baklava; bosbousa or Konafa; these pastries are available throughout Egypt, and although they vary in price and size, they are delicacies that are highly recommended to those who are yet to experience these Oriental last course edibles.
Above is a price list (guide) of the different menus found in the mentioned cafe’s, in Egyptian Pounds (LE).