Chirine Halabi found an upgraded property that ticks all the boxes on a visit to Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino in Egypt.
I landed in Cairo in the late afternoon and jumped straight into a taxi to the Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino. Classic me, I left my phone in the cab. Absolute nightmare. But the minute I got to the hotel, I told reception and they put me in touch with Moustapha at concierge. I’m still thanking him now.
Within an hour-and-a-half he’d tracked down my phone and got it back to me. He was brilliant all week, really. He helped me with my tour taxi bookings, gave me all the local tips, and was behind the whole ‘find my phone’ mission. The service was just excellent from the start.
The second I walked into the hotel I felt the buzz. The lobby is massive and bright, all marble and big comfy sofas, and it’s such a Cairo crowd. Gulf families, a few European groups, locals in for the weekend. Everyone talking over each other in Arabic, English, French. I love that. You feel like you’re right in the middle of it.
Check-in was on the first floor. It was busy, but quick. No faffing. The staff were lovely and really efficient. While I was there I also asked Moustapha about distances because I hate being stuck miles from everything. He said 20 minutes by taxi to the Pyramids of Giza, same to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which I was dying to see; 15 minutes to downtown, Tahrir Museum and the Cairo Tower. Perfect. Central without the traffic nightmare.
I had a Panoramic Nile suite in the North Tower on the 10th floor and I honestly had a little moment on entering. It’s stunning. Because it’s on the corner you get the Nile on two sides. One side has a sofa facing the water, the other looks out over the city lighting up at night. The room itself is big. King bed that you just sink into, and they even have a pillow menu which I’m a huge fan of, particularly as I love being surrounded by different kinds of pillows when I sleep. I had two firm and two soft and slept brilliantly. The bathroom is huge too, all marble, with two separate lavatories which is a godsend, and the toiletries were proper ones, not those tiny bottles. But the thing I loved most was the balcony. Coffee out there in the morning with the river in front of me. Heaven.
The North Tower has just been redone so it feels really modern and sleek with smart lighting and loads of plug points. The South Tower is still the more classic Sheraton vibe. Someone told me most of the rooms here have Nile views and I believe it. Even up on the 26th floor in the Club Lounge, the view is incredible. You can see all the way to the pyramids. It’s the biggest Club Lounge in downtown Cairo and it’s such a great spot for a refreshment in the evening.
The hotel’s been there since the ‘90s so it’s got history. There are staff who’ve worked here for 30 years. And couples come back years later to do anniversaries in the same place. That gives it a bit of soul
You really don’t need to leave. The gym is decent and not crowded. And the pool outside is gorgeous. Big, clean, with waiter service so you don’t have to move, and lifeguards on duty. I ordered a Greek salad and a delicious burger, loved the food and sympathetic service.
As a matter of fact, food was a big win for me. I tried Giannini’s New York Italian the first night I checked in. Chic, high ceilings, open kitchen. We started with burrata salad that was just perfect. The four-cheese pizza was surprisingly light. But the Angus Beef Tagliata was the one. Cooked perfectly, so tender, with creamy mash and caramelised onions. I’m still thinking about it.
The next night I went up to Botanica Twenty Five on the rooftop. Completely different. Buzzy, modern, with the most insane view of Cairo at night. It’s all sharing plates with big portions. I became obsessed with the Korean fried chicken. Crispy, sticky, sweet with spicy chilli sauce with sesame. I had it with friends and it was exactly the kind of night I wanted, made all the better by the talented live singer, whose voice was amazing and added a great touch to the atmosphere. Before leaving, we were presented with some parsley seeds to take away. I’m hoping that once we return home, we can make good use of them.
For my last night I tried Sapporo. I started with California and Philadelphia rolls, which were really fresh, then tried the teppanyaki with Brazilian premium beef. The chef puts on a show and the meat was excellent. So, if you’re a meat person, you’ll be happy here.
I also had room service one afternoon. It came fast and looked great. Grilled meats, chicken molokhia, my favourite which I couldn’t miss on a visit to Egypt, creamy hummus, bright, fresh Caesar salad, warm Egyptian bread and chips. I was impressed that, even in the room, the standards are maintained.
Who would I send to Sheraton Cairo Hotel & Casino? Honeymooners who want that romantic Nile view. Groups of friends who want to go out and about. And anyone coming to Cairo for the first time who doesn’t want to waste hours in traffic. You can visit the Pyramids in the morning and be back for a swim by 3pm.
The property has kept its heritage but it’s had a proper refresh. The service was excellent and it starts with people like Moustapha. For three nights I felt looked after but also right in the middle of the action. Comfortable rooms, good food, brilliant location. And that’s exactly what you want from Cairo. ✤
