The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

The very first Cold Stone Creamery shop opened back in 1998 in Arizona by husband-and-wife ice cream enthusiasts, Donald and Suzan Sutherland. Years later, the Cold Stone Creamery name has reached the streets of Cairo – and we couldn’t be happier.

You’ll start first by choosing the type of ice cream you want and the canvas from which you will eat it – cone or plastic cup. The cup sizes come in ‘Like It’ (small), ‘Love It’ (medium) and ‘Gotta Have It’ (Large).  At this point, one of the shop’s staff will grab a ball of ice cream to your desired size and place it on the cold stone work space, before creating a small cavity in the ball in which your additives are introduced – nuts, dried fruits, brownie pieces, etc. The ingredients are then meshed expertly into one.

From the signature creations on the menu, we tried the Founder’s Favourite (medium, 28LE); pecan ice cream with brownie pieces, fudge and caramel sauce in a cone (5LE extra). We also tried the Mint Mint Chocolate Chip (medium, 28LE), which consisted of mint ice cream, fudge, chocolate chips and brownie pieces. The combinations are extraordinary; we’ve never quite had ice cream as unique as this. The textures are great, everything tastes fresh and it never feels sickly sweet. The sizes are very generous, too; a medium is more than filling.

One of the more peculiar parts of the experience is the staff’s sudden break into ice cream-related songs, which is triggered by ordering certain ice creams. It had us rolling around with laughter – the staff’s enthusiasm is commendable.

It doesn’t just stop at ice cream, though. Cold Stone Creamery also offers milkshakes and ice cream cakes, as well as a self-serve frozen yoghurt machine (15 piaster per 1 gram). The cakes come in two sizes, to serve either eight or fourteen people.

As ice cream fiends, this is not a visit that we’ll quickly forget. Bravo Cold Stone Creamery, bravo.