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

Cafés

Leaven Bakery: Fresh Pastry Heaven in Maadi

Bakery Breakfast CSA Leaven Maadi
Leaven Bakery: Fresh Pastry Heaven in Maadi

Maadi is known for its go-to breakfast places, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Leaven Bakery has now been added to our list. Hidden inside Maadi’s Community Service Association (CSA) lies a bakery shop that might look tiny, but it houses a batch of delicious fresh bread, sandwiches and pastries every day; you can smell it as you walk in CSA. The ambience itself seems like a wellness retreat with everyone having breakfast as early as 8:30 AM with benches and tables for you to sit and enjoy.

As you wait for your order, you can grab a coffee at Cafe Greco, or if you’re more of a juice person, head to Power Plant for a smoothie or a fresh-pressed juice.

From the pastries, the Pain au Chocolat (20 LE) looked delectable, as well as the Cinnamon Swirl (50 LE). As previously mentioned, there are many tempting pastries, bread, and spreads on the menu. There are also various sandwiches offered, so we opted for a Smoked Beef sandwich (70 LE) and the Turkey sandwich (80 LE).

Starting with the sandwiches, the Turkey was the perfect size, and the bread was toasted with a soft yet crunchy texture that had an on-point filling ratio of tomatoes, lettuce, and turkey, topped off with a mayo-mustard sauce that made it delicious and filling. The Smoked Beef sandwich was packed with tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, arugula, and lettuce, and it was as mouthwatering as the Turkey.

As for the pastries, the Pain au Chocolat was so fluffy, soft, and warm with the right ratio of chocolate to pastry. The Cinnamon Swirl was also warm, sweet and cinnamony, with a slightly crunchy texture that almost resembled a Cinnabon, but a lighter version.

While the food was delightful, the environment was very noisy due to a kindergarten/children’s daycare next to it, which distracted us from enjoying the food.

Overall, Leaven Bakery proved its motto of providing fresh food and pastries with a unique mix of flavours. While it might not be budget-friendly, every penny is worth it. We highly recommend saving this place as a breakfast spot or for quick get-togethers with friends and family. Also, if you’re in a hurry or don’t have the time to sit and wait, you can always call them to prepare your order for you to pick up. Next time, we’ll try another selection of their sandwiches, possibly the Sweet Chili Chicken, Egg & Spinach, Smoked Salmon, or Hummus and Veggie sandwich, which caught our eye and had us yearning for another visit to Leaven.

Follow Leaven on Facebook and Instagram.

360 Tip

You can bring your children and drop them off at the day care.

Best Bit

Quick service and fresh baked goodies. The Pain au Chocolat is a must-try.

Worst Bit

Not the quietest place.

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