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

Tucked away in a shady little street, not far from the Marriott hotel – and on the premises of the All Saint’s Cathedral – Marhaba is a tranquil oasis in the midst of our ever-chaotic city. The inconspicuous little café serves tasty Lebanese and Egyptian food and is usually far from crowded, but don’t let that deter you from giving it a go. We actually found it to be a refreshing change from the busier and more bustling Zamalek cafés.

Despite the specific focus of the cuisine at Marhaba, we were impressed by the range of choice. We ordered the hummus (18LE), baba ghanough (19LE), taameya (15LE), manakeesh with zaatar (15LE) and vine leaves (27LE) as starters – all of which were excellent. The manakeesh were particularly delicious, not at all dry and flavourless as many venues tend to serve them. There were, moreover, a variety of topping choices on offer, including plain labnah, labnah with zaatar, halloumi cheese and minced meat. In terms of drinks, we most enjoyed the fruit juices, especially the cocktail (22LE).

Despite defining itself as a café, Marhaba also serves restaurant-worthy mains. Our main course consisted of molokheya with rice and chicken (60LE) and a mixed grill (75LE), which was served with two sides – French fries and rice. The portions were perfect, and both meals were delicious, although the chicken that came with the molokheya was a little dry, and on the whole, a little less satisfying than the mixed grill.

To top off our meal on a nice and traditional note, we ordered the Om Ali (24LE), which proved to be an excellent choice: nutty, creamy, and bursting with flavour.

Our overall experience at Marhaba was extremely positive. We were especially impressed with the efficient and friendly service and the great value for money; we also enjoyed the fact that the BBC news was playing quietly in the background; the atmosphere of the place is certainly distinct from that of the ordinary Zamalek café. But being low-key and so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, it would perhaps be a good place to get some work done – efficiently, for a change.