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

The last weekend before Ramadan turns our collective life upside down has arrived, and with it comes some tasty looking events, as nightlife venues bid adieu for the month and arts and culture venues warm-up for special Ramadan programs – let’s make the most of it, eh?

Thursday sees Cairo Jazz Club kick off its weekend with a double header of live music, as local band, Al Mena, make their CJC debut, before Alexandria natives, Massar Egbari, headline.

There’s more live music in Downtown Cairo meanwhile, courtesy of Salalem, who perform at After Eight, while Riham Mustafa performs at Fairmont Nile City’s Onyx Lounge. Elsewhere, the Salib Sufi Project bring their unique blend of Coptic and Sufi music to Garden City’s ROOM Art Space, while Downtown bistro, Eish & Malh, invites one and all for a spot of dinner and blues.

It’s a busy weekend at Cairo Opera House, meanwhile, with Thursday seeing the Al Awela Balady Ensemble pay tribute to El Sheikh Emam and acclaimed harpist, Yassmine El-Harby, performing.

If you’re craving the thud-thud of electronic music, Lyon Avakian is the man providing the music at the Tap East in New Cairo, while the Garden Nile Front in Manial welcomes a host of DJs for the latest edition of Sound Chemistry.

Meanwhile, El Gomhouria Theatre kicks off a three-night run of Verdi’s classic opera, Rigoletto.

We’re back at Eish & Malh on Friday, with the Downtown restaurant holding another of their popular Slow Downtown events, with the restaurant’s chefs set to whip up some special dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner with seasonal, local produce, alongside a market of local producers. 

Later in the evening, meanwhile, Maadi bar, the Tap, welcomes back local band, Bluezophrenia, while Cairo Jazz Club celebrates Fairouz T.’s CJC anniversary with a special gig that will also feature fellow Cairo DJ, Special K.

Elsewhere, the Garden Nile Front hosts the last edition of weekly party, Sunset, with regulars, Adam & Phil, set to be joined by Farah Nasri and Medoz, while Zamalek’s 3elbt Alwan celebrates its second anniversary with a day of musical performances and ‘surprises’.

Riham Mustafa is back for her second gig in as many days at Fairmont Nile City, but this time at Saigon Restaurant & Lounge, while, Heliopolis restaurant and bar, Hakamoro, welcomes back belly-dancer, Nancy, for a special performance.

Elsewhere, Cairo Opera House hosts a special event that will see child ballet dancers perform excerpts from Swan Lake, while El Sawy Culturwheel hosts several events, including a performance by the spiritual chanters of El 7adra, as well as two productions from the El Sakia Puppet Theatre.

Saturday sees Cairo Jazz Club sign off for its Ramadan sabbatical with its annual Boogie wi Tamtam party, as Ramy DJunkie takes to the decks for a night of nostalgic music, while DJ AK winds down the weekend at the Tap East with a night of hip-hop and r&b.

Elsewhere, the Tap Maadi has one last Acoustic Night, while Eish & Malh hosts two events; Brunch & Jazz in the afternoon and Dinner & Oud in the evening. Elsewhere, pianist Maya Gvineria and the Cairo Opera Company play excerpts from famous operas at Cairo Opera House, while, down the hall, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra also perform.

There are some excellent exhibitions to see across Cairo this weekend, too, including Affiche Plaisir at Gallery Misr, which features reimagined posters for Egyptian films, as well as Bahaa Amer’s The Sweetest Haven at Zamalek gallery, Art Talks.

For more events across the capital this weekend, check out the Cairo 360 events calendar.