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

Hello Cairo,

The dusty weather clearing up just in time for the weekend is a clear-cut sign. With several parties, music events and special Valentine’s Day evenings ahead, it’s time to leave the house and have some fun outside!

Thursday kicks off on a distinctly unromantic note as veteran Grammy-winning rapper, Coolio, takes to the stage at Nile-side Giza venue, the Temple, for Gangstas Paradise – a night that will also see DJ Amr Hosny on the decks.

Valentine’s is starting early at Amici Zamalek, however, with Candy Kisses; an evening that is set to see DJ Feedo headlines a packed line-up of DJs.

Elsewhere, Downtown’s VENT welcomes back Aly B for what is usually a moster night of techno music, DJ Joe is set to infect the air with deep house at Garden City’s Rooftop Lounge and Heliopolis nightclub, Cavallini, is set to do likewise but with house music of the commercial kind.

Meanwhile, Dokki nightspot, Alchemy, is ushering in the weekend in a much more straightforward manner with another edition of A Tequila Tale of Silver & Gold.

The art of bellydancing continues to be embraced more and more across Cairo’s more mainstream venues, with Amie performing at Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah’s La Palmeraie and Leila performing at Fairmont Nile City’s Bab El Nil.

Love is in the air at the Platform on Friday, as the Maadi dining and entertainment complex hosts Share the Love; an all-day event that includes a shopping bazaar, family activities and live music, all in the name of love.

Other daytime activities (can you call eating an activity?) include Eat & Barrel’s Friday brunch, where diners are treated to unlimited beer and wine.

Later in the evening, Zamalek’s Rivierside welcomes DJs Ouzo and Special K for the latest edition of party series, Riverdeep, and Zalat and Omar Sherif are the men behind the decks at Cairo Jazz Club.

Elsewhere, Latin and tribal house music on the menu at VENT as Cairo Shakers returns for a special ‘Caliente Session’, while Brit singer, Ellie of London, takes to the stage at Rooftop Lounge.

Amie performs one more at La Palmeraie and it’s Lebanese Night at Cavallini, while one of the more interesting events of the weekend comes in the form of the ‘I Ka Doly’ Nubian Festival at El Sawy Culturewheel.

And then we come to Saturday. Cairo has never taken Valentine’s Day lightly (which is sort of funny considering the country’s sexual repression – but now isn’t the time nor the place) and this year is no different.

Those looking to go all-out this V Day will be happy to hear that the city’s hotels are offering a plethora of special loved-up events and tempting packages, the best of which have been gather gathered in one convenient place – here.

Some of the standout events at the Cairo’s hotels include La Vie En Rose at Fairmont Nile City’s Saigon Restaurant & Lounge where Ahmed Harfoush and a set menu dinner await, while O Bar’s Love Bites sees Dr K and DJ Irma provide the music.

Elsewhere, Zamalek’s Riverside hosts DJ Tamer Hegazy for Valentine’s special, Crush, Amici Zamalek’s Kissed sees Shady Maher and an open bar entertain, while Korba Bar, the Garden, is turning into the Garden of Love with DJ Lyon Avakian.

Bosaina, Seif and Sidy are playing the part of cupid at VENT’s Lonely Hearts Club, Peking Lodge welcomes Lorna of Cairo for a special Valentine’s Day shindig.

These are just a few of the events awaiting you this weekend – check out the Cairo 360 events calendar for more and have a happy Valentine’s Day!