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

Whether you like it or not, you just can’t escape the Ramadan spirit – no one is impervious to the one time of the year that Cairo just seems to mellow out.

Cairo doesn’t do occasions by the half, and this year sees plenty of Ramadan tents – or kheimas – go all out.

Event Republic has brought back Wahawi for the holy month, keeping Ramadan nights easy-breezy on the rooftop of the Le Pacha Boat in Zamalek. Perfect for a chilled evening with family or friends, Wahawi offers an Oriental menu as well as board games, shisha, PlayStation, and of course, the World Cup matches – a little bit of something for everyone. Call 0100-2487-111 for reservations.

In collaboration with Events Plus, Event House and Promovision, Fairmont Heliopolis’ popular tent, Si Omar, is back once again, taking on the breeziest of vibes as it sets alongside the pool, offering the football fans a centre-staged screen for the World Cup, as well as a fetar and a sohour menu. Call 16989 for reservations.

Meanwhile, its sister hotel, Fairmont Nile City, is rolling back the clock for a more kitschy, nostalgic Ramadan with Bab El Nil. For reservations, call 02-2461-9494. 

Having won the affections of many a Cairene since opening earlier this year, the Lemon Tree & Co. is doing Ramadan in style; fetar, Sohour, shisha, Playstation and a lot more in offer at the lounge’s kheima, Lemonada. Call 0100-222-3999 for reservations.

One of the more modern adaptations of a Ramadan tent, La Gourmandise sits pretty at the First Mall in Giza. With Four Seasons First Residence involved, the food will almost certainly be of the highest quality. Call 02-3567-1600 for reservations.

InterContinental Semiramis’ rooftop pool area has been awash with all things World Cup, with Capoeira Lounge standing as one of the most popular spots in the city to catch World Cup action.  But the veritable playground of football will also double up as a Ramadan kheima. Call 02-2797-1818 for reservations.

Over at Heliopolis shopping behemoth, CityStars has been hosting Pepsi Lounge for football fans’ delectation, but the chaps at Lebanese restaurant, Abdel Wahab, are making their own this Ramadan as a tent. Call 0109 313 1313 for reservations.

Speaking of shopping malls, over on the other side of the city, Dandy Mega Mall is marking Ramadan with a tent of its own; Kheimet El Sohbageia. For reservations, call 02-35390932.

Finally, after much discussion in the office, we have Sequoia – it doesn’t have a kheima per se, but it’s already a big tent. Similarly to last year, the Nile-side lounge has undergone a temporary makeover for Ramadan, with the help of design studio, Encode. Offering fetar buffets and sohour a la carte, the almost, kind of tent is keeping things simple. Call 02-27350014 for more information.

Happy Ramadan and happy eating! Stay tuned for more Ramadan features and reviews.