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

While many maintain an almost militant disdain for Valentine's Day, it often brings the best out of Cairo's top luxury hotels. This year is no different, with the top names unreservedly pulling all the stops, with offers, special deals and packages covering everything from dining, partying, pampering and, of course, rooms. Here is a rundown of the best offers from the best hotels in the capital.

Fairmont Nile City

Fairmont Nile City is offering a ‘Dining, Pampering and Relaxing’ package for 2460LE that includes a Deluxe Nile Room with breakfast, a set menu dinner at Napa Grill and a thirty-minute couple’s massage at the excellent Willow Stream Spa. Speaking of which, Napa Grill’s Always & Forever is doing things old school, with candles, sparkling wine and live entertainment, while Willow Stream Spa is offering a marine immersion body massage and salt scrub for the special price of 1000LE.  

You can also enjoy an evening of live music courtesy of Ahmed Harfoush at Saigon Restaurant & Lounge’s La Vie En Rose or a rowdier night at O Bar’s Valentine’s party, Love Bites. For more information, call 202 2461 9494.

Kempinski Nile Hotel

Garden City’s Kempinski Nile Hotel is offering special Valentine’s Dinners at the Blue Restaurant (350LE++ per person) and outstanding Turkish restaurant, Osmanly (450LE++ per person), as well as several special room packages, starting at 2015LE and going all the way up to 28999LE.

In addition, the Kempinski is asking visitors to share their Valentine’s moments on the day on social media with the hashtag #KempinskiEgyptValentines for the chance to win prizes. For reservations, all 0227980000.

Cairo Conrad Hotel

Valentine’s Day dining at Conrad Cairo Hotel comes in the form of specially-put-together menus at Oak Grill and Kamala (both 650LE all inclusive per couple) to the background of live music.  

Also on offer is a very reasonable Valentine’s Day package for 1500LE (all inclusive) that gives you a one night stay in a deluxe room, a set menu dinner at Oak Grill where roses heart-shaped caked and some quintessentially romantic violin music. It doesn’t end there, though; the package also offers a morning-after breakfast at Solana, access to the hotel’s health club and discounts on massages and parking. For reservations, call 0225808888.

Cairo Marriott Hotel

‘All You Need is Love’ is the Marriott’s motto this Valentine’s Day, with Italian restaurant, Ristorante Tuscany, offering roses and live guitar music for an intimate dinner, while JW Steakhouse has put together  special set menu.

There’s more live music – piano this time – at Saraya Gallery, as well as at Harry’s Pub, while the Bakery Shop is laying out a spread of delicious baked goods with a Valentine’s theme. For reservations, call 02 27283000.

Four Seasons Nile Plaza

There’s no shortage of options at Four Seasons Nile Plaza for the day of love; stunning Cantonese restaurant, 8, is offering a special eight-course meal, Italian restaurant, Bella, has put together a five-course meal, while Lebanese eatery, Zitouni, is hosting a buffet.

Away from wining and dining, the Plaza Ballroom will host a special live concert on the Friday with Wael Gasser and Tamer Ashour, as well as bellydancer, Dina, while on Valentine’s Day itself, will see Amal Maher and Ramy Sabry perform. For reservations, call 02 27917000.

Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah,

Things are set to be #SoRomantic at Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah, meanwhile, where a 2015LE stay comes with a double room, dinner at the Bar or Moroccan restaurant, La Palmeraie, and breakfast. You’ll also be entered into a raffle draw for the chance to win a ruby diamond ring.

Other Valentine’s Day options include a dinner at La Palmeraie (500LE++ per couples) and dinner, live music and entertainment of the DJ variety at the Bar (800LE++ per couple). In addition, Cairenes can get a one-hour massage for two with a strawberry and chocolate buffet for 1450LE. For reservations, call 02 27373737

Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo

There’s a subtle romance that about the fusion of Western and Thai cultures that Dusit Thani LakeView embodies perfectly and so the New Cairo Hotel was always going to go all out for Valentine’s Day. Ruen Thai is offering dinner with a live saxophonist and ‘special treats’ (700LE per couple), while Italian restaurant, Branzino, is hosting a buffet to the tune of a live violinist (600LE per couple).

Elsewhere, there’s 600LE (per couple) all-you-can-eat sushi offer at Izumi, while laidback lounge, Blue Rose, is offering complimentary canapés and the services of a DJ (700LE per couple).

For the sweet-toothed among you, there’s plenty of special treats at Dusit Gourmet and there will also be a special chocolate-cooking class package (600LE) running on both Friday and Saturday that also affords you brunch.

Special room rates starting from 1000LE per person are also on offer, with a buffet dinner at Branzino, breakfast and a couple’s massage thrown in as part of the package. For reservations, call 02 26140000.

Fairmont Heliopolis

Amongst Fairmont Heliopolis’ dining options, Aqua e Luce is enlisting the talents of a pianist to accompany a special European Valentine’s dinner (800LE per couple), while Asian restaurant, Noble House, has two options: Chinese dinner for 800LE or a Teppanyaki dinner for 900LE (both per couple). The hotel’s Mexican restaurant, Maria’s, is also hosting a special Valentine’s dinner for 700LE (per couple).

In addition, Fairmont Heliopolis’ Valentine’s bed and breakfast packages comes with dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants, with rates starting at 1800LE. 

For more offers and events, check out the Cairo 360 events calendar. Happy Valentine's Day!