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

At its core, Alexandria is the beating heart of the Mediterranean. No matter what else it was or is, it remains a portal to the sea, a postcard image of what the Mediterranean is at its best. And at its best, the Mediterranean opens the door to the best culinary experiences in the world. Not just seafood, mind you! But let’s agree that when it comes to seafood, no one does it like Mediterranean cities, and of those cities, no one does it like Alexandria!

And at our great Alexandria’s, no one does it quite like the Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano.

Kala Restaurant, located at San Stefano, on the third floor of the hotel, opened in late November last year. With the much-awaited spring already exhibiting its sun, there’s no better time to bring back this pearl.

‘Do what you love’, they say. And Executive Chef at Kala, Wael Essam, definitely took the advice to heart! In his free time, he fishes the way his parents and grandparents did, along the shore of the corniche. And at work, he brings the best of the culinary world to our dinner menus at Kala Restaurant.

With the creativity of an artist, Wael Essam fuses ingredients and techniques, herbs and species, the local and the international, and takes the great thousands-years old tradition of preparing seafood for our tastebuds and builds on it to make something both new and familiar.

In his dishes, you’ll find the other side of the Mediterranean, Italy’s fresh and homely touch, and you’ll find France’s elegancy, and at the centre, the glory of Alexandria. Under his touch, the kitchen becomes a live canvas of taste and aroma.

On his international menus, expect Spain’s ceviche, Italy’s crudo, and Alexandria’s Singari. The real treat, however, is the Chef’s invention: Salt-crusted fish. International as it, the restaurant remains true and authentic to Alexandria, and it shows on the menu with the beloved sayadia rice, grilled shrimp butterfly, and seafood tajines.

Guests who love to choose for themselves will love to know there’s a display of the freshest catches of the day to order, as well as selecting the preferred method of cooking.

All of us seafood lovers know that no dish is complete without a glass of white wine. There’s no judgment if you choose red, however! Kala Restaurant offers a fine selection of wine and champagne, depending on the selected dish.