Café Riche is defined by its dark, wood-paneled interior and its collection of faded black-and-white photographs of Egyptian cultural figures lining the walls. Established in nineteen oh eight on Talaat Harb Street, it operates as a bridge…
Belle Epoque Downtown Cairo
We will walk the grand European-style avenues designed in the late nineteenth century under Khedive Ismail to find historic squares, iconic cafes, and ornate apartment facades that capture the cosmopolitan elegance of Paris on the Nile.
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1. Café Riche
2. Talaat Harb Square
Talaat Harb Square is distinguished by the bronze statue of economist Talaat Harb standing at its center, a figure captured in a neatly cut overcoat. The square itself is a hub of nineteenth-century urban planning, ringed by buildings with…
3. Groppi - Talaat Harb
Groppi sits at the edge of Talaat Harb Square, identifiable by its curving façade and intricate, colorful tile mosaics. Founded in nineteen twenty-four by the Swiss pastry chef Giacomo Groppi, this location became a centerpiece of Cairo’s…
4. Champlion Palace or Palace of Prince Said Pasha Halim
The Palace of Prince Said Halim Pasha, widely known as the Champollion Palace, is recognizable by its faded pink marble facade and the repeated initials SH etched into its columns and stone reliefs. Designed by the Italian architect…
5. Cinema Radio
Cinema Radio is recognized by its bold Art Deco exterior, where the name of the venue is written in large red Arabic and French script. Designed by architects Max Edrei, Garo Balyan, and Victor Salama and built in the nineteen thirties,…
6. Yacoubian Building (Cairo)
The Yacoubian Building is a ten-story Art Deco edifice located at thirty-four Talaat Harb Street. Constructed in nineteen thirty-seven by the Lebanese-Armenian millionaire Hagop Yacoubian, it was designed by the architect Garo Balian.…
7. Mustafa Kamel Square
Mustafa Kamel Square, located at the intersection of Mohamed Farid and Qasr El Nil streets, is anchored by a bronze statue of the nationalist leader Mustafa Kamel. He stands in an oratorical pose, his right hand resting upon a sphinx, a…
8. Behler Corridor
The Behler Corridor is a narrow, covered passageway in downtown Cairo that connects Kasr El Nile Street with Talaat Harb Street. It sits at the base of the Baehler Buildings, a massive six-block residential and commercial complex built…