Ladies who lunch is the chic phrase often used to describe chic women who meet weekdays for social luncheons. We instantly think of places like the Colony Club, La Côte Basque, and Le Cirque , the shrines of New York’s iconic jet-set women. The Ivy Chelsea Garden, Menage a Trois and Sketch are among London’s fabulous crowd counterparts.
And it just looks like Cairo’s fashionable ladies are about to discover their new “to see and be seen” hot-spot: The Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis ! Yes, New York’s iconic hotel has opened it’s doors in the Egyptian capital.
Far from the hustle and bustle of Cairo traffic, and especially easily accessible for residents of Heliopolis and New Cairo, the ex Fairmont Heliopolis has received a complete make-over. Designed by London-based Adrian Barboza Design, the interiors are inspired by the Art Deco era and also include references to Pharaonic arts, with a calming color palette of rich greens and blues, warm wood tones and natural materials.
While the hotel’s signature restaurant, Brasserie Ayda with it’s eclectic ‘Mediterranean-without-Borders’ menu served within stylish interiors resembling a Mediterranean garden, is definitely on hour must-try list, it’s the pretty Peacock Lounge, a signature lounge found at Waldorf Astoria properties around the world, that captivated us most. It’s the ideal venue for our “ladies who lunch” to indulge in artisanal pastries or Egyptian mezze dishes within a very sophisticated yet informal setting.
Another top pick is Le Jardin Pool Bar which immediately reminds us of Amalfi Coast properties. With a secret garden ambience the sophisticated crowd can choose from Mediterranean fusion dishes alongside refreshing cocktails.
No time for lunch, no worries! Fancy after-work-hours get togethers at Bar Raa that channels a bygone era are as sophisticated as it can get. Eclectic jazz music and live performances set the tone, with a diverse menu of sharing bites and some of Cairo´s most creative cocktails served within an elegant ambiance.
We’ve lunched, and we’ve dined, but we will soon be back to try the famous Psammo Therapy at the hotel’s signature spa. Otherwise known as hot sand therapy, a tradition of ancient Egyptians, the treatment promises to deliver a cocooning and comforting effect. And of course, in style!
