El Horreya Cafe

The 19 Best Restaurants in Cairo, Egypt | Eater

"In Cairo, if people consume alcoholic beverages at all, they typically do so within the confines of dimly lit bars or at home. Horreya (meaning “freedom”) is an 80-year-old exception, as its patrons and residents of the neighboring streets are well aware. Though acquiring a license to serve alcohol today isn’t worth the hassle for many of Cairo’s shop owners, Horreya got its license decades ago, when the process was more lax. A high ceiling and large windows (some of which are papered over to protect guests’ privacy) border a fairly vast open hall, which is split by an invisible line: On one side, nonalcoholic beverages like mint tea and Turkish coffee are served, just like at any other local coffee shop, while on the other side, alcoholic beverages, particularly local beers, are the common choice." - Laila Hassaballa