Marriott Mena House, Cairo
Hotel · El-Ahram ·
Historic hotel with pyramid views, Indian & Egyptian cuisine
Information
6 Pyramids Road Cairo، 12556, Egypt Get directions
Historic hotel with pyramid views, Indian & Egyptian cuisine
6 Pyramids Road Cairo، 12556, Egypt Get directions
"The Marriott Mena House near Cairo famously has rooms with views of the Giza Pyramids and, as expected, it’s gobsmacking to wake up, fling open the curtains, and see the ancient structures looming in front of you. It feels like you’re hanging out with a slice of ancient Egypt, especially since the pyramids continue to be visible at the restaurant, from the courtyard, even while on a few machines in the gym (a nice reward for making it there on your vacation). If you’re looking for a sleek high-rise stay you’ll have to head into Cairo proper, but the pyramid-side setting here is a novelty that’s hard to forget."
"The palace rooms at the Mena House Hotel, which overlooks the pyramids, are being renovated this year."
"Why book? There's no competing with Mena House's location at the foot of the Giza pyramids—we're talking once-in-a-lifetime views guaranteed from many corners of the property. Set the scene for us. Just about everyone here is living out an item on their bucket list. Not just seeing the pyramids, but sleeping at this hotel specifically. You'll see honeymooners holding hands over dinner; families speaking dozens of languages and cooing over the view as they shuffle kids from one building to the next; and, naturally, a sprinkling of influencers in colorful dresses chasing the likes and comments guaranteed by this setting (best to just avoid the small bridge by the restaurant, unless you're also trying to shoot some Reel content). I was struck by how truly international the crowd felt—at breakfast, tucking into Turkish coffee and fresh yogurt, I heard Japanese, French, Arabic, and English. Talk about the backstory. The reason this hotel has such a primo location? It's been here since the 1800s. It was once a hunting lodge for Egyptian royalty, but a family named Locke eventually bought it from the government and opened it as a hotel in 1890. It was home to the first swimming pool on the continent of Africa, built in 1905 (it's now the pond between the restaurant and the pyramids), and it has since been the site of countless historic moments. The South Korean Liberation festival took place here; Mena House functioned as a hospital for Australians in World War II; the Cairo Conference, at which world leaders including Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt discussed post-WWII plans, happened on these grounds. Take time to admire the black-and-white photos throughout the lobby areas, and you'll see proof that everyone from Frank Sinatra to the entire British Royal Family has checked in. Ask for a tour, or just linger long enough around these relics, and a staffer will likely share legendary stories of these halls. The property is once again owned by the Egyptian government, who contracts out its operation—Marriott is the most recent and current manager of Mena House, as of 2015, after taking over from Oberoi. What are the rooms like? As tends to happen with hotels that have an incomparable selling point (see: pyramid-side location), the rooms in the main building are just fine. You can take your pick of mini suites, garden views, partial pyramid views, and executive rooms—but if you can pull yourself away from the window, you'll notice the interiors are a bit dated. Don't get me wrong: They're tidy, everything works as it should, and the style is right for the destination—with bright white walls, dark wood, and sepia photographs on the walls. But if luxury is the only game you play, keep an eye on the palace rooms, which are currently being renovated and have always been a cut above. The most recently shared opening date for the refreshed palace rooms was 2024, but on an August 2023 visit the team was hesitant to commit to that timeline. Keep your ears open: Every room in the palace has a guaranteed pyramid view, and a separate entrance means privacy is guaranteed. (Plus, all those big names you hear were past guests? Chances are they stayed in the palace.) How are the food and drink offerings? The Moghul Room, which serves Indian food, is a longtime classic at the hotel. There are oil portraits on the walls, dim lighting, and huge portions of everything from shrimp masala to pistachio ice cream. Clearly, people plan ahead to nab the seats outdoors around the fire pits, with show-stopping views, but don't write off the interior either. My favorite dining experience was the buffet breakfast at the main, though, because I was able to sample a ton of different Egyptian dishes and accoutrements. I didn't bother going to Alfredo the Italian restaurant because… well, I eat plenty of pizza and pasta in New York (though I got the impression it's very popular). Is there a spa? There is a small spa with treatment rooms that seemed like a welcome respite from the August sun outside. Book ahead though—I wasn't able to get in when I asked about an appointment on arrival (and that was during the low season). If you need convincing to use the gym, heads up that the treadmill and ellipticals on the far left have the pyramid views. Is the neighborhood worth a visit? Unlike at the hotels in Cairo proper—where markets, mosques, street food, and rooftops will keep you busy for days—staying at Mena House means removing yourself from the mix. Giza is about 30 minutes by taxi from Cairo's city center (traffic depending). The upside: You wake up at the pyramids. For anyone jetting in and out of the city with that express purpose, you can't do much better than sleeping in Giza, waking up at the base of the sights, beating the crowds to see them up close, then retiring to Mena House where pyramid views will grace you as you take a leisurely lunch. If you came to see Cairo for Cairo though (which you should—it's a delightfully chaotic tangle of Egyptian life), then I'd suggest spending a couple nights in the thick of Cairo, likely on the Nile, and wrapping your trip with a stay at Mena House. Is the service worth writing home about? The service here is fantastic, and accommodating for anyone who is a first-time visitor to Egypt. When I wanted to leave the property to meet a friend for dinner in New Giza, the concierge and security kindly facilitated an Uber—and helped me cross-reference my driver's license plate (in Arabic, which I do not read) with the info on the app. I would have been lost without them over my three days here. I also had a great time chatting with waiters at the restaurants, who were eager to tell me about Egyptian culture. What will a stay for families be like? Your biggest challenge will be getting kids out of the massive pool and onto the side of the hotel with pyramid views—not a bad problem to have. After a couple nights, I'm convinced Egypt is one of the great family trips, and making life easy by staying in the shadow of the pyramids is an epic way to do it. How are the hotel's attempts at eco-friendliness or sustainability? Not great—I plowed through plastic water bottles here as there wasn't much of an alternative. Tell us about accessibility at the property. In addition to elevators and ramps, the staff have gold carts they use to cover greater distances on the property. If you need a ride to get from one place to the next, let them know. Anything left to mention? A points-and-miles whiz I met on a Nile sailing told me that this hotel is the ultimate way to cash in your Marriott rewards. Maybe I should start building mine up so I can return." - Megan Spurrell
"A historic hotel with views of the Great Pyramid, offering authentic Egyptian cuisine including molokhia soup with roasted chicken and rice, and shareable mixed grills."
"The best place to stay is Marriott Mena House, which was originally built in 1869 and hosted the likes of Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Request a room with a view of the Pyramids, which can also be admired as you stroll the grounds."
