T RIED AND TE ST E D H OT E L
Conrad Cairo, Egypt
B A C KGROUND The Conrad originally opened in 1998 and is one of seven Hilton- operated hotels in the Egyptian capital.
WHERE IS IT ? On the Nile Corniche, next door to the soon-to-open St Regis Cairo and the Hilton Cairo World Trade Centre Residences, and close to Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum. It is 21 kilometres from the airport; at 1am this was a 30-minute drive but could just as easily take two hours or more during rush hour. The closest metro station is Ramses.
70
WHAT ’S IT LIKE? With its 24-storey tower looking out towards Zemalek Island, the Conrad Cairo is unmissable on the skyline. The hotel is accessed via a sloped driveway, with security and x-ray machines to clear before going into the hotel. The main lobby is large with a triple-height atrium; during my stay it was always bustling with people having coffee or drinks in the lounge bar. Though the property is in good shape,
the last renovation was in 2010 and the design is now slightly outdated. A renovation, including all rooms, public areas and meeting rooms will start at the beginning of 2019 and last three years. Service is generally excellent, though with occasional lapses.
ROOMS The shape and height of the hotel ensure that all 614 rooms have either a partial or full view of the Nile, and most have balconies. There is complimentary wifi throughout. Entry-level Classic rooms start at 41 sqm. From the 16th floor, rooms become Deluxe by virtue of the better views. Non- smoking floors are 6-10, 15, 18, 20 and 21. The Executive rooms span floors 20-24,
with the Executive Lounge on 22. This offers breakfast and evening drinks, and has a long balcony overlooking the Nile – it’s worth cancelling the final meeting of the day to enjoy a drink and an uninterrupted view across the city. Sure, the decoration in the rooms is a little passé, but it somehow seems appropriate.
DE CEMB E R 2 0 18
The hotel’s restaurants have been renovated more recently than the rest of the hotel, and there are three excellent choices on the second floor alone... breakfast was impressive
The thick velvet curtains in my room drew across one another so no light could penetrate. Soundproofing is very good, essential when the hotel bar only gets going after midnight and guests return to their rooms at four in the morning.
FOOD AND DRINK The hotel’s restaurants have been renovated more recently than the rest of the hotel, and there are three excellent choices on the second floor alone. For breakfast and buffet lunch, Solana is a casual restaurant overlooking the Nile. I ate breakfast here and the choice of both regional and international cuisine was very impressive, as were the suggestions of the chef when I started asking for some Arabic bread and ended up eating a variety of lovely spicy ful medames (a bean dish). Kamala offers a choice of Southeast Asian cuisines, while the Oak Grill offers delicious modern Lebanese cuisine. I ate twice at the Oak Grill and didn’t even scratch the surface of what I wanted to try, though the smoked dishes are outstanding, and I had fattoush (a chopped salad dish) with grilled halloumi both nights. Also on offer are the outdoor Jayda Nile Terrace by the pool with Nile views, or the
FULL REVIEWS AT
BUSINESSTRAVELLER.COM
BE ST FOR ...
The location, the views and the restaurants, all
of which offer meals you remember long after and which remain part of your memories of Cairo.
D ON’ T MI S S... Dinner at the Oak Grill
for some Middle Eastern food and Lebanese specialities.
P R ICE Internet rates for a twin
classic room with partial Nile view start from US$140 per night.
C ONT A C T
1191 Nile Corniche, Cairo, Egypt; +20 2 2580 8000;
conradhotels.com
Stage One Lounge and Bar with music and cocktails.
MEE TING S The hotel’s meeting spaces are all on the lobby level and total over 3,500 sqm. They include the Conrad Ballroom, one of the largest in the city, holding 750 for a banquet, and the Nile Ballroom, with a capacity of 300 for a banquet as well as a series of smaller meeting rooms on one side including a business centre.
L EIS U RE The hotel has a large fitness centre, which has a good-sized open-air swimming pool. As with many Conrad hotels, there is a series of pre-bookable experiences, from a one-hour Nile cruise through to full-day excursions to the pyramids or more individually curated trips. The ground floor, below the lobby level, has a casino and a nightclub, but I didn’t visit either of those.
VERDIC T This is a very well-located hotel, popular both with Egyptians and international guests. Staff are friendly, ensuring there is a family feel that belies the size of the property. Regulars will be looking forward to the refurbishment. Tom Otley
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76