Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art
So, one thing you can't miss is The Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art, a platform for creative inquiry that supports artistic work through exhibitions, residencies for artists and curators, and educational initiatives. At Saturday mornings they organize a SAWA workshop, run by Mina Noshy. There is a different theme or medium to work with every week and the workshops are open to everyone, so a good opportunity to meet some local artists. After the workshop, visit Townhouse's library and see if there's an interesting exhibition going on in the gallery space.
The gallery is als very convenient for networking with Townhouse's residency artists. There is a constant flow of very interesting professional artists from all over the world. You get to experience a day in Cairo through the eyes of someone who is still fairly new to the city and has an individual approach to exploring Cairo. If there is time, you can do studio visits with a number of the artists who have studio spaces at Townhouse.
CIC
If you're interested in contemporary visual culture, go and take a tour of the Contemporary Image Collective (CIC). The CIC is an independent non-profit artist initiative founded in 2004 that focuses on the development of contemporary visual arts and culture in Egypt. Exhibitions, photography courses, film screenings, performances, lectures and workshops are held regularly at the CIC.
The Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art has a pioneering role in the diffusion of Plastic Arts through Egyptian and foreign artists. They regularly host different artistic manifestations such as concerts, theater pieces, experimental films, poetic lectures, discussions and photography workshops. Go to Kazaz or GAD in Downtown for some food, they are closeby this gallery.
Rooftop Studios
Visit the Townhouse Gallery’s newest initiative located in Garden City called the Rooftop Studios. The 750 square meter space has eight rooms as well as two communal work areas; there are outdoor, indoor, and individual workspaces within. The studios accommodate artists working in mediums ranging from painting and installation to photography and video. There 10 artists have been given studio space. Visitors will be shown around by the project’s director Essam Abdallah.
More contemporary art...
To gain an overall perspective of the chaging context of the contemporary arts in Egypt it has been relevant for visitors to see the state run exhibitions spaces which are undergoing a considerable change in both attitude and direction: the Palace of the Arts on the grounds of the Cairo Opera House, the Agricultural Museum, October War Panorama, Museum of Islamic Art.
Out and about
El-Horreya
After Eight
Carlton Hotel
Greek Club
Bistro Bar
Food for thought
For a more upmarket experience + character + history:
- Abu Sid
- Don Quixote
- Five Bells
- La Bodega
- Khan el Khalil Restaurant authentic Egyptian
Local food, simple:
- Kazaz Local food, sandwiches, soups
- Abo Tarek Koshary
- Fiteer Tahrir Fiteer
- GAD Local food, sandwiches
Old news
Pyramids
Khan Khalili / al-Azhar mosque / al-Hussein mosque
Egyptian Museum
Cairo Tower
Citadel of Salah al-Din
Rest your head
- Osiris
- Hotel Longchamps
- Carlton Hotel (for character over other advantages)
- There is a series of newly opened and extremely afforadable hotels around Talaat Harb Square, including the Cairo Inn, which also have free wifi
Getting around
Black and white Taxis: 6-10 LE (0.85–1.43 EUR)
Subway: 1 LE
Yellow Cabs/Cairo City Cabs: 150-200 LE one way to Alexandria
Food from street vendors: 1 – 2.5 LE
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Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art
Contemporary art gallery in Cairo
The Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art is a platform for creative inquiry that supports artistic work through exhibitions, residencies for artists and curators, and educational initiatives. By...
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Contemporary Image Center (CIC)
The Contemporary Image Collective (CIC) is an independent non-profit artist initiative founded in 2004 by a collective of artists and professional photographers, focusing on the visual image and the...
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100COPIES MUSIC
A music label based in Cairo, Egypt
100COPIES focuses on experimental music, sound and jazz. The main intention of the label is to create a platform/network for the independent music scene in Cairo. They also connect international...
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Studio Emad Eddin (SEE)
A unique project in the Arab World, Studio Emad Eddin ( SEE ) offers rehearsal, training and residency space to independent troupes and artists in the field of performing arts in Egypt, the Arab...
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Ayman Ramadan
Born in 1980 in the Nile Delta, Ayman moved to Cairo in 1998. In 1999 he started working for Townhouse Gallery of Contemporary Art in Cairo. It was around this time that he started producing work.
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Cairo International Film Festival
The Cairo International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cairo, Egypt. The festival was established in 1976 and was the first film festival in the Middle East.
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The Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art
Mashrabia Gallery was founded in the mid 70’s. Since the 90’s, the gallery has had a pioneering role in the diffusion of Plastic Arts through the presentation of foreign artists in Egypt and the...
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Fathy Salama
Music
Fathy Salama was born by the Nile, when he was a child he swam there with his friends. He grew up listening to the family radio, which played the music of Oum Kalthoum, Abdelwahab and Farid el...
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The Khan el Khalili Restaurant
and Naguib Mahfouz Cafe
In 1988, the contemporary writer Naguib Mahfouz became the first Arabic writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature and hence the pride of his country. When in 1989 the Khan Khalili Restaurant and...
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El Ghash
For a taste of real Cairo
Head for this fuul restaurant famous throughout the city for serving the best beans in town. Fuul comes with a variety of toppings, salads and bread. Guests sit outside at tables set up in the...
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Simonds
The 'coffee king of Cairo'
Manhattan has Starbucks. But Cairo, we gloat, has Simonds.
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Nile Bukhara
Indian Restaurant
Traditional northwest frontier specialities and authentic mughlai cuisine from the “royal” kitchens of North India with delicate aromas & exotic flavours - delights of the tandoor (Clay Oven...
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After Eight
Seven Nights Live Music
One of the oldest and most active night spots in downtown Cairo. This venue has a different live band performing almost every night it's usually packed with revellers.
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The Greek Club
Recently renovated, this age-old club oozes 1940s charm.
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Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum (ACAF)
Alexandria Contemporary Arts Forum (ACAF) is an independent non-commercial organization whose primary function is to operate as an alternative venue for the presentation and research of contemporary...
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The Cairo Independent Film Festival
The Cairo Independent Film Festival is an annual platform of exchange and interaction among independent filmmakers as well as artists, journalists, intellectuals and activists concerned with the...
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Cairo Biennale
Since its inception in 1984, the Cairo Biennale is considered one of the most important cultural events in the Middle East. Conceived and initially designed to explore contemporary art in the Arab...
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Kazaz
Local food, sandwiches, soups
A tasty little spread of goodness at Kazaz, a fast food joint in Cairo. An all-Arabic menu on the first floor when you walk in, but the upstairs seating area has English menus. The portions are quite...
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Le Bistro
French cuisine in Cairo
An odd little restaurant, Le Bistro is easy to miss because it's located well below street level. Ambience is a bit strange with blue paint and bright lights giving it the feeling that you're in an...
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The Hotel Longchamps
The Hotel Longchamps is located in quiet, upscale Zamalek in Cairo, Egypt.
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Espace Karim Frances
Contemporary Art Gallery
In 1995, to fill the gap in the contemporary art scene in Egypt, Karim Francis Art Gallery was opened. Located within a pedestrian area of downtown Cairo, the gallery is a unique venue where more...
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Fatatri al-Tahrir
Fittir. Hmmm, fittir. These are sometimes translated as pizzas, sometimes translated as pancakes. They're really neither, but hard to explain. Dough that is sort of like a phyllo dough is handled...
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Wust El-Balad
Hybrid band from Cairo
Wust El Balad, a band with an amazing blend of sounds combining traditional Arabic Music with a Modern and Western twist, thus trying to make their music as accessible as possible - not just in Cairo
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Hala Group
Hala is an independent theatre group searching for various ways to communicate with a true and different audience. Hala Group chooses the street theatre to be a basic medium to present it's works.
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Shahrazad
Belly dance club, Cairo
Enter the set of an old-school night club like a classic Egyptian movie with magnificant Louis Farouk décor, high ceilings, red drapes and a golden podium for the cabaret. How could this not be a...
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Al Horreya
One of just a handful of traditional cafés offering beer (and the only one to flaunt it), this rundown Cairo landmark is definitely worth a visit. The high ceilings and open-panel windows have great...