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Concierge.com

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, Giza

$300-$399
Editor's Pick
Cairo, Egypt, Africa + Middle East: The Tea Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence
35 Giza Street
Giza
Egypt 12311
Tel: 20 2 573 1212
Fax: 20 2 568 1616
www.fourseasons.com/cairofr/
Concierge.com's insider take:

Small by Cairo standards, this 269-room hotel is set one block back from the Nile's west bank, 35 minutes' drive from the Pyramids. Designed to emulate the feel of a luxurious private apartment building, with none of the lobby cacophony typical of Cairo's grand hotels, the Four Seasons has an updated neoclassical elegance. Interiors have crystal chandeliers, inlaid marble floors, and ornate Empire-style furniture; the many amenities include pickup from the airport in a BMW or Mercedes, and a spa where you can gaze at the river while having a foot massage. All rooms come with luxurious bedding, down pillows, and thick terry robes; some have obstructed views of the Nile (the hotel is, unfortunately, behind a twin condo tower occupying the privileged Nile-side position), while others on upper floors look over the green canopy of the Cairo Zoo and the 19th-century botanical gardens to the Pyramids beyond. There are three on-site restaurants—including the chic Lai Thai—as well as the Library Bar for cocktails and a civilized lounge for afternoon tea. The 35 Club, a privately managed restaurant and lounge at the same address (but with a separate entrance), is the city's post–10 pm hot spot for the Westernized elite, thirtysomething politicians, and other Egyptian movers and shakers.

From the readers of Condé Nast Traveler:
Overall Score: 90.5
  • Rooms: 94.7
  • Service: 92.0
  • Food: 86.5
  • Location: 92.0
  • Design: 87.2
"Be sure to book a room with views of the Great Pyramids" at this property on the Nile's West Bank, next to the Zoological Gardens. Neoclassical interiors combine neutral hues of beige and dark brown with green marble floors and wood paneling. Aura, opened in 2008, specializes in Lebanese fare like kibbah nayeh (pureed lamb with bulgur); order a spicy prawn salad at Lai Thai. Get a papyrus wrap at the spa. "The service is flawless."

(269 rooms)
—2009 Gold List

Amenities: Pool, Spa

Information may have changed since the date of publication. Please confirm details with individual establishments before planning your trip.