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The central building of the Cairo Marriot is a converted palace, originally built in 1869 by Khedive Ismail to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal. The palace itself is an Oriental masterpiece, with intricate woodwork and elaborate chandeliers. While the standard rooms haven’t been revamped in a decade or three (renovations are currently taking place), they are nevertheless luxurious. Business facilities include 14 meeting rooms, including the sumptuous 1,ooo-seater Aida ballroom. The hotel is located on the island of Zamalek, close to shopping, theatres and Downtown. Despite its central location, the hotel is quiet, especially the famous garden bar, a popular haunt for celebrities. The best steaks in Cairo can be found at JW’s Steakhouse, and the floating Nile Maxim restaurant is a great way to see the city’s riverfront. Those with money to burn might try their luck at the Omar Khayyam Casino.
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The central building of the Cairo Marriot is a converted palace, originally built in 1869 by Khedive Ismail to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal. The palace itself is an Oriental masterpiece, with intricate woodwork and elaborate chandeliers. While the standard rooms haven’t been revamped in a decade or three (renovations are currently taking place), they are nevertheless luxurious. Business facilities include 14 meeting rooms, including the sumptuous 1,ooo-seater Aida ballroom. The hotel is located on the island of Zamalek, close to shopping, theatres and Downtown. Despite its central location, the hotel is quiet, especially the famous garden bar, a popular haunt for celebrities. The best steaks in Cairo can be found at JW’s Steakhouse, and the floating Nile Maxim restaurant is a great way to see the city’s riverfront. Those with money to burn might try their luck at the Omar Khayyam Casino.
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The Mena House is one of Cairo’s true classic hotels. Since its opening in 1869, the hotel has been frequented by world leaders, princes and discerning globetrotters. It is really two hotels in one—the old Palace section is truly sumptuous, while the new Garden section leaves a bit to be desired. For sightseeing, the location can’t beat as the Mena House is nestled right next to the Pyramids. The rooms in the Palace wing are spectacular, with inlaid wooden walls and classic Oriental furniture. The Mena House is well suited to business travellers who want to inject a fair dose of pleasure into their stay. There is a decent 18-hole golf course on the hotel grounds, a gorgeous swimming pool and a casino—as well as a full-service business centre and banquet halls with a capacity of about 800. The restaurants all serve good food, but the Al Rubbayyat tops the list for its ambience. The dining room’s Ottoman architecture is gorgeous. > Sheraton Cairo Hotel fACCOMMODATION fCAIRO. EGYPT 92 bradmans.com Cairo F.indd 92 12/9/05 10:54:49 am
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The Sheraton Royal Gardens is a gem hidden among Giza’s sprawling concrete jungle. Once the palace of a famous Egyptian artist, the hotel’s blend of quaintness and modernity works surprisingly well. The real attraction is the hotel grounds. Staff say that 40% of visitors come just for the swimming pool, a round wonder of waterfalls and Jacuzzis complete with a sunken bar. The restaurants live up to the standard set by the rest of the hotel. The chefs at the Inaka-ya Sushi restaurant impress with their teppan skills, and stepping into the recently renovated Trader Vic’s is like boarding Hemingway’s yacht—sleek lines and dark-stained panels abound. The hotel is ideal for business retreats, with three ample banquet rooms that can be modified to almost any size. Not surprisingly, the service here is first rate.
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