Le Grillon
8 Qasr el-Nil Street
Cuisines: European, Arabic, French
About
Le Grillon in Downtown Cairo used to be a famous hang-out for left wing intellectuals, artists and poets. It still has a slightly Bohemian feel, which is at odds with it's posh-looking (though unimaginative) dining room. People don't go to Le Grillon to sit inside, however! There is a large, split-level covered courtyard outside, decked out with wooden tables, greenery, and even a fake waterfall type feature at the back. The brick walls are adorned with pleasant old pictures. The food at Le Grillon is nothing special: standard oriental mezze and grills, at quite frankly exorbitant prices. However, the garden is a great place to linger with friends over a beer or two, and to smoke a shisha pipe. There are also big, flat TV screens in the garden, which tend to be stuck on MTV Arabia unless there is an important football match on. Not many tourists find their way to Le Grillon, so the clientele is a pleasant mix of liberal locals that have been coming here since time immemorial, and the occasional expat that has discovered this relaxing Downtown gem. Service is slow, but the atmosphere is welcoming.
