In March 2019, when Galeries Lafayette opened its flagship location on the Champs-Élysées, they enlisted Laila Gohar to cater the opening night. She delivered, creating life-size butter sculptures of body parts and a tower of langoustines. A pioneer of culinary art, Gohar first became known in the New York food scene when moving there from Egypt in 2009. After working in restaurant kitchens for four years, she launched her catering company, Sunday Supper, in 2013. Her artistic creations soon caught the attention of brands like Prada, Hermès, and Gucci.

Since then, Gohar has exhibited her work at museums and galleries worldwide, from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to Sotheby’s in Paris. In 2020, she launched her playful tableware label, Gohar World, alongside her sister, Nadia. Here, the artist shares her favorite sights, shops, hotels, and restaurants in her hometown.

Abou El Sid Restaurant

This classic restaurant in Cairo’s Zamalek neighborhood is known for its traditional Egyptian dishes, especially the stuffed pigeon, which is served crisp-skinned and filled with spiced rice or freekeh. (abouelsid.com)

Koshary Abu Tarek

This downtown institution is Cairo’s best-known spot for koshary, the beloved street food of rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, crispy onions, and tomato sauce. (koshary-aboutarek.com)

Café Riche

Open since 1908, Café Riche was once a hub for writers, revolutionaries, and intellectuals. Today, it’s a faded but lively spot for coffee, beer, and people-watching with a side of history. (instagram.com)

Groppi EgypT

An old-school dessert and coffee shop in the heart of the city. Founded in 1891 by the Swiss native Giacomo Groppi, it recently rebranded following renovations. (instagram.com)

Estoril

A five-minute walk from the Egyptian Museum, Estoril serves classic dishes in a low-key space.

Greek Club Cairo

Founded in 1893 by King Constantine, the Greek Club in downtown Cairo was initially reserved for Greek people living in the city. It opened its doors to the public after the revolution in 1952, and is now a great place to sit outside, have a drink, and eat Mediterranean food. (instagram.com)

Immobilia

Immobilia was the city’s first skyscraper and a landmark Art Deco building in downtown, once home to stars like Umm Kulthum and Omar Sharif. Its curved balconies and grand lobby evoke the glamor of old Cairo. Though timeworn, the building has four recently renovated apartments available for rent per night. (egyptbeyond.com/immobilia)

Al Muizz Street

Located within the walls of historic Cairo, founded in the 10th century, Al Muizz is one of the city’s oldest streets. The medieval Islamic architecture is beautiful. A great place to go if you’re looking for local vendors and bazaars.

Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque

Built in the 9th century by the Abbasid ruler Ahmad Ibn Tulun, this is one of Cairo’s oldest and largest mosques. Its vast courtyard, spiral minaret, and brick-and-stucco construction have remained largely unchanged for over 1,000 years. (egymonuments.gov.eg)

Gayer-Anderson Museum

Tucked beside the Ibn Tulun Mosque, this museum is one of the best-preserved examples of 17th-century domestic architecture in Cairo. Once home to British soldier and collector Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson, it’s filled with Persian rugs, mashrabiya screens, secret rooms, and a rooftop garden. (egymonuments.gov.eg)

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

The original Egyptian Museum, opened in 1902 in a pink-domed building in Tahrir Square, holds one of the world’s largest collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including colossal statues and the full contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb. (egyptianmuseumcairo.eg)

Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum

Located in a 20th-century Art Nouveau palace overlooking the Nile, this museum exhibits Impressionist, Romantic, and Classical works, as well as historic pieces from the Middle East and Asia. Founded in 1962, the museum was a gift from the politician and collector Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Bey to his French wife, Émilienne Luce.

Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Center

Named after the artist and architect Ramses Wissa Wassef, this center, located just south of Cairo, exhibits Egyptian tapestries. It’s a testament to Wassef’s belief in the importance of historical preservation. (instagram.com)

Saqqara

One can’t visit Cairo without seeing the pyramids. Saqqara served as the necropolis for the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. The site contains numerous tombs, as well as the Pyramid of Djoser, built in the 27th century B.C. (egymonuments.gov.eg)