With a busy Ramadan behind us, all attention are now focused to one thing and one thing only – Eid. For many, it marks the beginning of summer and hitting the beach whenever possible, starting with the long weekend. Sadly, though, others will be spending it in Cairo; but in a turn that frown upside down kind of way, the InterContinental Semiramis has plenty for the city-stranded.

Now, the Garden City hotel can’t offer you a beach and the scary but somehow exhilarating expectation of getting stung by jellyfish, but there are some mighty fine dining and entertainment options…

Late-Night Entertainment

Still carrying remnants of the Oriental stylings that carried through Semiramis’ Ramadan specials, Haroun El Rashid looks like it’s going to be busy this week, with the venue’s Eid schedule featuring the likes of shaabi royals, Saad El Soghayar and Abdel Baset Hamouda, as well as Hamada EL Leithy, Amir Abdullah and Tarek El Sheikh, while belly-dancers, Dina and Maya, are also set to perform.

The Big Eid Brunch that Stands Out from the Bunch

Night & Day has long been considered one of the best and most consistent restaurants in the city when it comes to quality – something that certainly applies to its legendary weekly brunches. Naturally, the brunch takes a hiatus during Ramadan, but its return is set to be a special one at 280LE++ per person. Brunch – it sells itself.

High-Tea, High-Times

Ramadan, of course, takes away some of our indulgences; one of which is the simple pleasure of enjoying some kind of sweet, baked nibble alongside some tea in the mornings and afternoon. High or otherwise, we are, of course, a nation of tea drinkers and a special high-tea menu featuring French and Oriental pastries at 200LE++ is on offer.

Bento at Birdcage

As arguably the best Thai restaurant in Cairo, Birdcage’s food is arousing (yes, arousing) at its best and impeccable at its worst. While new menu items are not uncommon at the Eastern eatery, its newest offering is among its most radical – a special bento menu for 185LE++. Now, yes, Bento is more commonly associated with Japanese cuisine, but there’s nothing in the rule book that says you can’t take the same idea and fill it out with Thai food…

In addition to these dining and entertainment options, the hotel’s Café Corniche will be laying out spreads of kahk and ghorayeba, while Lebanese restaurant, Sabaya, and lounge-bar, Rithmo, and outdoor venue, Nile Terrace, are back.

For more information and reservations, call 02-2798-8000.
__________

By Kalam El Qahaira

Photo: InterContinental Semiramis/Facebook)