Except for maybe brinner, there are few better things in life than brunch. The concept is still a little foreign in the context of Cairo dining traditions, but what's not to love -  all the joys of breakfast with the satisfaction of lunch, where you can have an omelet with a side of roast beef; hotdog with a side of sushi; or even, dare I say it, cake with a side of different cake. The ridiculous combinations are endless.

As one gets closer to walking towards the bright light in the sky, weekend’s have, more and more, become a window for recharging and rebooting and there’s no better way to do so than with one of these buffet brunches.

Sparkling Jazz Brunch @ Conrad Cairo Hotel

Between the small window of 1PM and 6PM every Friday, Conrad Cairo Hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant, Solana, lays out a spread of all things delicious. The Conrad’s food is among some of the best in the city, with its fine-dining-restaurant-come-steakhouse Oak Grill having nabbed itself a Cairo 360 Editor’s Choice award earlier this year and I hear those guys know what they're talking about. The all-inclusive brunch is 210LE per person; with that, you get a complimentary glass of wine of soft drink, as well as 50% off of parking till 7PM. There’s also a weird and wonderful clown show for the kids and much more to keep them entertained. For more information and reservations, call 02-2580-8740.

Friday Jazz Brunch @ Fairmont Nile City

Nile-side complex of hospitality, food and entertainment, Fairmont Nile City, has always been a bit of honey pot for the young and restless busy bees of Cairo. Just in the last few months, the hotel has hosted some big events including Back 2 Basics and Student DJ, as well as its own rotating program of nightlife entertainment. Taking things to a nice mellow plateau is FNC’s Friday brunch at Napa Grill, which offers diners a huge range of foods and cuisines from around the world, as well as regular entertainment courtesy of the likes of Ahmed Harfoush and Lana. Add to that a separate kids buffet and kids corner, and you have one hell of a stress-free afternoon. For more information and reservations, call 02-2461-9494.

Friday Brunch @ Le Meridien Cairo Airport

One of the newest kids on the luxury hotel block in Cairo is located within the walls of Cairo International Airport. Still sporting a new-hotel-smell vibe, Le Meridien Cairo Airport offers a Friday brunch deal that’s too good to turn down at a very reasonable 160LE++ per person. Apart from the huge buffet, the folk at Le Meridien have gone an extra mile when it comes to children’s activities with Unlock Art program. Every week, kids are given full reign to demonstrate their artistic prowess, with an exhibition of the work being held every three months. For more information and reservations, call 02-2265-9600.

The Brunch Picnic @ Marriott Cairo Hotel

Offering brunch on both Friday and Saturday because they’re madmen who play by their own rules, the guys at Zamalek’s Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino clearly take brunch very seriously. Located in and around the hotel’s Promenade Café, the Brunch Picnic, as it has been so delightfully named, is heavy on the barbecued meats as well as sushi and sashimi. With a kids menu available and live music throughout, it all makes for a rather pleasant outdoor dining experience that, even if just for a few hours, pulls you out of the hustle and bustle of Cairo for 250LE per person, all-inclusive. For more information and reservations, call all 02-2728-3000.

Here’s to brunch – the only thing worth waking up for on the weekend.