Colonial hotel with awesome roof bar (Windsor Hotel Cairo (Eygpt))

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Windsor Hotel Cairo (Eygpt)
Date:	01/08/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bar open all night, pretty cool aura

Disadvantages: Pricey for budget travellers (considering you can find rooms for £1.50 / £2)

Whilst the Windsor Hotel may have been long surpassed by luxurious 5 star hotels along the Nile, it's still pretty classy as far as downtown establishments go. It looks nothing special from the outside, a maroony brown grey block on a side street, seconds away from busy Talaat Harb and also close to Ezbekiyya Gardens.

The Windsor Hotel has a sort of colonial feel to it which give away it's history, the place was built in the early 20th century as baths for the Egyptian Royal Family but it then became a gentlemans club for British officers. These days there are relics of its past and the plush yet aged floorboards and sofas give off an aura of being in an old-fashioned film set. Another characteristic that is quite apt as this hotel has featured in numerous Hollywood and Egyptian films.

By Cairo prices it's expensive but you can get a single room for less than £20 (sterling), which considering its history and popular roof top "Barrel Bar", is worth a bit of a treat if you are have money to spend. Barrel Bar is popular with expats, although the view from the roof isn't that great, it's relaxing and more importantly open pretty much 24 hours, so it's a good place to head when the rougher local joints close shop.

Even if you don't intend on staying here, it's well worth checking out the roof-terrace or even the restaurant for some hearty meals.

Summary: Head for the roof top terrace