1. Best Shops In Cairo: A Look Back At 2010
Its very difficult to rate a shop in Cairo; one shoppers favourite can be another shoppers nightmare.
Weve compiled here the best of the shops that weve reviewed during 2010, and taken into
consideration our readers feedback. Were very proud that all our top picks are Egyptian shops that
stand their ground against the international brands operating in Cairo. If your favourite shop is not
included, or youve heard about a new venue that deserves to be featured, let us know via Twitter,
Facebook or email; and well make sure to send out our spies during 2011!
Best Jewellery And Accessory Boutique: Mounaya Gallery
This little gallery on the Zamalek Corniche stocks cabinets full of intricate jewellery pieces such as
gold-covered rings, delicate charm bracelets and large stone pendants, as well as bags, clothing,
bedding and home accessories such as tea sets, trays, place mats and large candles. The one thing
that all these items may have in common is that they are either all locally made or from the Middle
East region with an oriental-inspired design. Mounaya Gallery stocks products by popular local
designers such as Amina K., Hebz, Mailaka and sought-after regional designers such as Sarahs
Bags. Buy This: Sarahs Bags come in several sizes from miniature purses to oversized clutches,
starting at 800LE. Honourable Mentions: KDS, Nomad
Best Body Care Shop: Nefertari
This local body care range has booths in possibly every mall in Cairo and a shop in Zamalek.
Producing 100% natural and handmade body care products with Egyptian-sourced ingredients such
as lavender, brown sugar and olive oil, Nefertari offers a cheaper alternative to products by The Body
Shop. Choose from their body oils, foot pedicure sets, natural soaps or bath salts, or try their
selection of organic towels, robes, slippers and loofahs. Buy This: A small box of three different and
prettily moulded soaps (20LE) makes a cheap and perfect home gift, or try their heavenly and very
thick body creams (starting 30LE).
Best Cheap Home Shop: Cavalli Corner
This tiny shop in Maadi doesnt get the exposure that it deserves. Located around the corner from
Cellardoor Bistro, Cavalli Corner sells very moderately priced and well-made furniture, focusing
mostly on dark wood and ethnic Bedouin accents. The owner purchases his products from all around
Egypt, including Siwa and Fayoum, and the end result is comfortable, ethnic-inspired pieces. The
shop also sells kheyameya print material, bags, kaftan shirts, framed photographs and brass

2. jewellery with semi-precious stones. Buy This: The dark wooden king-sized bed (2250LE) or the
cream linen curtains (starting at 75LE). Honourable Mention: Tao, Down To Earth, La Maison De
Mireille
Best Expensive Home Shop: The LOFT Gallery
The LOFT Gallery is one of the reasons why we love shopping in Cairo. Opened in 2002, the first-
floor gallery is packed with beautiful light fixtures, old ironwork coffee tables and painted wardrobes,
all of which are heavy with a vintage, oriental charm. Some prices are staggeringly high; but its worth
browsing through the shop for inspiration on how to add an elegant, oriental element to your home.
Furthermore, a few consignment items can be found in the shop for as little as 20LE. Buy This: The
Turkish-style trays (950LE) are beautiful and can be used as wall decorations or coffee table
surfaces. Honourable Mentions: Theodors, Razzmatazz
Best Designer Fashion Boutique: HIP
With two small branches in Cairo, this designer clothing boutique stocks edgy designer labels such as
Zach Posen, Lanvin and Alexander McQueen with amazing seasonal sales and offers. Steering away
from their contemporaries tendency to stock over-sequined, flamboyant pieces, HIPs selection
speaks to the trendy, urban woman. Understandably, the items on sale are very expensive, but if you
know your designers, youll appreciate that the prices here are not much higher than in Europe or the
US. Buy This: Anything during their seasonal sales, which reach up to 80% off. Honourable Mentions:
Beymen
Best Concept Store: Villa Baboushka
Located on Ismail Mohamed Street in a quiet white-washed villa, Villa Baboushka is an impeccably
designed and classy shop that makes you want to curl up on their cream couches for a while and
enjoy this boutique experience. Offering designer clothing, costume jewellery, funky bags, art work
and lighting pieces as well as flower arrangements and cupcakes, Villa Baboushka is an admittedly
pricey but elaborate shop that caters to the chic and trendy Cairo shopper. Buy This: If you can afford
them, the art pieces (which have been collected from all around the world) are glamorous additions to
any living room. Honourable Mentions: Amuse
Best Ethnic Jewellery and Accessories Shop: Sami Amin

3. This local designer works with leather, bronze and other metals, and the products have become
recognisable staples in many Cairenes lives. The leather bags are finely crafted and follow an ethnic
oriental design, but their quality and durability make the price tag worth it. Take your time to browse
through the Zamalek branch and youre bound to fall in love with a leather wallet, bronze keychain or
a heavy buckled belt. Buy This: Sami Amins wallets (between 65LE and 115LE) use thick leather with
heavy stitching and brass clasps to close. Honourable Mentions: Ganoob
Best Bargain Shop: Soraya Mostafas Optical Store
As much as we love our designer shades, this years trend in vintage eyewear has helped us stumble
upon this gem of a shop in Downtown Cairo. Located around the corner from El Horreya Bar in Bab
El Louk, this hole-in-a-wall shop sells affordable and funky frames from all around the world. Pick out
a pair of 1950s shades or vintage aviators, or perhaps youd like to try their collection of equally
ancient reading glasses. Eyewear starts at around 75LE and the most expensive eye glasses may
cost you around 250LE, and bargaining is actually possible here. Buy This: Gold-rimmed aviator
glasses (75LE). Honourable Mentions: Nile Stock
Best Deli: Voila
Egyptians take their food seriously, which is evident in the number of deli shops that have sprung up
around Cairo in the past year alone. We may be a little biased in choosing Voila because it is the first
and only outlet to sell Ben & Jerrys ice cream in Egypt. However, the shop also has a wide and very
impressive selection of gourmet foods, including smoked meats such as bresaola and smoked
salmon, British cheddars, French crackers and a rack of exotic spices that would make any aspiring
chef cry. This shop is extremely expensive; so it probably wont be part of your daily shopping round.
Buy This: Ben & Jerry Funky Monkey (20LE) or the Lockfyne smoked salmon (110LE). Honourable
Mentions: Oscar, La Fromagerie, Gourmet Egypt, La Bottega Italiana
Best Bookshop: Diwan
Despite healthy competition from its contemporaries, this book chain made the top of our list because
of their keen interest in promoting the reading culture around Cairo and helping to expose up-and-
coming young writers. With chains all over Cairo, Diwan offers a relaxed reading environment, where
you browse through their bestsellers or magazine, search through their used books section and
DVDs, and end your day with a coffee and a slice of carrot cake. The book chain regularly features
workshops, book signing events and seminars. You can also order any book that you want from
anywhere in the world, and they will deliver it to you within weeks. Honourable Mentions: The

4. BookSpot, Books And Books, Lehner & Landrock
Best Stationery Shop: Abd El Zaher Atelier
While many shops around Cairo have caught onto the trend of leather bound notebooks with soft,
recycled paper, this shop in Islamic Cairo has a history to it: the shop is a family business with three
generations of bookbinders who are passionate about preserving this traditional craft. Their shelves
are stocked with handmade leather journals, notebooks, photo albums and address books. Designs
vary from leather covered in Arabic calligraphy to covers bound in kheyameya material. You can even
customise your notebook to have it engraved with a personal message in golden font. Buy This: A
medium leather-bound journal (75LE). Honourable Mentions: Qirtassiyat Diwan, Hallmark
Best DIY/ Art Shop: El Nomrossy
If you know your way around a thimble and sewing needle, then you must have heard of El
Nomrossy. This tiny shop in Mohandiseen stocks pretty much everything that you would normally go
to Darb El Barabra to buy to customise your clothing with: gems, beads, feather boas, buttons, glue
guns and multiple jars of sequins. Prices are very reasonable, starting at 0.25LE for a thimble of
sequins, and if you can bypass the nonchalant sales attendants, you can easily spend a few hours
rifting through their racks of lace and tulle. Buy This: Flower appliqus (5LE), and embellished diamond
buttons (around 15LE). Honourable Mentions: Alwan
Original article at Cairo 360
kaftan clothing