Cairo After Dark: Iftar Treats and Architecture

Every day we spent in Egypt was during Ramadan, a month of the Islamic calendar in which Muslims fast from sunup to sundown. After eating a meal at sunset to break the fast (Iftar), many people head to downtown Cairo to shop, meet up with friends, drink coffee, eat sweets, or do fun stuff. We went out after dark several nights while in Cairo to enjoy the festivities and check out some Art Deco cinemas.

Art Deco Cine Radio.


Sweets shop.


Ice Cream and more.


Metro Cinema.




The Streamline Moderne and magnificent Grand Hotel.


This shop was doing big business in Iftar treat boxes. We bought 2 individual treats (2nd below). Yummy!




Other food. Sun-Ling buys Strawberries from a street vendor.


Takeout Falafels and Fries from our fav falafel stand just meters from the hotel.


Takeout Koshary, the national fast food of Egyptians, in 3 easy steps. Open the lid, pour on the garlic oil and tomato sauce, stir and eat.

According to Wikipedia: Koshary is a "traditional Egyptian staple, mixing pasta, Egyptian fried rice, vermicelli and brown lentils, and topped with a zesty tomato sauce, garlic vinegar and garnished with chickpeas and crispy fried onions. It is often served with sprinklings of garlic juice; garlic vinegar and hot sauce are optional."