The Gabriel

If you’re in Cairo to do the major tourist destinations then Heliopolis might not be the obvious choice — but if you’re here to see the city at its most contemporary and stylish then it’s hard to do much better than the Gabriel. For while it may be a fairly classic boutique hotel, elegant but with a slight modern edge to its interiors, luxe with a generous helping of stylish nightlife, this is a town where classic boutique hotels are far from a common sight.

Rooms start out quite generously sized, and they’re stocked with all the necessities, from 46-inch LCD televisions and iPod stereo systems to Bulgari bath products. Needless to say, Egyptian cotton linens are included as a matter of local pride. And the suites are proper suites, not just bedrooms with dividers — here they add living rooms, bars, walk-in closets and guest bathrooms.

By day the Gabriel’s social nexus is the swimming pool, and it’s not much different by night, when the poolside Roof Bar turns into a fully fledged nightclub. The Salt restaurant and bar offer forward-thinking Mediterranean-Asian cuisine in a Starck-like environment of chandeliers and mirrors. And while the Pyramids are not exactly in your front yard, you’re quite close indeed to Sun City, the site of some of Cairo’s best shopping and dining.

How to get there:
The Gabriel is located just 3 miles from Cairo International Airport (CAI).