Le Grillon
NileGuide Expert Says:
Le Grillon offers the holy trinity of beer, shisha pipes and an outdoor seating area, so make the most of it!
Address:
8 Qasr el-Nil Street
Cairo, Egypt
Phone:
20 2 574 3114
NileGuide Expert tip:
If you are a football fan, Le Grillon is a good place to watch it: they have big screens, but it doesn't get so crowded as other bars.
Description:
Le Grillon used to be a famous hang-out for left wing intellectuals, artists and poets. It still has a slightly Bohemian feel, which is at odds with it's posh-looking (though unimaginative) dining room. People don't go to Le Grillon to sit inside, however! There is a large, split-level covered courtyard outside, decked out with wooden tables, greenery, and even a fake waterfall type feature at the back. The brick walls are adorned with pleasant old pictures.
The food at Le Grillon is nothing special: standard oriental mezze and grills, at quite frankly exorbitant prices. However, the garden is a great place to linger with friends over a beer or two, and to smoke a shisha pipe. There are also big, flat TV screens in the garden, which tend to be stuck on MTV Arabia unless there is an important football match on.
Not many tourists find their way to Le Grillon, so the clientele is a pleasant mix of liberal locals that have been coming here since time immemorial, and the occasional expat that has discovered this relaxing Downtown gem. Service is slow, but the atmosphere is welcoming. You are also within walking distance of other
Downtown bars, such as
Estoril, the
Greek Club, and
Horeya.
Map: