Villa Belle Époque, Cairo, Egypt

Lovely boutique hotel offering the comfort and elegance of a bygone era, with all modern amenities

Rooms from around £250 per night, including breakfast. Flights, transfers, tailor-made itineraries available on request.

Built by the British in 1920 and discreetly hidden in the quiet streets of Maadi, Cairo's most lushly landscaped quarter and a relaxed, sophisticated and sought-after area of the capital, along the East bank of the Nile. It's an ideal base for exploring this historic city. Villa Belle Époque is a boutique gem with the feel of a smart country house, albeit one shaded by palm trees. Sparkling interiors give a colonial feel and come with airy colours, beautiful art and parquet flooring. After a busy day exploring, it's heavenly to refresh yourself in the swimming pool, surrounded by lush gardens filled with patios, palms, citrus and olive trees.

Accommodation

Each of the hotel's 13 rooms has a spacious balcony and is named after an Egyptian city, evoking the world of discovery that awaits you. All come with air-conditioning, wifi, hair dryers, a safe, flat-screen TVs, bowls of fruit, chocolates from the kitchen, an interesting selection of books and attractive art. You'll find bathrobes and a good range of toiletries - including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, bath foam, loofa, shower cap and body lotion plus hand-made olive oil soaps - in compact bathrooms which have both shower and bath.

Activities & Experiences

Apart from the obvious primary attractions that Cairo has to offer, the streets in the hotel's neighbourhood, with their cafés, restaurants and shopping centres, invite leisurely strolls. If you wish, we can organise expert guides and drivers to support and enhance your time in the city. It's about a 10 minute stroll to the Nile and about a 25 minute drive to the pyramids.

Facilities & Services

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all available here (and room service) and the menus mix Egyptian and western food, so you can switch from one to the other, as you prefer. You can choose to eat in the conservatory or out on the terrace; and If you fancy learning some traditional Egyptian dishes, cooking lessons can be arranged in the kitchen. The hotel also has a cosy bar, pretty courtyard gardens and a swimming pool.

Weather & Seasons

Egypt has year-round sun, and almost no rain. Daytime temperatures range from pleasantly warm in the winter to very hot in the summer. Northerly cities such as Cairo and Alexandria are generally about 5ºC cooler than southerly areas such as Aswan and Abu Simbel.