For a column dedicated to all that is new in cities around the world, we seem to have missed the boat a bit by announcing the arrival of the Museum of Islamic Art (Port Said Street, Bab Al-Khaiq; 00 20-2 2390 1520) — which opened its doors in 1902. But wait: it closed them again a while back for a few months’ renovations. That was four years ago. Now it has reopened at last, with more than 100,000 artefacts newly restored. If you’re after a less challenging way into the world of Egyptology, you’ll be thrilled to learn that a Lego exhibition has just launched at the Egyptian Museum, on Tahrir Square, to show kids large and small how spectacular the original statues and treasures would have looked (2 578 2448). It’s quite good, actually...
For those more curious about the modern side of the city, the Tamarai is where Cairenes go to be a bit fabulous (tamarai-egypt.com). A spiffy new bar and restaurant, it has already seen the Egyptian equivalents of Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell put in some time with the cocktail list. Even so, it remains the place to be seen. It’s been nicely done inside, with brickwork, wood panelling and sofas, but the huge patio is where you should play.
Cairo is known for its bed-bank hotels, but the Nile Hotel Kempinski, which opens next month, is at least a little more intimate. It will have 191 rooms, live music in its rooftop bar and shisha butlers in the Shishawy cafe (2 2798 0000, kempinski.com/cairo). If you’re really after the boutique experience, however, try Villa Belle Epoque, in the leafy suburb of Maadi, a few minutes’ drive outside the city (2 2358 0265, villabelleepoque.com). It opened a year ago, has 13 rooms and a fantastic chef, and is a great place to play with your Lego.