Masrawy Egyptian Restaurant

I only recently discovered that Nairobi had an Egyptian restaurant and close to my office to boot. My friend has spent a lot of time there utilizing their wifi and noshing on their food and recommended it. Since I haven't had any Egyptian food since my trip to Cairo last year I thought it was high time that I check it out so a group of friends and I went one Friday for lunch.

Location: Kindaruma Road behind Ngong Road behind Coptic Hospital and next to Saint Nicholas Primary School
Price: Starters 100-200 KSH; Snacks, Salads, Soups, and Sandwiches 100-300 KSH; Grilled Meat and Chicken dishes 300-800 KSH; Vegetarian dishes 200-300 KSH; Falafel meals 300-450 KSH; Beer 120 KSH; Soda 80 KSH
Atmosphere: Seating is around back in the garden and they have a tent, shaded tables, and even low tables with benches and pillows.
Bonus: free shisha with lunch and dinner dishes

Gipsy Bar

Ah, Gipsys, how I've missed your Friday night dance marathons and fabulous people watching.  Upon my return to Nairobi this week Gipsys was where I headed on Friday night to catch up with friends.  It was no different than I left it three months ago; there were the same faces, same music, same fun atmosphere.


Location: Westlands- Waiyaki Way at Woodvale Grove across from Barclays
Price: 200KSH (approx. $2.50) for beers; 500-600KSH (approx. $6.25-7.50) for mixed drinks
Atmosphere: Friday and Saturdays it's packed, loud, and full of dancing fools.  The rest of the week it's more laidback and you can catch a game from the sports bar on the end or grab a bite at the restaurant over the dance floor on the other end. 

Takiebah: Townhouse

Townhouse is a local hang out off a side street in downtown Cairo.  Shisha is cheap and it's fun place to people watch, personally one of my favorite past-times.  Entertainment is also provided by performers looking to earn some change.  During our visit a teen flame twirler showed off his skills while bystanders looked on.

Location: Downtown- El Nabarwy Street.  If you're traveling through on a budget this is an inexpensive and easily accessible place to get a taste of where the locals hang.  Hotel Vienna, a backpacker point, is located just around the corner. 
Price: 2.50 LE for shisha
Atmosphere: Set up like a sidewalk cafe but with the majority of the chairs and tables actually in the street, be ready to jump up and move your chair back if an irate motorist doesn't like waiting his turn to pass.  Fortunately there's not a lot of traffic on this street.

Arabesque

Foreign types with the hookah pipes say
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an Egyptian

(Lyrics: Walk Like an Egyptian, The Bangles, 1986)

Shisha is a way of life in Cairo.  Just walking down Quasr el Eini Street one will see men sitting outside their shops at the end of a long day smoking from a hookah.  It is seen as less harmful than traditional cigarettes and cigars by the west and smoking a variety of fruity flavor tobaccos from a hookah pipe make shisha more of a social experience rather than an addiction.