The culture of Egyptian cafes
Cafes in Egypt are quite important. They’re pretty much everywhere and seem like they’re littered about without much thought, but their over abundance is due to a very good reason. Cafes are are a cornerstone of the culture here, as they are very easy to access and offer plenty of services where people can relax, study, eat, rest after a long day of work, etcetera.
Their nature :
There’s an almost peaceful atmosphere when you sit down at a café, because anyone and everyone is welcome to enter. They are a place that bring people together by bridging the gap between cultures, language barriers, and backgrounds where friends, families, workers, and foreigners can enjoy the place’s services. Foreigners don’t get treated any differently from a native Egyptian, that kind of nonchalance is honestly a breath of fresh air. I have seen countless foreigners getting bothered when they’re out and about just minding their own business by people looking to make a quick buck out of them a number of times, be it by a taxi driver, a bazaar shop owner, or a salesman. However that is either heavily toned down or outright nonexistent in cafes, if you’re sitting there and smoking shisha and having a coffee, you will only be seen as much of a customer as anybody else would be.
What they offer :
Cafes offer a wide range of services like
- All kinds of hot drinks
- Soft drinks
- Shishas with a bunch of flavors, kinds, and shapes
- Games like chess, backgammon, and even gaming consoles although those aren’t as common
- Food
- TVs where people can watch movies and football matches
Football :
When an important football match is being broadcast, you can be sure to find most cafes jam-packed with fans cheering their teams on. People just forget about their problems there and places like these offer them an escape from the daily struggles of life in which they get to flock together with a sense of comradery as they root for their teams with fellow football fans, and when a goal is scored, you will probably hear fans roaring in celebration from a mile away.
It takes skill :
There is also a whole art on preparing stuff too, not every one can make a good cup of coffee or tea. Preparing shisha also requires some skill, as maintaining all its components and spreading the coal on top of the hookah tobacco. These factors can make or break a cafe entirely, because if the service is not up to par, it’ll likely sour your impression of the place and you probably wouldn’t want to return.
Downsides :
The quality varies from place to place, and so do the prices. Cafes are usually independent in terms of pricing and it typically scales with the “caliber” of the place you’re staying in, so if you want a spotless and professional cafe, you’ll have to deal with the cost that comes with it. Otherwise you always have the option to stay at a relatively cheap one, but the overall general structure of the place might be a little too jarring to some and can feel quite bare bones and “dirty”. The over abundance of cafes, while convenient and can mean that you are able to find one nearly anywhere, it can also mean that some are built and maintained cheaply, so not every place might be satisfactory.
In conclusion :
if you just want to chill out and be right in the midst of Egyptian culture, then stopping by a cafe for a refreshing drink is not so bad of an idea. Find the place that suits your style and vibe, and just relax!
