Café Riche is one of Cairo's most historic establishments — a café and restaurant on Talaat Harb Street that opened in 1908 and has been a gathering place for Egyptian writers, intellectuals, actors, and political activists ever since. Naguib Mahfouz drank here. Gamal Abdel Nasser is said to have plotted the 1952 revolution in the basement. The décor preserves the atmosphere of the early 20th century: dark wood panelling, ceiling fans, and photographs of Egyptian cultural figures covering the walls.
The food is good Egyptian and Continental fare — mezze, grills, and the signature Egyptian staples (ful, falafel, koshari). The bar serves alcohol, which is more unusual than it sounds in central Cairo; the Stella beer and house wine draw a mixed crowd of locals and foreigners. Reserve for dinner; lunch and afternoons are more casual.