Conrad Cairo Hotel; Hotel Vic on the Harbour, Hong Kong

BACKGROUND

The Conrad originally opened in 1998 and is one of seven Hiltonoperated hotels in the Egyptian capital.

WHERE IS IT?

On the Nile Corniche, next door to the soon-to-open St Regis Cairo and the Hilton Cairo World Trade Centre Residences, and close to Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum. It is 21 kilometres from the airport; at 1am this was a 30-minute drive but could just as easily take two hours or more during rush hour. The closest metro station is Ramses.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

With its 24-storey tower looking out towards Zemalek Island, the Conrad Cairo is unmissable on the skyline. The hotel is accessed via a sloped driveway, with security and x-ray machines to clear before going into the hotel. The main lobby is large with a triple-height atrium; during my stay it was always bustling with people having coffee or drinks in the lounge bar.

Though the property is in good shape, the last renovation was in 2010 and the design is now slightly outdated. A renovation, including all rooms, public areas and meeting rooms will start at the beginning of 2019 and last three years. Service is generally excellent, though with occasional lapses.

ROOMS

The shape and height of the hotel ensure that all 614 rooms have either a partial or full view of the Nile, and most have balconies. There is complimentary wifi throughout. Entry-level Classic rooms start at 41 sqm. From the 16th floor, rooms become Deluxe by virtue of the better views. Nonsmoking floors are 6-10, 15, 18, 20 and 21.

The Executive rooms span floors 20-24, with the Executive Lounge on 22. This offers breakfast and evening drinks, and has a long balcony overlooking the Nile – it’s worth cancelling the final meeting of the day to enjoy a drink and an uninterrupted view across the city.

Sure, the decoration in the rooms is a little passé, but it somehow seems appropriate. The thick velvet curtains in my room drew across one another so no light could penetrate. Soundproofing is very good, essential when the hotel bar only gets going after midnight and guests return to their rooms at four in the morning.

FOOD AND DRINK

The hotel’s restaurants have been renovated more recently than the rest of the hotel, and there are three excellent choices on the second floor alone. For breakfast and buffet lunch, Solana is a casual restaurant overlooking the Nile. I ate breakfast here and the choice of both regional and international cuisine was very impressive, as were the suggestions of the chef when I started asking for some Arabic bread and ended up eating a variety of lovely spicy ful medames (a bean dish). Kamala offers a choice of Southeast Asian cuisines, while the Oak Grill offers delicious modern Lebanese cuisine. I ate twice at the Oak Grill and didn’t even scratch the surface of what I wanted to try, though the smoked dishes are outstanding, and I had fattoush

(a chopped salad dish) with grilled halloumi both nights.

Also on offer are the outdoor Jayda Nile Terrace by the pool with Nile views, or the Stage One Lounge and Bar with music and cocktails.

MEETINGS

The hotel’s meeting spaces are all on the lobby level and total over 3,500 sqm. They include the Conrad Ballroom, one of the largest in the city, holding 750 for a banquet, and the Nile Ballroom, with a capacity of 300 for a banquet as well as a series of smaller meeting rooms on one side including a business centre.

LEISURE

The hotel has a large fitness centre, which has a good-sized open-air swimming pool. As with many Conrad hotels, there is a series of pre-bookable experiences, from a one-hour Nile cruise through to full-day excursions to the pyramids or more individually curated trips. The ground floor, below the lobby level, has a casino and a nightclub, but I didn’t visit either of those.

VERDICT

This is a very well-located hotel, popular both with Egyptians and international guests. Staff are friendly, ensuring there is a family feel that belies the size of the property. Regulars will be looking forward to the refurbishment. Tom Otley

The hotel’s restaurants have been renovated more recently than the rest of the hotel, and there are three excellent choices on the second floor alone... breakfast was impressive

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