Nestled in the vibrant heart of Cairo’s historic Khan El Khalili bazaar lies a timeless gem that has captured the hearts of locals and travelers alike for generations: El Fishawi Café. Revered as one of the oldest and most iconic coffeehouses in the world, El Fishawi serves as a cultural landmark offering an unforgettable experience for coffee lovers.
El Fishawi Cafe in Cairo.
A Legacy Spanning Centuries
El Fishawi Café, also known as “Café of Mirrors,” boasts a rich history that dates back over 240 years. Established in 1773, it has been a cherished gathering spot for intellectuals, artists, and everyday citizens alike. The café, named after its first owner, has been run by successive generations of the same family over at least seven generations. The first owner of the cafe is now only known as el-Fishawy: his first name is lost in time.
Some 240 years ago, a man named al-Fishawy began serving coffee to his friends in an alley of Cairo's Khan al-Khalili district each evening after prayers. Al-Fishawy, they say, gradually added mint tea and anise tea to his informal menu, as well as shishas, or water pipes.
"We are different from the other coffeehouses because we work to preserve the old style," says Akram al-Fishawy, one of the café's seventh-generation owners.
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Ambiance and Atmosphere
The café’s enduring charm lies in its ability to preserve its traditional ambiance while embracing the evolving cultural tapestry of Cairo. Its walls are adorned with ornate mirrors, intricate wooden carvings, and vintage memorabilia that echo tales of bygone eras. Handmade arabesque furniture meshes with dark mashrabiya panelling and yellow ochre walls. Old copper chandeliers hang from the ceiling.
From the moment you enter El Fishawi, you are enveloped by an ambiance that is both enchanting and invigorating. The café’s outdoor seating spills onto the bustling lanes of Khan El Khalili, offering a front-row seat to the vibrant street life. The air is filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the tantalizing scent of traditional Egyptian dishes. The café’s decor is a visual feast, with its antique furnishings, colorful tiles, and the eponymous mirrors reflecting the lively energy of its patrons.
Most of the tiny, round tables, their marble tops cracked and held together by their aluminum rims, have seen as many years as Fishawy's itself. So too have the large oil paintings, their varnish darkened to deepest brown, and the enormous mirrors, heavy in gilded arabesque frames, some inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
The interior of El Fishawi Cafe is adorned with mirrors and traditional decor.
A Culinary Journey
For coffee enthusiasts, El Fishawi offers a brewsome journey of flavors and traditions. The café is renowned for its impeccable Arabic coffee, brewed to perfection using age-old methods. Served in small, ornate cups, the coffee is rich, aromatic, and deeply satisfying. Tea, the most popular drink at Fishawy's-and in much of the Arab world-comes in a battered two-cup enamel teapot with a bowl of sugar, sprigs of fresh na'na', or mint, and a small glass. Coffee is served in the traditional Arab kanakah, a fluted, long-handled copper pot, with sugar on the side.
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The house speciality is shai barad or boiled tea, heated in a basin of sand. To the habitues, long-handled shishas, the traditional Arab water pipes, are as indispensable as tea. On a typical night, the café's tiny kitchen turns out as many as 400 clay pipe-bowls carefully packed with aromatic tobacco mixtures made sticky with either traditional molasses or a lighter apple flavoring.
In addition to its beverages, the café serves an array of traditional Egyptian snacks and desserts.
A Cultural Hub
El Fishawi Café is more than just a place to enjoy a cup of coffee; it is a cultural hub that reflects the essence of Cairo’s social and intellectual fabric. During the early 20th century the cafe was noted for its intellectuals and writers, especially during Ramadan, among them the 20th-century Nobel-Laureate Naguib Mahfouz.
Over the years, the café has hosted countless luminaries, including poets, writers, and artists who have contributed to Egypt’s rich cultural heritage. Akram al-Fishawy explains that Mahfouz was the café's most famous "regular," and that he wrote parts of his Nobel-Prize-winning trilogy in the café's back room.
“Mahfouz liked to drink green tea while writing inside a hall that we later named after him,” says Fishawy. “The late Nobel-Laureate Ahmed Zewail was a regular too whenever he visited Egypt.
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The café continues to serve as a venue for lively discussions, artistic expression, and cultural exchange.
El Fishawi Cafe is located in the heart of Khan el-Khalili Market.
Visiting El Fishawi
A visit to El Fishawi Café is an essential part of any trip to Cairo. Located within the labyrinthine streets of Khan El Khalili bazaar, the café is easily accessible and offers a welcome respite from the bazaar’s hustle and bustle. On your own, get the taxi driver to drop you at Midan el-Hussein, the main square adjoining Khan el-Khalili. From there it’s less than 100 meters.
While there be sure to shop Khan Al-Khalili which is undoubtedly one of the best markets in Egypt. Its beginnings date back to the 14th century, during Egypt’s Mamluk period, when a caravanserai was set up here, the origin of the present-day bazaar. Weave your way through handicrafts, souvenirs, antiques, jewelry, carpets, food, cafés and virtually any type of product in one of its almost 1,000 stalls.
To make the most of your visit, consider spending some time exploring the surrounding bazaar, where you can discover a myriad of treasures, from handcrafted jewelry and textiles to aromatic spices and perfumes.
El Fishawi Café stands as a testament to the enduring allure of traditional coffeehouses and the rich cultural heritage of Cairo. It is a place where history, culture, and coffee converge, offering an experience that is both timeless and unique. If you are planning a trip to Cairo, be sure to include El Fishawi Café on your itinerary.
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