Groppi

Groppi was founded in Alexandria in 1890 by the Swiss chocolatier Giacomo Groppi, and its Cairo story began with a branch on Abdel Khalek Tharwat Street in 1909. The famous tearoom on Talaat Harb Square followed in 1924, and for much of the 20th century it was the place to be seen in Downtown Cairo. It is widely credited with introducing Egyptians to éclairs, Chantilly cream, Swiss chocolates and ice cream on a large scale.

In its heyday the tearoom hosted musical evenings and foreign bands, and its garden held the first outdoor cinema in Egypt. Umm Kulthum, Naguib Mahfouz and Omar Sharif are among the famous names associated with it. The building survived the fires of Black Saturday in 1952, and in 1981 the business was sold to an Egyptian food company. After a period of decline it closed for renovation in 2017 and reopened in 2018, and it was still open in 2025.

The curved art deco frontage with its mosaic lettering is the first thing you notice, and inside the counters display cakes, pastries, chocolates and biscuits. You can sit down for coffee or tea with a slice of cake or an ice cream, or buy a box of pastries to take away. The atmosphere is calm and slightly old-fashioned, which is much of its charm, and it is a pleasant pause from the traffic of the square.

Groppi suits anyone interested in the history of Downtown Cairo, as well as those with a sweet tooth. It works for solo travellers, couples and families, and older Cairenes often come with stories of visiting as children. Prices are moderate. During Ramadan it is busier in the evenings, when the square fills with people after iftar. No booking is needed.

The tearoom stands on Talaat Harb Square, at the heart of Downtown's grid of late 19th and early 20th-century streets. Café Riche and El Abd Patisserie are a short walk along Talaat Harb Street, and the Egyptian Museum and Tahrir Square are about ten minutes away on foot. Sadat and Mohamed Naguib metro stations are both nearby, so it is easy to fit a stop here between sights. Look up at the building as you arrive, since the frontage is one of the best surviving examples of art deco in Downtown.