Mandarine Koueider

Mandarine Koueider traces its roots to a Syrian confectionery family from Damascus. Mohamed Selim Koueider moved to Egypt in 1926 and opened his first shop in Downtown Cairo in 1928, and the Koueider name has been associated with ice cream and oriental sweets in the city ever since. The Zamalek shop on Shagaret El Dor Street is one of the brand's best-known branches and is separate from the similarly named Abdel Rahim Koueider business.

The ice cream counter is the main draw for many visitors. The tangerine flavour, which gives the shop its name, is a favourite, and there are fruit sorbets, frozen yoghurt and several chocolate varieties. Oriental sweets fill the rest of the shop: kunafa, baklava, Turkish delight filled with cream, and chocolate-covered dates, along with French-style pastries and tarts. Mandarine Koueider is especially busy in Ramadan, when its kunafa and other seasonal desserts are in high demand.

The shop suits families, couples and anyone looking for a sweet stop during an evening walk in Zamalek. Most customers buy ice cream to eat as they stroll, or boxes of sweets to take home or give as gifts, rather than sitting down for long. Prices are moderate, and the quality is consistent, which explains its long-standing loyal following among Zamalek residents.

The shop is open into the evening, and the busiest times are after dinner and after iftar during Ramadan. Exact hours are not published officially, so check locally. No booking is needed. Allow 10 to 20 minutes, or a little longer if you are choosing an assortment of sweets by weight, which is how they are usually sold. Ask for a mixed box if you want to try several kinds.

Shagaret El Dor Street runs through the centre of Zamalek, close to 26th of July Street and a short walk from Simonds and Zooba. Pub 28 is almost opposite, and the restaurants and galleries of the island are all within easy reach on foot. The Cairo Marriott and the Nile Corniche are about ten minutes' walk away, making this an easy addition to an evening in Zamalek. On hot summer nights the queue for ice cream can stretch out of the door, but it moves quickly. Boxes of oriental sweets are a traditional gift when visiting a Cairene home, and this is a convenient place to buy one.