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The Windsor Hotel
The Windsor hotel is unique. Historically, it must be
classed with the Winter Palace in Luxor and the Old Cataract
in Aswan, though these hotels are five star while the
Windsor only rates three. What is common in all of these
hotels is that they are colonial era, but unlike, for
example, the Mena House, have a decidedly European or
British ambiance. While the Old Winter Palace seems of old
English ladies and afternoon tea, the Windsor feels of rowdy
English officers amidst a break from war. Though the Windsor
certainly does not live up to the refined, well kept
reputation of other historical hotels in Egypt, perhaps this
very fact insures that the ghosts of British officers
sitting about the bar are a bit more visible. It is not
difficult to imagine that one has passed into a different
era upon entering the hotel.
The Windsor is a Cairo landmark. Originally, the building
was a Turkish bath house of the royal families in Cairo. But
for those who long to relive the days of the Shepheards
Hotel, the most famous of the colonial period
establishments, the Windsor was its annex. Later it became
the British Officers club. In 1952 when the Shepheards Hotel
was burnt, the Windsor survived with minor damage. After the
revolution, when most substantial businesses were
nationalized, the Windsor was sold to a Coptic family who
continued to operate the property in the tradition of its
former Swiss management.
A typical Windsor Room
The Windsor is not a "slick", restored facility
like many of the other historical hotels of Egypt. As such,
it is not a hotel that everyone will enjoy. One must
understand the nature of this hotel to fully appreciate the
stay. While other historical hotels retain much of their
past charm while embracing updates and restoration to
facilitate their five star status, the Windsor must be
thought of as a living museum in which one may actually stay
a few nights.
The Dinning Room at the Windsor
The hotel is certainly faded, as any true museum exhibit
might be. In the elegant dinning room hangs a painting,
cracked and darkened with a large hole gouged in its
otherwise unrecognizable canvas, while elsewhere a broken
chandelier dangles in ruined grandeur, all relics of Egypt's
revolution. The dinning room's painting was damaged by the
same fire that burnt the Shepeards Hotel. Within the bar
area (see our separate
review) are found chairs made from
old wooden barrels which date to the early 1900s, and on the
walls are trophy animals shot by British Officers while on
leave. Throughout the hotel, art deco travel posters from an
earlier era adorn the walls and ancient furniture, including
an antique piano crowd sitting areas located on each
intimate floor. Centered in the midst of this is the lift,
said to be the oldest in Egypt, which must be operated
manually with a lever by the porter.
Grand Bar at the Windsor Hotel
Beyond this museum called the Windsor hotel, is its
friendly management and hospitable service. Guests are
catered to, advised and entertained. The Doss family, which
owns the hotel, seems always ready and eager to explain its
history to a curious guest. Other staff members will arrange
a thrifty tour to most any location in Cairo, or even make
sure that a guest is not overcharged by a taxi. One feels a
comfort in all this, as many hotels simply do not portray
the atmosphere of a one on one encounter between staff and
guests on such an intimate level. And unlike many of the
three or four star hotels, the English speaking tourists
will not feel lonely, as the hotel often caters to people
from the US, UK, Australia and other English speaking
countries. Finally, while the menu is limited for any
particular meal, the food is excellent and inexpensive in
the small, elegant dinning room.
Rooftop Terrace Garden
The Windsor
Hotel
19 Alfi Street, Cairo, Egypt
Telephone 02 5915810 - 5915277
Fax: 02-5921621
Web
Address: http://www.windsorcairo.com/mainpage.htm
Email: wdoss@link.com.eg |
