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The Longchamps Hotel
Review by
Jimmy Dunn
See also, the Hotel
Longchamps, Revisited, and updated review. Before I begin this review, I wish
to point out that our reviews are not ads for hotels. They
are reviews. If the review of the Longchamps Hotel appears very
positive, it is because I am beginning with one of my favorite
hotels in Egypt. Future reviews may not be so kind. 
Lobby and Check in Area
On the other hand, I would also like to point out that the
Longchamps Hotel is a three star hotel. It lacks fancy
restaurants, swimming pools, tennis courts and other amenities
of a luxury resort. All of our readers, at one time or another, have received glorious
reports of some movie, built up to such an extent that only
disappointment could follow. The Longchamps is basic
accommodations, and I would not wish that visitors to the hotel
be disappointed by expecting more then the hotel is.
That said, I consider the Longchamps to be the Jewel of
Zamalek. While it may lack the appointments of a five star
hotel, at around $35.00 per night including taxes and breakfast,
I have seen no better value in Egypt.
Ismail Mohamed Street
The Longchamps is one of those hotels which share a building
with another hotel on the floor below, and apartments below
that. It is located on the 5th and 6th floors at 21, Ismail
Mohamed Street in upscale Zamalek surrounded by embassies,
consulates, private schools and gardens. The area it is located
in is a real plus. It is a quiet garden district, with
many nearby restaurants and fast food establishments. The
hotel is located about two blocks from the more noisy Nile, a
few blocks from an AUC bookstore and has a good photo shop just
next door in one direction and a small grocer in the other. Good
shopping is all around with upscale stores and even a nearby mall.
 The hotel is
bright, freshly renewed and renovated with special touches one
might expect from a loving owner. And the owner is a bit
unusual. Hebba Bakri, a feisty meticulous Egyptian was the
daughter of a well-know theater actress from whom she inherited the
hotel. Her elderly mother had allowed the hotel to become
somewhat rundown, so when Hebba took control of the hotel, she
immediately began a restoration process which included importing
many of the shiny brass and chrome fixtures from Germany, her
second home. Her husband and Vice President of the Hotel
is Chris, a German, and between the two of them, I can only say
that the hotel is spotlessly clean. Golfers will find good
conversation with Chris, who lives for the game, while watching
Hebba dash to and fro making sure everything about the hotel is
just slightly better then perfect.
Hebba and Chris
All rooms have private baths with showers, air
conditioning, modern televisions, a sitting area and new style
phones (most phones in the three star hotels I stayed in were very
antiquated, except for the Longchamps). The beds are comfortable,
the walls are brightly enameled, and curtains and bedding are new.
In fact, I found the rooms to be better then some of the five star
hotels I stayed in while in Egypt!
A Typical Room
Dressing Area
 Little
amenities not found in other three star hotels abound. For
example, many of the three star hotels I visited or stayed in
while in Egypt had only a bar of soap in the bathrooms, while some
had none at all. The Longchamps had everything I needed and more
than I found in many four star hotels. In fact, the bathrooms were
elegant, with ruffled shower curtains, brass fixtures, and again,
spotlessly clean.
Inlaid detail in the bathrooms
But undoubtedly, one of the highlights of the
Longchamps Hotel are the terraces, located at either end of the
hallway. These are very pleasant areas to have afternoon
tea, or an evening drink.
The Front Terrace
View from the front Terrace
 I
had afternoon tea on the terrace with Towheed Ramy, a founder of
multimedia in Egypt who's father was one of Egypt's most famous
poets and lyrics writer. Towheed created one of the first
multimedia presentations of the Sound and Light shows which are so
popular in Egypt, and continues to be a driving force and much in
demand in Egyptian media
Just inside the rear terrace is the small bar and
restaurant, where breakfast is served as part of the room price,
and other meals are available. They make a mean screwdriver
here with fresh orange juice.
Indoor Restaurant Area
 The
small bar demonstrates the details which one finds throughout the
hotel. Everything is stylish, tasteful and well done. These
details are one of the things which make this hotel so special and
one of the reasons we refer to the hotel as the Jewel of Zamalek.
One may enjoy a quiet drink either indoors or out on the terrace,
undisturbed by the noise of hotels in the downtown district.
And unlike many of the five star hotels, drinks are reasonably
priced.
 One
cannot help but notice the splendid and loving attention to detail
throughout the hotel. Yet one of the wonderful aspects of this
hotel are three star pricing throughout. Unlike many three
star hotels which try to compensate for their room prices by
charging high prices for everything else, here one finds good
phone rates, good restaurant pricing, and a good chewing out of taxi
drivers if the owners find that a customer has been overcharged.
In summary, the Longchamps Hotel is the best three
star hotel I have found in Egypt for a variety of reasons,
including clean, modern and stylish facilities, good overall
pricing, a great location and a friendly staff.
The Longchamps Hotel
21 Ismail Mohamed Street
The Longchamps Hotel, Revisited
21, Ismail Mohamed St., Zamalek,
Cairo, Egypt
Telephone: +20 2 735 2311-12
Fax: +20 2 735 9644 Email Reservations
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