The Bakery: The Heart & Soul of Cairo Marriott Gets a Makeover

There are plenty of hotels in Cairo, each one presenting their own spins and tricks on high-end luxury. Few, however, do it quite as well as Cairo Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino - there’s just an intangible magic to the Zamalek landmark.

That’s largely owed to something it has that its peers don’t: a rich history that marries modern hospitality with the Egyptian grandeur of yesteryear. It is, of course, the story of Ismail Pacha’s unrequited love that built the Palace, but as a hotel, there are plenty more strands of history making its way through the hallways - not least the heart and soul of the hotel, The Bakery.

Cairo Marriott has long been a favourite among diners and is home to a host of mainstays on the local dining scene - think of hearty meals at Roy's, the succulent steaks of JW’s Steakhouse and authentic Japanese restaurant, Torii. Yes, they aren’t short on places to eat, but it’s the seemingly humble bakery that has come to epitomise the quality of food and the hotel’s position as a family-favourite the most.

Having first opened in the early eighties, The Bakery quickly established itself as a go-to among Cairo’s elite for its ‘only the best will do’ approach. Decades later, it holds  a slightly different - but no less important - place in peoples’ hearts (and stomachs), one of nostalgia and weekends spent breakfasting on the palatial grounds.

None of this happened by accident, though. The Bakery’s reputation now and in the eighties share the same quality approach to ingredients, a steady line of new and creative recipes and an unwavering hold on how to deliver the classics.

Recently, The Bakery has embarked on a new chapter in its story with a new location and a new menu. It now sits in the main lobby at the hotel’s entrance, amidst the Palace’s iconic arches. A new menu, meanwhile, expands on its selections of pastries, snacks, desserts, sandwiches and salads. You needn’t worry however, because The Bakery’s signature desserts (their homemade-style cakes and chocolates are among the favourites) haven’t gone anywhere and you can even grab a bite alongside its trademark freshly brewed premium coffee to go with its new Grab and Go concept. Throw in The Bakery’s premium selection of homemade cold cuts, custom cake service and its consistent rotation of new bread types and you have a place that’s not only built on a years and layers of history, but one that stands it own amongst the city’s increasing number of contemporary bakeries.