There will always be a Cairo, but reasonable hotel prices and good service may not be included in the deal. Obviously, the historic events unfolding on Tahrir Square have had incredible effects on both the country and its capital. Certainly the well-heeled visitors from the GCC will continue to be catered to in extremus at the plethora of new or lavishly refurbished “six star” outlets, but what about the rest of us? One of my fall backs over the years has always been the Golden Tulip Flamenco in Zamalek - not plush but reliable, clean, and well-located. There was always a good mix of tourists, foreign aid workers and journalists, with the occasional embassy types thrown in. The pub was a great place to meet up with colleagues and hear the gossip from the various foreign communities, and to meet the occasional local journalists or NGO officials, as well. However events of late have evidently squeezed my old favorite. The missing letter in its name above the marquee was a portent for what was to come during our stay. It is still a good choice, but I offer the following observations as a caveat to a stronger endorsement: First of all, like many hotels in Cairo, and in the region as a whole, a lack of relevant safety codes allows for some logistical complications for those of us with physical challenges. We were lucky that a helpful Manager on Duty (Mr. Zakarias) helped rescue us from a cracker box of a room way too small for more than one person, to one of the more spacious ones with a Nile view and terrace on the newly refurbished 6th floor. However, the 6th floor was actually located within two separate, though contiguous structures, so there were marble stairs connecting the newer part to both the older 6th floor above, and the older 5th floor below. These stairs were bereft of handrails, so extreme care was needed to prevent a fall. The same situation faces you in the lobby and coffee shop areas as well. Years ago an adept Flamingo coffee shop waiter caught me as I slipped and almost propelled myself into a sharp-cornered, load-bearing marble pillar. Serious care must be taken during the breakfast buffet! If you are hale and hearty, it’s no problem, but it can be an issue, for those of us less adroit. However, the obstacle course was not my greatest disappointment. The Flamenco used to have really good food, with tasty, bountiful breakfasts, and lunches in the coffee shop, and elegant dinners in the Spanish restaurant upstairs. Even a burger from room service was satisfying. Alas, no more. Breakfast is now much leaner, and far less satisfying. In a country with abundant fruits and vegetables, the lack of fresh fruit, or even fresh juice, was annoying, as if one or two of the hotel's four stars had hit the pavement as well. The Coffee Shop service and food were both appalling, and many items on the menu were deemed by our boorish waiter as “not available.” Even the romantic Spanish restaurant, with its Nile view, was now closed as well. However, if you get a copy of Egypt Today magazine (the Marriott bookshop carries it.), you can use their great restaurant guide to have terrific food delivered to the hotel. (For instance Oomda for Egyptian food or Jo Sushi for reasonably priced delicious sushi, and sashimi. ) Both Hardee’s nearby, and Pizza Hut across the street are open till all hours and can also deliver. NOTE: Do NOT allow the rude, self-important reception staff to try to tell you that outside food is not allowed. Utter nonsense. Remind them that they do not have decent food available. Zamalek now has some really swanky gourmet outlets, and there is a decent supermarket across the street from whence you can stock your mini-fridge. (Remember to buy your booze at the airport for in-room consumption.) Both front desk and food service staff were sullen, but housekeeping (Noura) and bellmen (Wael) were absolutely excellent. Management, with the exception of Duty Manager Mr. Zakarias, seemed to be in hiding, though my companion says he noticed quite a few front desk types and the housekeeping manager appearing to be enjoying protracted breakfasts together in the coffee shop each morning. Okay. Cut to the chase. The rooms are still fine, if dated, but the heating and air conditioning work, the bathrooms are sparkling, and the linens crisp. So, if you can deal with lousy catering and the obstacle course of weird steps up and steps down, you are still in a clean hotel in fascinating Zamalek in Cairo, and it’s still Cairo, and (some rooms of ) the Flamenco still has a view of the Nile. May it always bee so!

My wife and I were appalled by the service at the hotel. Every night when coming back to the hotel the staff rushed to interrogate my wife (who is Iranian) and me to make sure she was not some Egyptian off the street. Obviously my wife did not enjoy being made to feel like a prostitute every day for four consecutive nights.

Second the manager on duty was incredibly rude. When my wife complained about the treatment by the staff he ignored her concerns and brushed them off completely. At another point he forbade a close friend of mine from coming to my room for 5 minutes to wash his face before we had dinner.

Finally the staff was rude about money. When I called to get the internet password, I was instead requested to pay for my last two nights. In every other hotel I have stayed at in Egypt no one has ever had a problem with paying at the end because that is what is normal.

Awful rude people work here and I would not recommend this hotel to anyone.

I was made to sit in the lobby for 2hr. I arrived in cairo at 1.00 AM in the night and when I reached the hotel the receptionist made me wait in the lobby saying there is no roopm available. I had booked the hotel in advance and told them of my arrival days arrival. In hindsight I think the receptionist was looking for bakhsish. When I asked him to cancel my room and give my refund he immediatly offered me a room. I had complained the matter to the Genral Manager. Having said that I must add that the bakery is really good.

It is difficult to get to the hotel due to narrow and overcrowded streets. Otherwise it's location is good, right in the middle of the city on big Nile island. The rooms are old furnitured and could use some renovation. There was some trouble with our online booking, but they were able to solve it eventhough it took almost one hour to process two payments and check outs - embarassing. The breakfast was good - enjoy the fresh mango juice.