🍴 HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Imagine having iftar and suhoor with a view that whispers of history. At Zeeyara, the only hard decision you have to make is whether you’d like to dine on a rooftop with a gorgeous view of the glowing El Moez Street, or whether you prefer a breathtaking panorama of the Pyramids.

Break your fast with these starters: Of the seven dishes being served, which include hummus, baladi salad, olives, pickled lemon, and molokheyya, our absolute favorite options were the rocca salad and the camel meatballs. The rocca salad is seasoned with lemon, olive oil, and salt and pepper, and has small mouthwatering bites of basterma throughout. The camel meatballs are sauteed in garlic butter, and are melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Remember to pace yourself or you won’t have enough space for the main course. After your choice of lentil or orzo soup, you can treat yourself to duck, stuffed chicken, mixed grill, or Zeeyara’s signature Ouzy dish. The Ouzy consists of tender lamb on a bed of rice, mixed nuts, green peas, raisins, and cinnamon. If you get hooked, don’t worry, this dish is available after the Holy Month too.

What’s iftar without dessert? We’ll save you the hassle of decision-making: Order the Zeeyara pie, and have another member of your party order the Rozo. The Zeeyara pie is a maamoul-like pastry stuffed with cream. It’s not overly sweet, which helps bypass the inevitable iftar sugar coma. The Rozo is a brilliant spin on rice pudding, containing coconut, orange zest, and cinnamon. Tea and traditional Ramadan drinks will be served alongside the dishes.

The set menu is a bit stricter for suhoor, but that doesn’t mean it’s not just as good. You can have your pick of ful cooked with olive oil, butter, or prepared Alexandrian-style, and falafel with sesame. Whether you pick vegetables, cheese, or butter with your eggs, you’ll get a healthy serving of veggies and roasted potatoes on the side. Top it off with some white cheese mixed with tomato and olive oil alongside some yogurt to keep you full the next day.

💵 Per person: EGP 420 for Suhoor, EGP 1.5k for Iftar — without service charges, VAT, and taxes

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes

📚 FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Small towns with big secrets: In The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James, a little town in upstate New York, back in the 80s seems normal on the outside. But secrets are lurking at the motel, whether from the locals or the travelers just passing through.

Viv Delaney sees it all. Working as the night clerk at the motel, she’s observed some weird things happening. Trying to save up enough money to move to the big city — but these secrets and the urge to uncover them keep her around for a little while longer. It turns out, that decades before, her aunt befell the same fate, and The Sundown Motel alternates between their perspectives moving from flashback to present time.

A blend of all things spooky: The book is a big mash of genres with mystery, horror, thriller, and a sprinkle of the paranormal. St. James successfully develops a creepy text that will send shivers down your spine and make you wary of all the oddball characters thrown into the mix. She does a great job developing the eerie atmosphere and carries that throughout, never leaving you comfortable for too long.

You can find the book onAmazon.

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