Nestled in the quiet streets of Cairo’s Maadi district there exists the Villa Belle Époque, a lavish escape which juxtaposes against the surrounding chaos inherent to Egypt. Tucked away in fashionable quarters, the hotel has gained notoriety both globally and locally as Egypt’s first boutique hotel. Built in the 1920s and since refurbished, the 1300m2 grounds boast luxury and charm with every detail and at every corner.
Words by Sandy Aziz. Photographed by Alixe Lay.
It is a cool evening in mid-January when we are greeted by Abdel Kader, who has been a pillar within the company for the past 25 years, and the rest of the warm Belle Époque team who assist with our baggage and welcome us as if into their home. Upon stepping through the gates, a serene ambience fills the air. Our first peek at the secluded grounds is one of nighttime romance – warm fairy lights adorn the pathway alongside a patio decorated with an abundance of fig and guava trees. Around the bend of the entryway’s corridor, there are verandas and a mini oasis, including a pool fringed with centennial palm trees.
At the reception, we embrace the hotel’s dualities: timeless yet modern, luxurious yet intimate. The walls are decorated with contemporary Egyptian art and each room includes carefully curated trinkets which lure guests into notice and admire every detail. Our appreciation for the hotel was furthered the next morning when we awoke to a haze-filled Cairo in the distance but a clear view of the boutique’s exterior. Incredibly chic, the outer wall finishes have colonial flourishes and are decked with forest-green French window panels, patterned tiles and white marble-coated steps.
“Creating something that did not exist and working around rules and regulations that applied to multiple-storey hotels with thousands of rooms was a tough manoeuvre,” explains Maissa El Gendy, the hotel’s co-owner and managing director. Curation, however, is fashionable and every single space is curated with individuality and care despite those challenges. Another good example of this is the library, which features books and magazines about Egypt’s history and art, an act which preserves and celebrates both the country’s past and present.
Throughout our stay there were fresh pastries and hot breakfast dishes served every morning in the bright conservatory below the chandeliers. Sipping our fresh berry juice, we look out onto the patio to the natural soundtrack of birds chirping. And then there is also Acacia, the boutique’s official restaurant, which offers a range of culinary classics with a modern touch.
“A career highlight has been the beautiful encounters we’ve had with some interesting and diverse personalities,” says El Gendy of previous guests. We’re privileged to learn we’re staying on the grounds alongside some notable company, as some of fashion’s finest have also stayed in the boutique headquarters, including Kim Jones, Christian Louboutin, Louis Vuitton and Jean Paul Gautier.
As if it wasn’t already remarkable enough, the boutique hotel has big plans for the future that include partnering with local farmers to grow its own organic raw materials and establishing learning centres in order to educate children. “We’ve already adopted a zero-waste policy,” says El Gendy, “and our longer-term plan is to become solar-powered and 100 per cent self-reliant at generating our own energy.” Our unforgettable stay at Villa Belle Époque is a welcome reminder that sometimes, even in the most travelled locations, true beauty lies within hidden havens and off the beaten track.
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