Cafe Cairo is a good place for film aficionados. They rent movies that you won’t see elsewhere, many of them in English. They serve baguette sandwiches which are better than most and a variety of coffees, teas and fruit smoothies. It’s a small, immaculate, pleasant independently owned place that we’ll make a regular stop.
The Cafe has two floors. You can sit outside in the front, facing onto a semi-quiet street, or at tables upstairs. Also upstairs is a fully operational small movie theater, with a nice screen (smaller than commercial cinemas), a good sound system, and comfortable theater chairs. And, it’s air conditioned.
They show films four evenings a week at 7 p.m. for the unbelievable price of NOTHING. That’s right, it’s a free theater. Last night five of us went to Cafe Cairo and thoroughly enjoyed the Kathy Bates classic, Dolores Claiborne. (What a terrific actress she is.)
After the film, we went outside in front and had sandwiches and drinks. I had a delicious iced chai tea. The baguettes were grilled and involved various combinations of ham, cheeses, sauces, and the usual.
One night a week, they teach a film class, open to the public and free. They sometimes study genres, like Horror or Comedy, and sometimes specific films. One night per week, the theater is usually open to your choice of film, if you call ahead. Or, you can rent the whole place for a party and show whatever you want.
I asked to be on their email circulation so I can see what films are coming up.
The cafe also has wi-fi.
Cafe Cairo
Calle 20 #98A x 15 y 17, Itzimna
Tel. 926-5718
Open Sunday thru Thursday 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, open until 12:30 a.m.
Would they consider a chain?! It’d be lovely in Seattle.
Egypt has a huge film industry – like in India.