Apartment at San Stefano Grand Plaza

It’s clean and decent-looking, with plenty of brands, but the mall feels small and there’s nothing particularly special about it. Maybe worth a one-time visit as a tourist, but I wouldn’t go back.

There’s a cinema and other attractions here, so it’s a nice spot to shop or just visit.

The condition of the apartment I got didn’t match the building’s reputation. Some furnishings felt outdated and poorly maintained, and the overall setup fell short of what I expected. The view from the 33rd floor was breathtaking, though, with a panorama of the Mediterranean Sea and the city that’s beautiful by day and at night. The San Stefano location is fantastic, in one of Alexandria’s most premium areas. I booked through Airbnb, and each apartment is owned and managed separately, so quality can vary a lot. A well-furnished, well-maintained unit could make for a wonderful stay, with that view, central location, and the tower’s luxury. In my case, the apartment itself didn’t live up to the view.

I had to cut our visit short with my children because the smoke was so heavy it felt suffocating. There are “No Smoking” signs throughout the mall, but people were smoking everywhere. It took all the joy out of shopping, and we don’t want to visit again.