Philo Hotel

The staff were kind and helpful, and I appreciated their good service. Our room had air conditioning, a TV, a small fridge, a water heater, and other things. The building was secure, and the city-center location felt safe. The area stays busy with pedestrians, so getting back late at night felt safe too, with restaurants and other amenities close by. We booked in January and had reserved a room with a balcony, but were given one without it. When we asked, they said no other rooms were available. It faced a street, so traffic and car horns were noisy. In the last few days of our stay, we noticed insect bites on our skin, though we don’t know where they came from.

Hany and Youanna were always helpful and made sure guests were looked after. We’d come back when we visit again. The rooms were quiet and very good, with comfortable Egyptian cotton sheets that helped us sleep well. It’s a vintage-style hotel with high ceilings, hot water all day and night, and a handy refrigerator. One evening we came back and found the fridge’s working plug had been unplugged. Earlier, when staff asked about changing the sheets and such, we’d specifically said not to make up the room. The sheets were still as we’d left them, and nothing was missing, but I can’t figure out how the plug got pulled. We hadn’t done it, since our yogurt was in there and we wanted it cold when we returned.

After arriving at a scam hotel I’d booked, I came here at the last minute. The usual trick seems to be claiming there are plumbing problems, then offering to move you somewhere else. Philo was great: the room was nice, everyone was lovely, and the location is excellent. Highly recommend it.

The location was the best part, right in the middle of everything. Service was great, and our room had two balconies. If you’re in Cairo, stay at the Philo hotel.