Villa Belle Epoque

We had a lovely, home-like experience, and the food was spectacular. The portions were huge, everything was presented beautifully, and the coffee was worth a million dollars. The whole team was friendly, professional, and eager to help. We held our engagement dinner in their beautiful garden. I’d had some reservations after reading comments about the food and rude service, but that wasn’t our experience during the many visits before the engagement. A special thank you to Mr Ibrahim, who made us feel welcome from my first phone inquiry until we left the property. He patiently answered all my questions.

The food is what keeps bringing me back: everything from the flavor and presentation to the quality and variety is so good. I especially love the prawn linguine, and the shrimp brioche is both stylish and tasty. Their chicken almond dish is unlike the usual menu options, too. As someone from Maadi, I keep recommending this place to people from outside the area, and they always come away impressed. It feels like a little step back in time, with a romantic, quiet atmosphere and lovely seating. Kids are welcome, though babies aren't, so it can work for family gatherings. Still, it feels best suited to adults and special occasions. I haven't tried the rooms, but if they're anything like the restaurant, I expect they'd be great. The staff are all respectful and decent. Book ahead, and you'll find a lovely escape.

The staff were friendly and polite, but they didn't handle the situation professionally or explain things clearly. We were also charged 12% service and 14% taxes without getting a receipt. The food, organization, and transparency all need attention. I won't recommend the place, and I'll choose higher quality restaurants next time. We came for breakfast at the open air restaurant at Belle époque, as we'd usually had fairly good food there. I had called earlier and was told breakfast ran from 8 AM to 12 PM and that the restaurant was empty, so we could come whenever. We arrived at 8:45 AM with my friend and her daughter. Even though it was still empty, staff weren't ready for us. They cleaned the table and swept around us before we could sit down. The dishes took a long time to arrive. My friend's eggs were cold and the toast wasn't fresh, so she asked to have it reheated or replaced. I ate my own dish despite its poor quality because she'd already asked for a replacement and I didn't want to make a bigger issue of it. My French toast was greasy and burnt at the edges, and it upset my stomach for the rest of the day. Breakfast was far below the standard we were used to. It seemed the cook or chef responsible for breakfast wasn't there, despite what we had been told about the serving hours. There was also confusion about sitting by the pool. When we asked, the waiter said the tables were reserved, including the long table by the pool, even though the area was empty. We went where they directed us. About half an hour later, we saw the long table being separated into individual tables, while the poolside tables stayed empty until we left at 12:30 PM. The waiter then said poolside seating required booking two weeks ahead and paying a deposit. That made no sense to us. We're experienced travelers with expertise in tourism and food and beverage management, and the explanation felt unrealistic. We'd rather have been told the real reason, which surely would have sounded more credible. This was a very disappointing visit compared with what we normally expect. I hope management improves the food, organization, and honesty with customers.

The outdoor area was the best part of this hotel. Everything else left us disappointed. We arrived to find the rooms we were supposed to have weren't available, and staff did little to fix it. At breakfast, I felt babied, as though I couldn't get my own plate. The rooms are spacious, but dated, shabby, and lifeless, with none of the modern comforts. They reminded me of staying at my grandmother's house. Breakfast and dinner were very mediocre, and fresh coffee or tea wasn't available, just pre-made drinks in thermoses outside. I can't understand how this place has five stars.