Pension Roma — Hotel in Cairo

If you’re willing to forego a private bathroom and A/C, there’s no way this place can be beat in terms bang for your buck/pound/euro, etc. You can easily pay double or more for something less well kept, where the cacophony that rises up from Cairo’s streets will rattle your nerves well into the night. This place is located on a somewhat relatively sedate (for Cairo) shopping street with plenty of places to eat nearby, as well as one of the city’s best pharmacies (that, unfortunately, I had to utilize), which is located just down the block. Additionally, it’s set back off the street so there are many quiet rooms on offer. Both of mine faced the quiet alleyway that lies outside the entrance.||||One thing you won’t be for want of is space; the place has a huge dining area, a nice television room and spacious hallways. It’s charm, albeit somewhat faded, is reminiscent of the old pensions in Europe (replete with an open air, wrought iron elevator shaft). Because of this “open concept”, however, mozzies are free to float in and float up and down the floors. I bought a plug-in device which uses a product derived from chrysanthemums, which you slide into the device. They look similar to the memory card for a camera and are good for 8 hours. It seemed to keep them at bay.||||I stayed in two rooms at different times and neither had A/C but the really high ceilings and fan did the trick for me (granted I wasn’t there during summer). The rooms also have a secondary ventilation system which turns on in the morning and goes off at 20:00. Essentially it is an exhaust fan located above the windows which draws air out of the room to increase circulation. Supposedly the pension has A/C rooms. I saw three rooms on two floors, none of which had it. Maybe if you specifically request one when you book you’ll be able to nab one. ||||The front desk and staff are truly 24 hours. They’re all fluent in English and other languages. There are no inquiries about your day’s plans and no offers of taxis, guides or tours. Their only interest is in providing their guests with a room and breakfast (which is bare bones but is better than no breakfast). If you would like those services, however, they’ll be happy to accommodate you. ||||An obvious downside is the lack of private bathrooms. Rooms come with sinks, which is nice, but everything else requires the communal bathroom. Fortunately they have two separate bathrooms. One consists of a toilet and sink only (for when the room that contains the shower is occupied). The only flaw I experienced with the shower was the heating system for the water. The propane powered heater either raged, which turned the water uncomfortably hot, or turned off, in which case the small tank quickly ran out of hot water. Not optimal for shower taking but it got the job done.||||Be aware that the pension is set back in an alleyway and there is no sign indentifying it. When you see the “Redmonds” department store, you’re there.||||One word of advice: if you can, get a room on the floor that has the lobby. The rooms there seemed noticeably less warm than the pension’s upper floor (which is the...

Our stay at Pension Roma was absolutely wonderful! Unlike a traditional hotel, it occupies only two floors of a larger building—something we found to be quite common in Egypt.

Exceptional Service & Atmosphere Out of the six different accommodations we stayed at during our two-week trip across Egypt, Pension Roma was our favorite. The service was exceptional, setting a new standard for hospitality. The staff was always polite, attentive, and ready to assist with anything we needed.

The hotel has a charming colonial-style living room, which added a nostalgic touch to our experience. It was a cozy space where guests could relax, and the staff was more than happy to serve whatever we needed.

Rooms & Comfort Our room had a unique layout with an entrance area leading into the main space. It was spacious enough for three friends to stay comfortably, and the small balcony overlooking the street was a lovely addition.

Breakfast & Amenities The included breakfast was simple yet sufficient—a hot beverage of choice, sweetish bread, cream cheese, and jam. While it wasn’t a full meal, the warm hospitality made up for it.

On our last day, the building’s elevator broke down (unrelated to the hotel), but the staff kindly offered to help us with our luggage, which we really appreciated.

Location – Perfect for Exploring Cairo The location is fantastic—just a short walk from the Egyptian Museum (the old one, not the new one in Giza) and only 10 minutes from Tahrir Square, the heart of the city. It was an ideal base for exploring central Cairo.

Final Thoughts We truly loved our time at Pension Roma and even asked for their contact cards for future stays. If you’re looking for a charming, well-located, and hospitable stay in Cairo, we highly recommend it!

Bonus Tip: If you stay here, check out Stephenson’s Pharmacy down the street! It’s a vintage pharmacy selling modern medicine alongside their own blends of oils, perfumes, and remedies—a unique find...

Pension Roma is our favourite hotel in Cairo and the place we always go back to when in the city. I almost feel bad not wanting to try any other hotel in Cairo. From the first day we fell in love with the hotel, it's perfectly preserved in time, from the moment you step into the old building, the elevator, a gem of the old days. I think there is a recently remodelled area which is also great but I just fell in love with the original, more 'vintage' area. ||We always choose the same room which is very big, clean, and comfy with a sink and closet. The bathroom is always kept squeaky clean. The common areas-- dining room and living room-- are just mesmerizing; you feel in early XX century Cairo. The breakfast is always a joy, such a nice atmosphere to plan your day or write some notes. ||The price is very good, honestly one of the best price-quality in the world.||The staff is truly 5 stars. Always helpful and very nice. They even do their best and give us the room we like! We also met the owner and she is such a nice lady. ||The location is just great as it is sooo central you can walk to Tahrir and the museum, Islamic Cairo, Jezirah... pretty much anywhere in central Cairo is no more than 15 minutes walking distance. There is a metro station about 4 minutes walking where you can go to Giza for a couple EP and then take a local bus straight to the pyramids. Lots of yummy options to eat around, you are in the heart of...