Carol Bar — Restaurant in Cairo

An experience at the door... but not inside.

This past weekend, we tried, not once, but twice, to enter this establishment, as we had heard good things about it. However, it seems the entrance criteria are rather particular.

Upon our arrival, the security staff informed us that the venue was full and that the minimum wait time would be one hour. We accepted the suggestion and, after waiting patiently, tried again. To our (perhaps unsurprising) surprise, the response was identical: another hour of waiting, accompanied by a somewhat ironic smile.

The most peculiar, and perhaps revealing, part was watching a young woman arrive by taxi and be let in without a moment’s hesitation. It appears that the capacity rules are... flexible, depending on certain unofficial criteria. Or perhaps, as we’re left to assume, there's a preference for a particular type of clientele: seemingly women over men or perhaps foreigners.

If the goal is to make the venue an exclusive club, they’ve certainly achieved that, though perhaps they should make it clearer. Although we never got to try the service, we had more than enough of the "show"...

As much as love this Bar, the atmosphere, the music, the vibes, I love Carols, I have been regular here for a over a week when I was visiting Cairo, but last night something bad happened which I wasn't even suspecting, the one staff guy, gave me the bill Nd i counted the cash and put it in Jar and let him know and I waited for 10 mins, but as soon as i was walking out, i wasn't even drunk enough, he came up to me and said i have put 200 le less which i was surprised to because i counted it and gave to him and he counted it too, but still I thought maybe i got confused with currency and paid 200 more. I counted money from ATM later and it was 200 less and I knew for sure that The Carol Bar scammed me for 200 pounds. Tbh it aint much but its the trust i had in the bar, from now I'll be careful and you...

🍺 Can't really review the drinks they make because I only drink local Stella there but it's always nice and cold.

🌯 As for the food, love their stuffed vine leaves and the spicy chicken strips are nice and crunchy but the crumbing could be better. Tried their French fries a couple of times but they were dry and didn't really taste/look like fries.

👨🏻‍💼👨🏽‍💼 However, the waiters are always nice, obliging and respectful.

🌃🎼 Love their music & love the place when there aren't many ppl but if you're there early the noise sort of builds up gradually so you don't feel it so much. (It can get really busy even on weekday nights)

🌬 If you can't stand smoke, this wouldn't be the right place to go bec most of the guests smoke and it's only indoors.

P.S. They have a 200 LE minimum charge Thursdays...