CHECK IN: MENA HOUSE HOTEL

Sat right at the base of the Giza Pyramid Complex, Mena House (owned and managed by Marriot) is one of the oldest hotels still operating in Cairo. Originally built as a hunting lodge for the Egyptian Khedive Isma’il Pasha, it was sold to Frederick and Jessie Head in 1883 as a private residence. It was then expanded and sold again to an English couple, Ethel and Hugh F. Locke King, who undertook its conversion to a hotel which opened to the public in 1886 as The Mena House. Over the years, almost anyone who was anyone stayed here while traveling through Egypt. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Frank Sinatra, Charlton Heston, Charlie Chaplin and, of course, Agatha Christie. In 1943 the hotel played host to the Cairo Conference, and Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Montgomery planned Operation Overlord here.

BOOK YOUR STAY

It happened – the first time – at Venice. She was there at Danielli’s. I thought it was just coincidence. Rather embarrassing, but that was all. Then, we found her on board the boat at Brindisi. We – we understood that she was going on to Palestine. We left her, as we thought, on the boat. But – but when we got to Mena House she was there – waiting for us.

Agatha Christie, Death on the Nile

THE LOCATION

The view from the hotel is simply sensational. It is hard to beat pulling back your curtains in the morning, or looking up from your breakfast coffee, to gaze up at the face of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is hard to shake the feeling you are sat in the middle of a film set! Unlike almost everywhere else in Cairo, the Pyramids are so close to Mena House you can walk to them from the hotel.

However, for the rest of Cairo staying in Giza is not hugely convenient. Such is the traffic it is at least a half hour/hour taxi journey to wherever you want to get to. If you don’t want to deal with this, I would strongly recommend basing yourself out of two hotels in Cairo – one more centrally to see the sights around downtown, Islamic and Coptic Cairo, and secondly moving to Giza to see the Pyramids. 

THE ROOM

Our room was spacious and comfortable, with a large king size bed and a separate sitting area. As we arrived in the dark, stepping out onto our balcony the following morning to be greeted with our first look at not one, but two pyramids, was a pretty special experience! I think it goes without saying that if you are going to splash out on a stay here, the upgrade to a pyramid view room is worth it!

THE EXTRAS

A large outdoor swimming pool sits in 40 acres of peaceful gardens. The view of the pyramids whilst you swim your laps is pretty memorable! 

There are three restaurant choices on site. The Alfredo Italian Restaurant offered good pastas and pizzas, and the Moghul Room serves some of the best North Indian cuisine in Cairo. Prices are inflated given the hotel location, but are still fairly reasonable. 

The breakfast spread (dinner also served) at the 139 Restaurant was pretty vast and good – plenty of international freshly cooked Egyptian dishes on offer. The terrace at breakfast was also a real highlight for me. I was very glad we had a lazy morning on our last day in Egypt, and were able to sit on the lovely terrace for an extended period just soaking up the views. 

Otherwise however, there weren’t a huge number of communal areas to sit in – not an issue if you have a room with a balcony, but given the glorious views it seemed a shame there weren’t more seating options in the garden. 

THE LESS LOVEABLE

Truthfully, I was torn about writing a dedicated review of Mena House Hotel, as it simply wasn’t at all what I expected. Given its billing as the famous, historic Giza hotel I was expecting… well, something historic! Especially as the prices reflect the rather famous nature of the hotel. But for the most part, it is a fairly nondescript, but very comfortable, newer build modern hotel. The original building – which does still have some historic features – is now under restoration, and will form part of the hotel’s luxury offering when it opens. Marriot have not indicated how long it will be shut for.

We also felt during our stay that there were a few areas where the service did not match the upmarket billing. For example, our balcony only had half the furniture and they had forgotten to fill our mini bar. This would not normally bother us, but it was a bit annoying arriving very travel weary and desperate for a cold drink at 11pm after a flight from Luxor. Rather astoundingly for a hotel at this price point, although Nespresso coffee pods were provided in the room… they came with an additional charge, *per* pod! Nothing life alternating, but all left the feeling that the sky high price wasn’t quite justified. 

That being said, the hotel is very comfortable, clean and excellently located for the Pyramids and the new Grand Museum when it opens. It is also one of the most famous hotels in Egypt and as such on many a traveler’s desired itinerary. Although other hotels have views of the Pyramids, none are quite as direct as Mena House. But until the original building is reopened, I would probably consider looking at the other hotels in the vicinity that have the same excellent location, but offer lower rates. We heard good things about the Steigenberger Cairo Pyramids Hotel from other guests on our Nile cruise.

There are plenty more Egypt guides on the blog to help you plan your trip. Don’t forget to check out my advice on travelling across the wider Middle East and North Africa for more ideas on where to go next. You might also want to have a look at my literary inspired guides – more Queen of Crime inspired travel coming soon!