Coffee houses
Bursa
This cluster of coffee shops in carless streets are accessed from Qasr-El-Einy/Sherif. It is a very popular place among young democracy activists and members of oppositional movements and lively until late night.
Downtown is a primary walk for coffee houses and almost every side-street has one. However, some areas and street have clusters of small places which makes for a very lively atmosphere.
Tawfiqiyya Souq
This is another street with lots of coffee shops and lots of atmosphere.
Bars
Odeon
This roof-top open-air hotel bar is also a restaurant, but most visitors prefer just to drink or have shisha. Beer Stella or Saqqara is 10 EP. Very popular among backpackers and foreign students. Open during Ramadan. Nice place to sit and have a drink, but poor service.
Sherlock Holmes pub
Atmospheric British style pub with warm cosy atmosphere. Local and imported alcohol , moderate prices.
Houria
This place doubles as coffee shop and bar, making it quite unique in Cairo. Some of the cheapest beer you can get in Cairo and given that this is also one of the least sleazy of the cheap downtown bars, there's no reason not to rave about the place. Reopened in May 2010 and as busy as always. 9 EP for a bottle of Stella; amazingly good service, but the waiters are equally insistent on a spot of baksheesh.