My kids might tell you I am happiest when I am sweating in an overly full minibus hurtling through the desert on the way to an adventure. That may be true, but I am also just as pleased to browse in a high-end boutique if I feel I have “discovered” the place. And if I can get there by minibus, even better.
That’s why I love to visit Maison 69 – a retail space dedicated to retro fashion and art located in Tagamoa and Zamalek. It is certainly elegant, but it also qualifies as an “adventure.” To be honest, I have to try not to be a little bit smug when sharing it with friends – it’s that great.
Really, you just have to see it, so here are a handful of photos to whet your appetite before we get down to the usual nitty-gritty details regarding transportation and other insider tips.
Aren’t these photos so fun? I had even more fun taking them. If you are even mildly interested in fashion, art, and design, you must visit Maison 69. Let me assure you; you won’t have to convince your moody teenagers to come with you. And you can bring your rambunctious littles as well. Just watch them! The youthful staff is extremely tolerant (believe me, I know; I have an eight year-old boy) but you’ll want to keep an eye on the young ones.
Really, the only decision left to make at this point is which location to visit first: the mothership in Tagamoa or the branch in Zamalek. Both are based on the same artistic concept. Both are memorable in their own way. The Tagamoa store is larger and features a few unique exhibits not found in Zamalek. Also, the Tagamoa store is located within the Garden 8 recreation hub, where you can enjoy, among other things, dessert at Dirty Cookie. I’d better not even get started on Dirty Cookie; it deserves its own blog post. Just go. Eat a cookie shot for me. And you’re welcome.
You may remember I said Maison 69 is difficult to reach by public transportation. This is true, particularly for the Tagamoa store. I may have had to hitchhike once from Garden 8 to the closest bus station.
For my dear readers who plan on taking a private car or Uber – you are in luck. Getting there and away by car is as easy as…a Dirty Cookie Shot. The only issue may be parking in Zamalek, but if you are accustomed to navigating Cairo’s streets then you’ll do just fine.
So put on something retro, grab your camera, and head off for Maison 69. I’ll see you there!
