The first time I visited the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), we were told at the entrance that the electricity was out, so probably we should come back another time. That was in 2018. Honestly, the museum didn’t seem like much anyway and I wasn’t too sad to shift our outing to the traditional arts & craft center just up the street from the museum.
(Entrance hall of the NMEC)
Naturally, I joined everyone else in Egypt and watched the royal mummies make their way from their home downtown to the NMEC via trucks made to look like boats. I could just make out, through the spotlights and bling, that the civilization museum had undergone a facelift. No longer had it the look of a place that might suffer from a random power outage.
(Fustat Lake peeking out from behind the NMEC grounds)
You might say I am partial to the cluttered but lovable Egyptian museum, so I didn’t make a strong effort to return to the NMEC until recently. Why, you ask? To learn about our great Egyptian civilization? No, I went for a much more primitive reason. I went to eat. Yes, to eat!
(A room with a view at the NMEC)
Yes, museum cafes are generally overpriced, but this one is worth it. Even if you do not choose to enter the museum (which I didn’t!), you will enjoy the immaculate grounds, the surprisingly attractive view of Fustat lake (how is it that I lived in Egypt for eight years and never saw this lake?), the small but shiny gift shop, and, of course, the cafe itself.
(There’s always room for a torte)
If you are on a budget, I suggest you order a single dessert and share it with your companions. Or only order beverages. Do what you must, but it is an excellent idea for an outing on a budget. Bon appetit!
