| A new bookstore and bistro hopes to bring back the feel of downtown Cairo’s cultural salons |
| By Passant Rabie |
| What could be better than lounging around with a book in hand, feeling the warm, Cairo sun on your skin and taking in a panoramic view of the Nile? Ah yes, enjoying some delicious pastry and herb-infused tea to complete the serene experience. Left Bank Bistro, Books and Bakery aims to offer just that. From the same creative minds that brought us the highly popular restaurant Seqouia, Urbane Restaurants are launching their latest project inspired by the old school cultural salons of downtown Cairo. Located in Zamalek, literally tucked inside Seqouia, Left Bank takes full advantage of the Nile view with its full-length glass windows and a retractable ceiling; allowing for nothing to come between you and your natural surroundings. Left Bank will carry a total of 600 books, including bestsellers in fiction, nonfiction, self-help, and around 150 magazines, all available for purchasing with your morning coffee. The idea for Left Bank came to Islam Mahdy, the creator of Sequoia, in November 2010. “There was a craving for a place where you can go, have a nice coffee, relax and meet new people,” says Mahdy. Even though the concept was developed prior to the revolution, the events of January 25 definitely influenced it further and the whole place became derived from the heart of the city. Designed for Culture Eklego Design cleverly designed Left Bank to reflect Tahrir Square, as Eklego’s Reha Habib says. Habib explains that they had to study Tahrir Square as a physical place and situate it as a focal point for the whole design. The result: a rock-tiled floor, similar to the one covering the Borsa area downtown, that maps out downtown Cairo in full detail down to every roundabout and alley. The buildings are represented by the surrounding bookcases starting with the infamous Mugamma building in Tahrir, and ending with a uniquely designed book case taking the outline of the Cairo Tower. Hoping to encourage social discourse and fuel intellectual discussion, the seating at Left Bank is designed to host a large number of people in the same place. The community table stretches across the side of the restaurant to host several guests at the same dinner table. For smaller groups there is the cozier couches area, which is perfectly fit for a book club. Left Bank has also not forgotten about their youngest clientele, and comes equipped with a tree house that children can run around through. More than Soul Food While the books are meant to be the main attraction, the food at Left Bank definitely outshines; and that’s coming from an avid book enthusiast. With 16 years of experience under his chef hat, Benoit Laboureux brings a subtle taste of France to the bistro. Aside from the light salads, gourmet sandwiches and delicious pasta, what truly sets Left Bank apart from other bistros is Laboureux’s dessert. Ranging from fresh chocolate cakes, strawberry tarts, puff pastry and chocolate mousse, there is definitely something for every taste. In addition to their book collection, Left Bank will also be hosting a series of arts and cultural events, starting with the popular open mic event Mashrou3 Al-Mareekh on January 30. Their calendar also includes a still-life art course starting on February 2, a complimentary cooking class with chef Laboureux himself on February 7 and a talk on street art and self expression by artist Ganzeer on February 13.Courtesy: Left Bank Left Bank is the latest addition to a short, albeit successful, list of new age bookstores such as Bikya, Alef and Diwan Bookstores. And while it definitely has an edge with its unmatched view of the Nile and gourmet sweets, it does lack the cozy, warm feel of the other bookstores and leans more toward the commercial. The emphasis at Left Bank has been to attract today’s intellects and have them indulge in social debates over coffee. However, with its location in the upscale neighborhood of Zamalek and being nestled inside the posh restaurant, Seqouia, it will only draw a certain niche clientele. For what it’s worth, I, for one, would like to be a morning dweller of Left Bank, simply to enjoy the serene atmosphere that the place has to offer while reading a good book. However, I don’t really plan on indulging in any type of discourse unless it’s about what type of pastry to order. |
Be Social
Comments
Leave a Comment