Top Dog Friendly Places in Cairo

Those of us with pets may seem like strange folk to the rest of the population. Often we consider our animals to be part of the family, so of course we want to be able to take these family members with us when we enjoy family outings! And we are always on the lookout for pet friendly places that will welcome our furry friends. Unfortunately, many people in Egypt don’t see things quite the same way we do, making dog friendly places in Cairo a somewhat limited category.

Pets Allowed Here

Thankfully the pet-loving community appears to be growing, and more and more places are beginning to cater to Egyptian animals and their human companions. 🙂 So here are nine hot spots featuring some pet-friendly activities you can enjoy together.

9. Road 9, Maadi

Appropriate for the 9th position, bring along your fur baby to Road 9 in Maadi. Of course, this is only an excursion for pets that know how to thrive and behave in high-stimulus environments, but it’s a perfect spot for those Egypt pets who love to make new friends and be the center of attention in a crowd! Quite a large number of the cafes along the street welcome pets in their outdoor sitting areas: Cafe Greco, Lucile’s, S Lounge, Cappuccino Café, Grapes, Brazillian Coffee House, and others.

8. The Corniche, Wust al-Balad

Set out on an early weekend-morning walk along the Corniche. Sure, it may mean waking up earlier than you’d prefer, but the city is so calm and peaceful on Friday and Saturday mornings before the traffic and pedestrians become chaotic. If you go early enough you can do some bird-watching along the Nile … or at least you catch the rowing/crew teams at practice. (Birds and boats are two things at least my dog finds equally fascinating!) Should you make it all the way into Zamalek, take a breather and grab a drink at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf off Abu El Feda Street by the Oum Kalthoum Hotel; pets are welcome in the outdoor seating area. (Coffee Bean open daily, 8 am to 1 am. Call: 01154457016)

7. Qahwa Khan, Maadi

Speaking of Maadi, another pet-friendly establishment is the Qahwa Khan at 25 Orabi Street. Their lovely little garden can provide a peaceful respite for you and your pet. Cozy and quiet, it’s an ideal spot to come with your chilled-out pet and a book. Occasionally features live music, too! (Qahwa Khan is open daily from 7:30 am to 1 am. Call: 01202512482)

6. Mokattam Dog Park, Mokattam

True, dog parks in Egypt seem to appear and disappear faster than you can shake a stick at them (RIP, Rahab dog park). But the latest and greatest in this category is the Mokattam Dog Park , near El Mokattam Street and Street 17. The Mokattam Dogs group gathers there for semi-regular events. Send them a message for more info, and join the fun!

5. Sheesh Beesh Café, 6 October

Switching over to the other end of Cairo, Sheesh Beesh Café in the Ramo Mall in 6 October is another location that welcomes pets into their beautiful outdoor garden area. It’s a favorite of locals in the 6 October area. According to their facebook page, Sheesh Beesh café is always open. (Just in case, you can call to confirm: 01224408203); pets are allowed only from 9 am to 7 pm.

4. Comics Café (two locations)

Comics Café in Heliopolis is a great place for the entire family – animals included. (Human) children might especially love this comic-themed establishment that regularly hosts birthday parties and other super-hero themed events. Unfortunately, pets can only come along on Tuesdays between 2 pm and 5 pm, but on this day Comics hosts their Woof Pet Day. There’s a second branch in Sheikh Zayed that allows pets on the weekends. (Comics Café Heliopolis: 75 El Nozha Street. Open 10 am to 1 am. Call: 01068281116. Sheikh Zayed: The Strip Mall, near Beverly Hills. Open 1 pm to 1 am. Call: 0238570006)

3. Tempo at the Allegria, Beverly Hills Compound, Sheikh Zayed

Tempo is the name of the club-house restaurant at the Allegria Golf Course in Beverly Hills, Sheikh Zayed. This lovely location is not only dog-friendly, but full of luscious, wide open green space. It boasts a full bar, serves great food, occasionally features live music … what more could you want on a weekend evening! Head’s up – get good directions before you go. It can be difficult to find as it’s tucked in the back corner of the compound, but definitely worth the trip out. (Tempo at the Allegria is open from 7 am – to 11 pm. Call 01223779788)

2. Gosta, Beverly Hills

Gosta is another café, also in Beverly Hills, that welcomes pets. Pets are not only welcomed here but are truly part of the family! Ask about their special ‘treat menu’ available when supplies are in stock. (They partner with a local company that offers fresh home-made food for pets, and customers can even have orders delivered to the cafe.) They held their first “Who Let the Dogs Out” event at their café in early 2018, and plan to hold similar pet-centric events in the future. You can find more information on their facebook page. (Gosta is located in the Mixed Use Area in the Beverly Hills Compound. They’re open from 10 am to 2 am. Call 01225115333.)

1. Wadi Degla Protectorate, Maadi

Get out of the city and enjoy the majesty of nature in the 60-square-kilometers of desert protected area on the outskirts of Maadi. Drive to the parking area not too far off the Zahraa Al Maadi Road, and then you and your best-furrry-friend can hike or bike out and back along the canyon trails.

Not only is one of the most beautiful locations in all of Cairo, it’s also very animal friendly! …Actually, animals love this place so much that there are even a couple packs of dogs that have taken up residence at the park entrance. Don’t worry though — these dogs are used to being around pets and other animals, and shouldn’t cause you any trouble. While they might bark a little (they are just saying hello!), they are a friendly bunch. If your dog isn’t used to being around other animals, just be sure to keep him or her on a leash — at least until you get further into the park.

If you have a 4×4 (or a regular car that can take the beating of the bumps and dips along the road), drive a bit further inside the wadi. Pick a nice isolated area to be your camp for the afternoon, take advantage of the wide-open space to let your dog run around off-leash, maybe bring along some food and have a cookout … hands down the best place in Cairo for you and your pet to enjoy the day together!

The Wadi Degla Protectorate is open every day to 6 pm; entrance fee is 5 LE per person, and 5 LE extra to enter with a vehicle. (Visitors can stay later than the 6 pm “closing time” for a higher fee/fine.)

Bonus Activity: Pet Shops!

This is one last idea that may be loads of excitement for your pet, while only mildly entertaining for you. Surprise them with a trip to a pet shop! Let them pick out a new toy or treat, or maybe try on a new, snazzy collar. (I told you this one would be more exciting for your pet! 😂)

… For the record, I’m not talking about one of those disgusting places that keeps animals locked in tiny cages in the sun all day. (These types of places all need to be put out of business! Avoid them like the plague.) But there are a number of nice pet stores in Cairo that have their shelves stocked with all sorts of toys, treats, and trimmings, who treat animals with respect and care, and welcome pets and their owners to come in and shop together. EgyPuppy has branches all over the city; they can be a bit pricey, but have clean stores, quality products, and are welcoming to pets.

Dog Friendly Holidays?

Planning on getting out of Cairo for a bit, and want to take your pup along too? You may be surprised to know there are a number of pet friendly hotels, beaches, and other types of pet friendly accomodations in Egypt. Read all about them here.

Do you know of any other dog friendly places in Cairo? If so, please share in the comments!

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Featured image: Baladi Dog via pixabay