Cecil Hotel
The Cecil Hotel opened in 1929 on Saad Zaghloul Square, overlooking Alexandria's Eastern Harbour. You do not need to stay there to visit: the café and bar are open to non-guests.
When the Cecil Hotel opened on Saad Zaghloul Square in 1929, it looked straight out over the Eastern Harbour, as it still does. In the era of cosmopolitan Alexandria, when Greeks, Italians, Jews, Armenians and Egyptians shared the city, this was where everyone met.
Writers, spies and soldiers all came through, and the hotel turns up in Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. Something of that era survives in the old caged lift, the wood-panelled bar and the sea-facing rooms.
Steigenberger runs the hotel today. Even if you are staying somewhere else, it is worth stopping by for a coffee or a drink looking over the harbour.
What to see
- Sea views across the Eastern Harbour
- The historic lobby and bar
- Saad Zaghloul Square and its statue out front
Visiting
- Non-guests: welcome in the café and bar
- Getting there: tram or taxi to Ramleh Station / Saad Zaghloul Square
- Nearby: Naval Unknown Soldier Memorial, Alexandria Corniche, Graeco-Roman Museum
Getting there
Coordinates: 31.2007, 29.8984
Frequently asked questions
Can non-guests visit the Cecil Hotel?
Yes. The café and bar welcome outside visitors, so you can drop in for a coffee or a drink with a harbour view.
Why is the Cecil Hotel famous?
From 1929 it was the meeting place of cosmopolitan Alexandria, and it appears in Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet.
How do I get to the Cecil Hotel?
Take the tram or a taxi to Ramleh Station or Saad Zaghloul Square. The hotel faces the Corniche.