A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

"The Koshks of Cairo"

Here's something about Egypt that isn't so gloomy: a piece on Cairo's well-equipped kiosks: "The Koshks of Cairo."  If you need it, they've got it.

1 comment:

3am el-7ag said...

Thanks for this Mr Dunn; much appreciated!

If I'm not mistaken, that very first koshk is close to Midan Victoria, along Port Said Street. Can anyone else guess?

I have some fantastic memories of koshks in Cairo and the hours I spent chatting, smoking, drinking and, most of all, listening outside them. Koshks have something for everyone: packets of 'Arosa tea, pens, individual cigarettes as well as packets, plus the fantastic magazine, newspaper and book selections of the larger ones. My top 3 koshks would be: 3) Ahmed al-Gusayri (laqb as can't remember his real name) and family's koshk, close to Volume 1 bookshop at the 206 Street intersection in Maadi; 2) close to the excellent Na'ama takeaway/restaurant, just down the road from the British Council on the Agouza Corniche; 1) has to be one just across the road from Abu Tariq's Koshary joint behind Tahrir Sq. Long live the koshk and their long-suffering proprietors!!