Picture of the Day: A Snapshot of Naguib Mahfouz at His Favorite Table in Ali Baba’s Cafe, 1988

By Sarah Zuhair On May 28, 2020

The renowned Egyptian author and Nobel Prize winner, Naguib Mahfouz, was a frequent visitor of Cairo’s Ali Baba Cafe. As you can see in the picture below, the cafe is located on the second floor with a special corner overlooking Tahrir Square, Naguib Mahfouz’s favorite spot.

The cafe was initially a bar owned by a Greek woman, and was later bought by an Egyptian in 1968 and turned into a cafe. Ali Baba flourished in the 1970s and was frequently attended by many intellectuals, including Mahfouz. Currently, the first floor of the place is turned into a restaurant, and the corner where Naguib used to sit is now named ‘Mahfouz’.

WE SAID THIS: What do you think of the picture?

Sarah Zuhair

Sarah is an Iraqi Political Science graduate, who has been living in Egypt for over a decade now. She is a passionate go-getter, aspiring to one day be in a position where she can help others at a disadvantage. “Animal lover” is not enough to describe Sarah’s compassion for life. And with as many hair colors as there are days in a year, Sarah is sure to stun you with every look.

Comments