The long-anticipated reopening of what was once El-Gezirah Sheraton, now under the management of Sofitel, is finally over. The venue which used to be one of the hottest spots in Cairo is now ready to reestablish itself as a trendy place to see and be seen. Every detail of the new Sofitel El Gezirah has a touch of French class, making it an upscale L art de vivre à la française. Renowned French architect Pierre-Yves Rochon made sure of that. The architect has grand hotels like Le Meridien Beverly Hills, Le Foubourg Hotel, Sofitel Paris and Monte Carlo Bay Resort on his résumé. In Egypt, he has designed the Four Seasons Nile Plaza in Cairo, the Old Cataract in Aswan and the San Stefano Four Seasons in Alexandria. As you walk into the lobby of the new Sofitel, you are taken in by an incredible Nile view as the whole building has a window front, about 20 meters from the banks of the river. The décor is modern, yet comfortable and refreshingly simple. Long beige leather couches line the lobby, and beautiful flower bouquets (from Flower Power) add color and elegance. On the right hand side of the lobby is a casual bar called Windows on the Nile decorated in canary yellow that also has an outdoor venue directly on the Nile. For those familiar with the former Sheraton, Paradise Island , the floating barge in the middle of the Nile is still there. Only now it is all in wood where you can enjoy cocktails and snacks on a summer evening or a sunny winter day. General Manager Jean-Pierre Simonnet explains that the atmosphere is not supposed to be stiff, but laid back and elegant. He wants people to feel at ease in the new hotel. One of the former Sheraton's most popular restaurants among Cairenes was the Kebabgy, so the Sofitel decided to maintain it. It has gone through some minor changes, but is still offering the oriental grills everybody loves. The surprise and highlight for many is that the new hotel holds one of the world's trendiest venues, the genuine French chain Buddha Bar. The place is set to be elegant and expensive as the Sofitel invested heavily to make it emulate the one in Paris with lavish décor, an exquisite cuisine and a lively atmosphere. The two-floor Buddha Bar has a panoramic Nile view from both levels. It also has an outdoor area, as do all the outlets of the hotel. It is set to open on Aug. 1. The hotel also houses Vendome, a gourmet French restaurant with very simple business lounge atmosphere, and a romantic outdoor terrace. Besides bars and fine dining, the Sofitel has a health oasis. International chain Le Spa is simply decorated in white and apple green. Treatment rooms are positioned overlooking the Nile. A gym and outdoor sun beds are also available. An indoor treatment pool is situated on an angle with yet another Nile view and appears to be overflowing into the main outdoor pool that is on the corniche. For those who seek the thrill of gambling, a Casino is also opening which is the latest creation of Lucien Barriere who are close partners to the Accor group. The rest of the cylinder-shaped tower consists of 433 rooms, including 50 suites. The rooms come in the soothing colors of light green or terracotta and, like the rest of the hotel, are contemporary and minimalist. The toiletry products in all the rooms are a nice touch, created by Roger Gallet and Hermes perfumes. The uniforms are created by couture French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Simonnet adds, "Elegance and sophistication are the core themes of the hotel. with such high standards Sofitel will become a major player in Egypt's hospitality industry. The Sofitel El Gezira's soft opening is on July 1. For more information, call (02) 2 737 37 37.
