In a City Defined by Speed ‘Dainties' is Slowing Down the Pace

CairoScene

26-04-2025

In a City Defined by Speed 'Dainties' is Slowing Down the Pace
Because the scent of a marzipan copenhager, pickled lemon cheese danish, or crème brûlée puff could quiet even the most chaotic mind.
Cairo's energy is exhilarating - until it isn't. At some point, the relentless honking, hurry, and heat start to feel less like buzz and more like burnout. Enter Dainties, a New Cairo café that offers what the city so rarely does: quiet, space, and the suggestion that maybe you don't need to rush everything.
Set within a lush, 1,000-square-meter garden in the heart of Fifth Settlement, Dainties pairs a nature-inspired indoor-outdoor setting with a slow, considered menu of baked goods and specialty coffee. 'The idea was inspired by the unhurried café culture in France and Italy,' says co-owner Michael Fakhry. 'Where coffee isn't just a drink - it's something you savour.'
Fakhry and his wife, Mariam Farouk, launched Dainties as an antidote to Cairo's breakneck pace. What started as a catering bakery has since grown into a full-blown café and roastery. 'We relied on trial and error,' Fakhry says. 'We were tweaking ratios by the gram.'
The result is a menu that balances craft and calm. Croissants meet their bold, butter-laced descendants - like the pickled lemon cheese danish or the crème brûlée puff. Toasts, flatbreads, and sandwiches star at breakfast and brunch. Think: sourdough avocado toast with hummus and hibiscus, rocket-pesto flatbread with smoked salmon, or eggs royale that arrive without fanfare and don't disappoint.
The space itself is minimalist, airy, and intentionally noncommittal. There are no reservations. No soft launch exclusivity. 'There's no rush here,' Fakhry says. 'No time limits, no pressure. We wanted everyone to feel welcome, whenever.'
Since opening in October, the café has quietly built a loyal following - many of whom seem to share a belief that dessert is more of a lifestyle than a course. S'mores flatbread, Dulce de Leche French toast, and buttermilk pancakes are available all day. They don't ask for restraint.
So whether you're after a well-pulled espresso, a pastry that might actually fix your mood, or a space that lets you slow down without checking your watch, Dainties is worth lingering in.