This book is an interesting narrative about Cairo’s architectural modernization
journey and shows the role played by the most prominent cafes in the history of
the city during the modern era.The book speaks mainly about Café Raiche as
an enchanted place in downtown Cairo, from the time when its original Greek
owner and adventurer Michelle Politis, the lover of art and culture, chose this
path, all the way to the family of Abd El-Malak, which still runs the café as a
cultural heritage, not just as private property.
The book reveals the role of "Café Riche" in generating ideas and crystalizing
unique cultural dialogues which were associated with pivotal transformation
points in the history of the city and made it one of the main cultural landmarks
in the history of the city’s architecture. This book contains a full history of Café
Riche architecture with maps of many buildings which embraced the café,
during different eras. It also displays a long list of prominent names and events
which took place inside the café and in its adjoining variety theater, in addition
to many angry political demonstrations that were planned for within its walls.