Cairo’s main streets have become mostly unfriendly to pedestrians – with much local disgruntlement. Nonetheless, walking in Heliopolis, Masr El Gedida, across its squares and through its landmarks, is still a staple activity in the beloved district. Those that walk through its century-old streets may have come across a bookstore or two. Some are well-known, others not so much. There are not many all-purpose bookstores in Heliopolis. Grabbing some of my eidiyya (Eid gift) money, which, apparently, you only stop getting when you are married, I went around Heliopolis looking for bookstores. Here is a list of stores ES recommends for your book shopping needs. 1. Diwan Bookstore Diwan is a well-known bookstore with several branches, such as in Maadi and Zamalek. The Heliopolis branch is located in Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Street and comprises three floors, with the bookstore itself on the ground floor. The first floor has a cafe while the second floor has a co-working space. Diwan often hosts various workshops and events which are advertised on their website and social media channels. The store houses an extensive collection of both English and Arabic books in a wide…
