A visit to Cairo almost entails a taste of Shisha (see my journal entry on Shisha here), and Andrea is a great place to do it. Located on the norhtern tip of Zamalek on Abu Al-Feda, Andrea is a gorgeous place right on the water with excellent views of the city. Andrea is a restaurant as well as a shisha bar. The shisha bar is located all the way in the back next to the stack of around 100 shishas. There is no menu of flavors but the waiters, most of whom know enough English to get your order, will tell you the flavors. The standard favorite is Apple, but some of my favorites include: Apricot, Rose, Cantelope, Cappuccino, and Mint. They also feature some more unique flavors, such as Lemon and Cola.
The waiters at Andrea are shisha experts, and it is their job to make sure you have the best experience possible. They keep very good tabs on your coals and will change them whenever they run low.
A shisha will cost you 5 pounds, about $1, and most of your standard juices, tea, or water will also cost 5 Pounds. Five pounds is about as cheap a shisha you will find without going into a local "ahwa" (coffee shop), but for first timers, I don't really recommend the ahwa. So whether you are a shisha afficionado or a first timer, you will love Andrea for its service and its great location.
Because it is on the water, Andrea is the perfect place to escape the crowdedness of Cairo, and enjoy the openess of the Nile's waters.