Consider this your toolkit for a day of shopping/eating/entertainment at New Cairo’s U Venues.
Since its opening, New Cairo mall U Venues has been all over our For You Pages, with more and more tenants seeming to land there. It’s weird, though, because it’s almost like these opening announcements make their way to us individually, each of us only receiving a curated selection of what U Venues has to offer. It’s either the algorithm works suspiciously well, or this mall really does have something for everyone...
Intrigued by this phenomenon of a physical algorithm, we whipped up a guide to U Venues’ most attractive shopping, eating and entertainment destinations…
For Coffee
First things first, you need caffeine to get your head in the rational shopping zone and outside the control of the notorious instant gratification monkey. Thankfully, U Venues has a generous supply of that. From the Kyoto-founded %Arabica to the quirky concoctions of Koffee Kulture and all the way to good ol’ Beano’s, the mall’s got it all. You can also find spots like Oroblanco, an earthy café which rose to fame in Zamalek, and the Twenty Grams with its wild flavours. Biblio café is the resident spot for quirky arts and culture kids, who would rather spend their day in a bookstore instead of a regular café.
Kippis, a beverage spot also residing in U Venues, thrives on oddity, crafting quirky mocktails and caffeinated drinks we honestly can’t get enough of. Finally, Zenzoo’s delicious authentic Taiwanese boba is perfect for that one friend who refuses to drink coffee in the morning for political reasons.
To Bring Home
If you’re looking to furnish your home, a single trip to U Venues will suffice to show you an expansive selection of just what is out there in the world of home decor. From quirky home additions, to some of Egypt’s oldest and proudest carpet weavers (yes, the Kahhal), the mall’s selection is certainly worthy of bringing home to your parents.
In terms of furniture, Toutoungi decorates your outdoor, Woodpecker puts together your kitchen (among other things, but their kitchens are top notch), and CaravanSerai brings it home with eccentric pieces that make your home look like a small-scale museum - and you can find them all at U Venues. To then make your furniture pop, you can explore a world of home textiles at Seda.
Now that you’ve got your roots down, you can elevate your space even further with home accessories from Ellie Home, who have an unwavering commitment to sustainability; Table Royale, who have been in the game since forever (or at least since 1993); and the chic Baba by ETTC. A quick trip to Sam/Nineteen - a hybrid store housing both eccentric homeware products and sleek furniture - will have you supplied with everything your home could possibly need.
For Your Closet
Be it couture or casual, that-girl or Bohemian, U Venues’ selection of fashion shops has probably got it covered. They’ve got Be-Indie, whose jeans you can’t go wrong with, the Monkie Concept, which is the place to go for statement pieces, and Lilly Home, which is perfect for 100% cotton basics and linen.
Besides that, the mall also offers a selection of upscale, designer clothing, like Dina Shaker’s deconstructionist-inspired women armour, Coterie’s statement pieces that extend beyond the world of haute, and Mazoura’s boss couture. In the realm of accessories, U Venues offers you the infamous Pandora and famed sunglasses label Nile Details.
Get In Shape
Now that you’ve got your new closet lined up, you might want a new look - or, you know, just the confidence a blowout gives you - to go with it. Hair experts Elle Salon’s touchdown at U Venues has worked wonders for our hair.
Playing the long game? The mall’s Elevate Gym works on aligning you, body and spirit, crossfit classes, a well-equipped gym and a fully-fledged recovery lab.
For Food
At this point of the day, you’re likely to have worked up an appetite, at which point U Venues dishes out a number of multinational dining options: Italian at beloved Gouna-native spot Zia Amelia, Lebanese at Merbey, Asian at the growingly popular Tama, gourmet French at La Serre and American diner food at Talk Back.
You could also opt for lighter dining options, like the sourdough creations of Leaven Bakery, or the healthy selection at Lychee and Gourmet - all under one roof.
For Fun!
Be it adults or kids who are looking for a good time, U Venues’ arcade selection brings the fun for both. I mean, you could simply drop your kids off at Yooo!, Egypt’s first indoor soft play playground, where they can enjoy everything from building blocks to ball pits to a colourful crocheted trampoline (we’re honestly jealous), while you do your shopping. Alternatively, as the kids play, you can head to your own adult playground, Brass Monkey, where you can both play, drink and win.
Because fun comes in different forms to different people, and U Venues, omnipotent as they are, are well aware of this, the spot also offers a library/book shop/café for those on the hunt for a quieter type of fun. Bibliothek, a cultural hub previously only found in Sheikh Zayed, offers a wide selection of novels, books and directories - including newly published works - in a nook of the mall. It’s a sanctuary of sorts.
It’s Always Time for a Sweet Treat
We’re strong believers that, no matter the time of day or the activity being sought, a sweet treat is always appropriate - sometimes even required. U Venues seems to believe this too, as they offer a selection of dessert spots for the sweet-toothed, like Dara’s famous Ice Cream, and the chocolate haven of Moko. You could also delight in crisp croissants, fudge brownies and a range of ice cream flavours at Amaretti, or enjoy the delicate pastries the Nutcracker has become internet-famous for.
Dec 22, 2024
