Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, Cairo, Egypt

Gazing out over the treetops of Cairo's Zoological Gardens, the air hazy with heat and dust, the shadowy imprint of the pyramids of Giza in the distance, a cacophony of car horns drifting up from the street far below... The room behind you is airy, cool and thoughtfully decorated. You are in the Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo.

Opened in May 2000, this neoclassical Four Seasons has injected a splendid shot of luxury into the Egyptian capital. Next door to the French Embassy and forming part of The First Residence, a new mixed-use development in central Cairo, it glories in acres of marble, beautiful antiques and breathtakingly imaginative flower arrangements.

Almost everything you could possibly want can be provided within minutes. Staff are stationed around every corner, all so genuinely friendly and helpful that they are never an intrusion - a welcome change from the streets outside. The large swimming pool on the podium roof is watched over by attendants who anticipate your every whim.

The hotel’s gym has Nile views, and breakfasting in the Seasons restaurant afterwards you can continue to watch the morning sun creating shimmering golden thoroughfares on the water. Italian head chef Carlo Bernardini has created a menu combining local and Mediterranean dishes that has brought a sparkle to Cairo’s restaurant scene, while Lebanese chef Milad Kildani makes mezze to start the meal. General Manager John O’Sullivan says his aim is to meet the Four Seasons high standards while creating a genuine home from home for guests. It's a familiar story, but blessed with the staff they have here it almost becomes a reality.

The rooms
Within the Four Seasons Cairo's imposing green-and-blue marble edifice the attention to detail is flawless: little touches like candles floating in frosted-glass holders on beds of rose petals, complimentary bowls of fruit delivered to the rooms daily, the rose petal and lemon foot-bath that starts every massage in the Spa Resort and Wellness Centre, or the purifying glass of rosewater that rounds it off.