Ismail Mohamed Street is a beautifully shaded upscale area.

The view form the front terrace is grand, with colorful gardens and trees.

Indeed, Zamalek is an upper class neighborhood with many private schools, embassies and consulates.  It is a quiet and peaceful areas located on an island in the Nile, but very close to downtown, Historical Coptic and Islamic Cairo, including the famous Khan el-Khalili shopping district.  Of course, Zamalek has its own great shopping.

Within two blocks is a Christian church, a branch of the American University in Cairo's book store, and a number of restaurants including three American chains.  There is a small grocery store on one side of the hotel, and a camera shop on the other.

Zamalek is the northern part of Gezira Island. Gezira was mostly uninhabited and undeveloped into the mid 19th century. After the modern (central) city of Cairo was developed, Mohammed Ali built a palace and guard house at the northern tip. Apparently, there were problems with these buildings and the complex became known as As-Zamalik, which in Turkish translates to 'makeshift dwelling'.  Later, the Khedive Ismail built a large palace in the center of the island with a huge garden, along with building up the sides of the island and a jetty to make access easier. At that time, the gardens contained exotic plant life and a collection of African animals, fountains, pavilions and the Gezira Salamlik.

The Nile River is only a few blocks away from the Longchamps.