This book presents a unique narrative of Cairo’s journey with architectural modernization over a full century, highlighting the roles that cafés have played in the city’s modern history. The book focuses on “Café Riche” as a focal point in the city center, tracing its history from its founding by its Greek owner, Michel Politis, to its current management by the Abdel-Malak family, who preserve it as a cultural heritage. The book reveals the café’s role as an incubator for ideas and a platform for dialogue linked to major turning points in Egypt’s history, making it a prominent cultural landmark where the private and public spheres intersect. This work won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Literature in 2022.