Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino - Omar Cafe & the Plaza
Prize(s):
WINNER 2026 INTERIOR DESIGN / Hospitality Interior
Company Name:Living Design of Sweden
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Tarek Hegazy, Neelima Potdar, Emilija Ciric
Interior Designer:Living Design of Sweden
Client Name:Talaat Moustafa Group
Project Location:Cairo, Egypt
Design Status:In Progress
Project Description:
The renovation of Omar’s Cafe and The Plaza at the Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino creates an elevated, destination dining experience blending luxury, comfort, and timeless elegance. The indoor restaurant exudes opulence with palace feeling aesthetics, featuring marble floors, storytelling wall murals, and rich wood and bronze finishes. Its layout includes an open kitchen, a pre-dining lounge, and diverse seating options from intimate banquettes to plush armchairs, offering both social and private dining experiences. The Outdoor Plaza extends this sophistication, combining banquette seating with integrated greenery and a refined palette of marble and textured fabrics for chairs, fixed seating, and pergolas, creating a serene, inviting ambiance. The Plaza acts as a vibrant central hub, connecting the restaurant to retail areas and the Smoki Moto Asian specialty restaurant via a public passage and shopping arcade. Thoughtful adaptive space planning and operational zoning ensure seamless guest flow, enhancing both comfort and functionality throughout this luxurious dining destination.
The renovation of Omar’s Cafe and The Plaza at the Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino creates an elevated, destination dining experience blending luxury, comfort, and timeless elegance. The indoor restaurant exudes opulence with palace feeling aesthetics, featuring marble floors, storytelling wall murals, and rich wood and bronze finishes. Its layout includes an open kitchen, a pre-dining lounge, and diverse seating options from intimate banquettes to plush armchairs, offering both social and private dining experiences. The Outdoor Plaza extends this sophistication, combining banquette seating with integrated greenery and a refined palette of marble and textured fabrics for chairs, fixed seating, and pergolas, creating a serene, inviting ambiance. The Plaza acts as a vibrant central hub, connecting the restaurant to retail areas and the Smoki Moto Asian specialty restaurant via a public passage and shopping arcade. Thoughtful adaptive space planning and operational zoning ensure seamless guest flow, enhancing both comfort and functionality throughout this luxurious dining destination.
Project Innovation / Specification:
The design of Omar Café and the Plaza at the Cairo Marriott Hotel embodies a "Modern Palace Experience," merging the 1869 Gezirah Palace’s historic grandeur with contemporary luxury. This vision creates a seamless journey where the palace’s rich heritage—originally built by Khedive Ismail to impress Empress Eugénie—coexists with modern aesthetics. The design preserves the Belle Époque extravagance, from ornate columns and arches to grand proportions, while introducing clean lines and modern materials to meet today’s luxury standards. Original gardens and waterfalls are restored, evoking the exclusivity once enjoyed by Egyptian aristocracy. Materiality blends modern and reclaimed elements, including Italian marble, intricately hand-carved wooden panels with Arabesque motifs, and monumental doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Drawing on Cairo’s unique color palette and architectural influences—from Islamic Moorish to European Baroque—the space is both culturally rooted and forward-looking. The Plaza is positioned as Cairo’s premier destination, offering interiors that are regally sophisticated yet inviting, elevating the guest experience with timeless elegance.
The design of Omar Café and the Plaza at the Cairo Marriott Hotel embodies a "Modern Palace Experience," merging the 1869 Gezirah Palace’s historic grandeur with contemporary luxury. This vision creates a seamless journey where the palace’s rich heritage—originally built by Khedive Ismail to impress Empress Eugénie—coexists with modern aesthetics. The design preserves the Belle Époque extravagance, from ornate columns and arches to grand proportions, while introducing clean lines and modern materials to meet today’s luxury standards. Original gardens and waterfalls are restored, evoking the exclusivity once enjoyed by Egyptian aristocracy. Materiality blends modern and reclaimed elements, including Italian marble, intricately hand-carved wooden panels with Arabesque motifs, and monumental doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Drawing on Cairo’s unique color palette and architectural influences—from Islamic Moorish to European Baroque—the space is both culturally rooted and forward-looking. The Plaza is positioned as Cairo’s premier destination, offering interiors that are regally sophisticated yet inviting, elevating the guest experience with timeless elegance.
Project Sustainability Approach:
The sustainability strategy for the Cairo Marriott Hotel project centers on preserving and enhancing the property’s historical integrity while introducing responsible, contemporary design. A key focus is the restoration of the original gardens and waterfalls, maintaining both the hotel’s natural beauty and its cultural significance. The design approach fosters a harmonious blend of heritage and modernity, integrating reclaimed elements of craftsmanship alongside clean lines and premium, durable materials. By combining iconic architectural features—such as arches, ornate columns, and grand proportions—with thoughtful, sustainable interventions, the project achieves a timeless aesthetic that minimizes the need for frequent renovations. This strategy ensures a culturally sensitive, meaningful environment that honors Egypt’s rich history while addressing functional and environmental needs, creating a legacy that is both respectful of the past and mindful of the future.
The sustainability strategy for the Cairo Marriott Hotel project centers on preserving and enhancing the property’s historical integrity while introducing responsible, contemporary design. A key focus is the restoration of the original gardens and waterfalls, maintaining both the hotel’s natural beauty and its cultural significance. The design approach fosters a harmonious blend of heritage and modernity, integrating reclaimed elements of craftsmanship alongside clean lines and premium, durable materials. By combining iconic architectural features—such as arches, ornate columns, and grand proportions—with thoughtful, sustainable interventions, the project achieves a timeless aesthetic that minimizes the need for frequent renovations. This strategy ensures a culturally sensitive, meaningful environment that honors Egypt’s rich history while addressing functional and environmental needs, creating a legacy that is both respectful of the past and mindful of the future.
Local and Regional Impacts of the Project:
The design of Omar Café and the Plaza at the Cairo Marriott Hotel embodies a modern palace experience, bridging the historical grandeur of the 1869 Gezirah Palace with contemporary luxury. Honoring its "Belle Epoque" roots—commissioned by Khedive Ismail for Empress Eugénie—the project reimagines the space for the modern traveler through a meaningful, forward-looking narrative. Restoration of the original gardens recaptures the exclusivity once enjoyed by Egyptian aristocracy, while a material palette of modern and reclaimed elements showcases meticulous craftsmanship. By celebrating Cairo’s architectural heritage and enhancing Nile views, the restaurant and plaza become a landmark destination for both international guests and the local community.
The design of Omar Café and the Plaza at the Cairo Marriott Hotel embodies a modern palace experience, bridging the historical grandeur of the 1869 Gezirah Palace with contemporary luxury. Honoring its "Belle Epoque" roots—commissioned by Khedive Ismail for Empress Eugénie—the project reimagines the space for the modern traveler through a meaningful, forward-looking narrative. Restoration of the original gardens recaptures the exclusivity once enjoyed by Egyptian aristocracy, while a material palette of modern and reclaimed elements showcases meticulous craftsmanship. By celebrating Cairo’s architectural heritage and enhancing Nile views, the restaurant and plaza become a landmark destination for both international guests and the local community.
