Fodor's Expert Review Bayt al-Suhaymi

With gardens, a well, and a flour mill, this massive, 16th-century merchant's house, considered Cairo's best example of domestic Islamic architecture, seems more like a self-sufficient hamlet than it does a domicile. A charming, evocative little corner of Cairo, the house and adjacent alley have been restored. The entranceway leads to a lush courtyard that is totally unexpected from the outside. On the ground floor are the salamlik (public reception rooms); the haramlik (private rooms) are upstairs.