Talented people give us plenty in conversation. Inspiration, obviously. Great stories, absolutely. But there is one thing I always try to borrow (okay, steal): the way they see the city they wake up in and create in every day.

That is why no guest leaves without being asked about their favourite places. Inspiration is a moody thing. It comes, it goes, and it often hides in the most ordinary spots: a building you pass every morning, a brilliantly designed café, a corner of the city nobody gives a second glance. So why not follow it?

This time, our insider is Amr Allam, an Egyptian architect and design photographer whose full interview is landing very soon. We took his favourites, added a few finds and observations of our own, and stitched them into a small, very personal guide to Egypt. Think of it as a treasure map, drawn by people who always look twice.

I don’t know how you start your day, but statistically, coffee is a pretty good guess. Across 11 countries and five continents, researchers found that coffee is enjoyed most in the morning. Amr is definitely one of them — though for him, coffee is less about the caffeine fix and more of a ritual, preferably somewhere with a very good view.

But does that mean we are leaving you without a few actual coffee recommendations? Definitely not. Here are three, depending on what exactly you want from your morning coffee ritual: the view, the coffee-and-social fix, or the design.

Egypt is almost unfairly cinematic. Point your camera in pretty much any direction and chances are, you will catch something worth posting. Siwa Oasis gives you salt lakes, endless palms and the crumbling mud-brick Shali Fortress. White Desert National Park looks almost extraterrestrial, with huge white chalk formations rising out of the sand. And Abu Simbel? You could tell me it was pulled straight from Dune and I would believe you.

All are worth the trip. But which place feels the most cinematic to Amr?

His answer: The Grand Egyptian Museum.

Personal note: whenever I travel somewhere new, I love watching films shot there first. Because walking around a cool city is one thing. Realising you are literally standing inside a scene you watched the night before? Much better.

So, before Egypt, here is your mini watchlist. Want the big-ticket Egypt — Bond, Giza, Luxor and Abu Simbel? Go for The Spy Who Loved Me. Want the same spectacular backdrop, but with a murder mystery thrown in? Death on the Nile. And for less ancient wonder, more actual Cairo — its streets, pace and atmosphere — make it Cairo Time.

We can talk about living in the moment, forgetting the camera and putting our phones away all we like. But the second something properly cinematic appears in front of us? Digital detox cancelled. We need the shot. Immediately.

So, where in Egypt is most likely to ruin yours? For Amr, the answer is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Personal advice: the photo hunt really is the best part. The less charming part? Slowly melting while doing it. And since we are already sharing recommendations, here is another one: Shark CryoGlow Chill. In a city where an innocent 11 am–4 pm wander can turn into an endurance test, a small portable fan with a cooling plate starts to feel less like a gadget and more like survival equipment.

If you have been wondering where to spend around 700 AED, well, there you go. And if not, wish-list season is getting closer — consider this a very fair addition for anyone trying to survive a hot-city escape. Plus, if you eventually decide to stop simply walking around the city and start running around it, this goes from nice to have to where have you been all my life?

Egyptian food is warm, comforting, gloriously filling — and absolutely non-negotiable while you are here. But Amr has one small warning for visitors: choose wisely. Going for the most local-looking spot you can find might sound adventurous, but your stomach may have other plans.

The Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum are both great options if you fancy combining dinner with a bit of sightseeing. But if you would rather keep the tourist attractions and the food hunt separate, playing it safe certainly doesn’t mean playing it boring. A couple of names worth keeping in your Notes:

The answer is safe, expected and probably already on your list — but sorry, it is what it is: the Giza Pyramids.

Personal advice: a historical sight of this calibre might feel like an occasion for your best outfit. Fair. But take it from someone who somehow comes back from every trip having ruined another pair of shoes: the Giza Plateau is sandy, dusty, uneven and involves a fair bit of walking. You don’t necessarily need your oldest trainers — just maybe don’t debut your best ones there.