AUC Games in New Cairo: Best Eats Between Matches
AUC’s All-Africa University Games have turned Fifth Settlement into a full-day outing
The American University in Cairo is hosting ten sports at the 2026 All-Africa University Games in Cairo from September 8 to September 16, 2026, with AUC playing a central role as host and arriving as the reigning two-time continental champion. According to AUC, this edition brings together 59 African universities from 16 countries and around 2,000 student-athletes, including para-athletes competing in the Games for the first time. Around 150 AUC student-athletes are taking part. That makes the New Cairo campus not just a sports venue this week, but one of the busiest day-out hubs in the east of Cairo.
For anyone spending long hours around the Fifth Settlement campus between matches, the good news is that the area is unusually practical. You can stay on campus for a quick refuel, cross toward Point 90 for a straightforward sit-down option, or use nearby North 90th and the AUC-facing commercial strip for coffee and a longer reset before the next fixture.
Start with the easiest option: eating on campus at AUC
If your schedule between games is tight, the most efficient move is to remain inside AUC (@aucegypt on Instagram). The university says its New Cairo campus has two major food courts as well as bakeries, coffee shops and convenience stores, specifically designed for grab-and-go use between classes and campus activities. That setup also works perfectly for spectators, families and students moving between sports venues during the Games.
AUC’s published New Cairo food outlets include 30 North at the AUC Innovation Hub and Library Terrace, Butcher’s Burger in the Americana Food Court, Cilantro at the Campus Center and Formula Onederful beside the bus entrance at the School of Sciences and Engineering. In practice, that gives you three clear match-day strategies:
- Fast coffee stop: Cilantro or 30 North if you only have a short break.
- Something filling before a longer session: Butcher’s Burger if you need a proper meal and do not want to leave campus.
- Late study-or-work style pause: the Library Terrace area is one of the more comfortable corners if your group wants coffee without losing too much time on traffic.
The university also notes that outlet schedules can change during breaks and holidays, so availability may vary by time of day. Still, for spectators trying to make the next whistle, staying inside AUC is the lowest-friction choice.
Point 90: the simplest off-campus meet-up spot
Just outside AUC, Point 90 Mall remains the most recognizable landmark for people saying “let’s meet somewhere easy.” Its biggest advantage is not novelty; it is convenience. It sits directly in front of the campus side used by many visitors, making it ideal if your group is arriving separately or if some people want coffee while others want a fuller meal.
One currently verifiable option there is PAUL, which lists its branch at First Floor, Point 90 Mall, New Cairo. That makes it a reliable pick for an in-between slot when you want a bakery-cafe format rather than a heavy lunch. Think coffee, pastries, sandwiches and a seat without straying deep into New Cairo. Another listed venue at Point 90 is Boulevard, shown on Elmenus as being at Point 90 Mall, in front of AUC Gate 5.
For Games visitors, Point 90 works best in three situations: if you are meeting friends who are not entering campus, if you need a familiar chain setting, or if you want an option that feels off-campus without really leaving the AUC orbit.
For serious coffee: head toward North 90th
If the break between matches is long enough for a proper coffee run, MAASAI Cafe & Restaurant is one of the most relevant current options to know. The venue describes itself as a specialty coffee destination at Trivium Square, North 90th Street, specifically noting that it is minutes from AUC and Point 90. Its concept leans into single-origin coffee, brew methods including V60 and cold brew, plus pastries and chocolate.
That matters because the AUC/Point 90 pocket is full of practical, high-traffic stops, but fewer places clearly position themselves around coffee-first service. If your match-day plan includes waiting out heat, answering messages, or taking a quieter break before heading back to campus, MAASAI is one of the more purposeful options rather than just a generic mall cafe.
It is also useful geographically: Trivium Square on North 90th gives you a slight reset from the immediate Gate 4 and Gate 5 crowd without sending you too far from the university.
When you want to stretch the day into lunch or dinner
Some visitors will treat the Games like a full Fifth Settlement outing, not just a sports stop. In that case, 5A by The Waterway is one of the area’s strongest after-match upgrades. The development describes itself as a New Cairo commercial destination spanning 8.5 acres, built as a dining-and-lifestyle address rather than a quick errand stop.
One confirmed restaurant there is Reif Kushiyaki, which Baky Hospitality says is open at 5A Waterway, New Cairo. If your group wants to turn the break into a proper meal and does not mind leaving the immediate AUC frontage, this is the kind of move that makes sense for an evening fixture schedule or a final-match celebration.
The reason 5A belongs in this guide is not that it is the closest option. It is that it gives Fifth Settlement visitors a cleaner handoff from sports day to social night. Watch matches at AUC, leave campus after the late afternoon session, then shift to a more polished dining environment without changing districts.
How to choose based on your break between matches
If you only have 30 to 45 minutes
- Stay inside AUC for Cilantro, 30 North or the food court.
- Best for quick coffee, sandwiches and the least walking.
If you have around an hour
- Point 90 is the safest off-campus option.
- Best for mixed groups, bakery-cafe stops and easy meet-ups.
If you have 90 minutes or more
- MAASAI at Trivium Square for a coffee-led break.
- 5A by The Waterway for a proper lunch or early dinner plan.
The bottom line for AUC Games visitors
Through September 16, AUC’s All-Africa University Games have given New Cairo a very specific kind of busy: students, athletes, families and sports fans all moving around one of the city’s best-connected university districts. The smart play is to treat the campus and its immediate orbit in layers. AUC itself is best for speed. Point 90 is best for convenience. North 90th specialty coffee stops like MAASAI are best for a calmer reset. 5A by The Waterway is where the day can graduate into dinner.
That combination is exactly why Fifth Settlement works so well for an event like this. You do not need to overplan. Pick your next match, check how long you have, and choose the ring around campus that fits the break.