Growing up, Bishoy Beshara called Cairo, Egypt his home. It was a city that never slept and where social life rarely stopped. Moving to Canada in his mid-30s meant leaving that behind for a much quieter, unfamiliar life. However, today, he is creating the vibrant community he once grew up in through Heliopolis, a cozy, warm cocktail bar in downtown Calgary.
With a population of about 22 million people, Cairo is a city known for its bustling nightlife. For Beshara, the city’s constant activity meant he could always look forward to visiting new places and meeting new people.
“Lots of connections, lots of friends. A whole life there. Yeah, it was fun,” he said.
As an only child, Beshara never found it lonely to be by himself, and he even considered it therapeutic. He was always surrounded by his cousins, who were as close to him as siblings. While though he loved his cousins, he was most inspired by his uncle, whom he went to with his problems.
“Uncle Sammy. He had the biggest impact on me growing up as a child and as a teenager,” he said.
Beshara always had a natural curiosity for science and space, building model airplanes and reading science fiction. This curiosity later transformed into his interests in photography, music and cooking. He has always loved the idea of discovering new flavours.
“I always love the taste of a new food, even if I don’t like the food itself,” he said.
Beshara moved to Calgary in 2016, mostly influenced by the political conditions in Egypt and a new business opportunity here with a friend.
“A couple of months after I was here, we started our first company, and I like it in Calgary. It’s a kind city,” he said.
But moving here was not easy. Leaving behind such a happening place for a quieter city like Calgary was a new experience for him. After building an entire network in Egypt, Beshara had a hard time adjusting to life here in Canada.
“In Egypt, I knew who to call at any particular point in time,” he said. “You know the bylaws, you know how the world works.”
But despite the differences and harsh winters, which came as a shock to him, Beshara came to appreciate Calgary for its kindness.
“It doesn’t happen in a lot of cities that when you’re walking on a street, and you have eye contact with a person, they nod and smile,” he said.
Looking to capitalize on that kindness, Beshara and his wife opened Heliopolis, a cocktail bar and community space in downtown Calgary, back in August 2024.
“We lack a space where you can just be. That’s it. That’s how we started,” he said.
The idea came from his wife, Rana Allam, who wanted to create a place where people could exist and spend time together, just like a family does in a living room, inspired by the social life in Cairo.
“Just to bring people together in an environment that gives them a space to talk, read, and enjoy culture,” she said.
What initially started as a social cafe has now become a cocktail bar, where Bashara shows his photography work, cooking, and musical tastes during music nights. Also known as Beast’s Eye, he portrays his work around the cafe, not just for viewing but also to sell.
There is one piece that is very close to his heart. A photo of one of the lion statues at the Qasr el-Nil Bridge, which he took in 2011.
“That was from the revolution days in Egypt,” he said. “Some of them are exclusive. Some of them are just one print, one of a kind. Some are not.”
With his experience as an artist who played in bands during university days and performed at the Opera House, Beshara has built a beautiful dynamic with the musicians who play at the bar today.
“I keep saying the space has a life and will of its own,” he said. “I’ve been a musician. I love musicians, and I always wanted to have a space where music is played.”
While Calgary may be different from Cairo, Beshara has found a way to recreate a familiar environment through the bar. His passions touched the hearts of many, including Ishrat Naba, a regular at Heliopolis.
“You know, when you’re in the bar, he’s very welcoming. It feels like you’re at home,” she said.
Although running a bar is a challenge he faces every day, he also recognizes the growth he has had throughout the years. With a loyal team on his side from day one and connections with local artists, Beshara hopes for Calgarians to feel the same sense of connection he felt growing up.
While Egypt remains in his heart, Beshara has found a connection to Calgary through Heliopoli