Tawakol is located at 29 Hoda Sharaawy street and was erected in 1908 under another name, comprising of five floors and a bustling commercial space.

In 1914, Frenchmen Henry Recine bought the building, giving it the name “Cafe Riche” and it was later sold to Greek Michael Nicoapolits, who attached an impressive theatre to the cafe. In 1942, Nicoapolits sold the café to George Basile Avayianos, who added a world-class restaurant. Finally, in 1962, Avayianos gave the café to Abdel-Malak Mikhail Salib who became the first Egyptian to own Café Riche.

Café Riche has always been a reflection of the history of Downtown Cairo and played a significant role as a social, communication center and a meeting point for all Egyptians and Arab writers, artists and intellectuals like Naguib Mahfouz, Ahmed Shawki, Youssef Idris and Taha Hussein. It also had an important role in the revolutionary movement in Egypt.