This market is situated at one
corner of a triangle of markets that go south to Bab Zuwayla and west to Azbakiyyah.
The Khan is bordered on the south by al-Azhar Street and on the west by the
Muski Market. One of the old original gates guards the entrance to the original
courtyard which lies midway down Sikkit al-Badistan (street).
On a narrow street leading off
al-Badistand, one will find the El-Fishawi Cafe, or Cafe of Mirrors, which was
once a meeting place for local artists, and is still frequented by the Nobel
Award winning Naguib Mahfouz, one of Egypt's most well known
authors. There are any number of canvas covered streets such as the one
pictured to the right.
Egyptian buyers generally shop in the
area north of al-Badistan and to the west, where prices may be lower. Better
deals for gold and silver are to be found west of the Khan along the
"street of the goldsellers", and further on one will find the Brass
and Coppersmith Markets.