Ahla el-Awqat (The Best of Times) tells the story of a successful middle-aged woman (Salma, played by Hanan Tork) who is left to live with her step father after a not-so-tragic accident that claims the life of her mother. Salma goes on a quest to find out the identity of the sender of mystery letters and packages. One letter includes a picture of her and her two best friends from school (played by the Hend Sabry and Menna Shalaby), whom she has not seen for 14 years. Reunited, the girls embark on the quest of finding the identity of the sender.

Nawara works as a housemaid for a family closely linked to the Mubarak regime. On the eve of the 2011 revolution the family decides, for safety, to leave the country temporarily and ask her to look after the villa. Flush with cash for expenses, Nawara calls her fiancé Mustafa and the two are soon enjoying a taste of life at the top. Her journey from the alleys of her poor neighborhood to the luxury compound brings with it the worries of the people and their simple dreams—and an experience she could never have imagined.