Restaurants in Cairo
Dining in Cairo should take advantage of unique, plentiful, and
very cheap quality restaurants serving Egyptian favourites. By
sitting down in the neighbourhood café and enjoying some
light eats and sweet drinks travellers can easily immerse
themselves into local dining and social culture.
Yet, any one cuisine can get tired and the new best restaurants in
Cairo have an eclectic international focus. Previously restricted
to hotel restaurants, sashimi to cheeseburgers are now prepared by
top chefs in trendy venues. Even local food is now getting a
facelift.
To peruse the trendiest restaurants in Cairo, Zamalek is the dining
hotspot. Inversely, the areas about downtown and near Khan
al-Khalili are great for cheap and local haunts.
In Cairo it is considered unclean to eat with the left hand, and
remember that alcohol is often not served unless at a hotel
restaurant. It is considered good manners to leave food on your
plate, as it shows taht the host has been generous. It is
considered impolite to stare at another person's food in a
restaurant. During Ramadan, when Muslims fast during the day, many
restaurants are closed and, again, travellers should head to a
hotel restaurant.
This popular tourist haunt may be a bit pricey, yet the Oriental
décor is stunning. A bubbling fountain, contemporary art
exhibits and tapestries adorning the walls create a wonderful
dining environment. The Egyptian-Middle Eastern food focuses mainly
on grilled meats so stick to local dishes like
bamia (stewed
okra). Arabesque is popular for business lunches. Alcohol is
served. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations
essential.
Address: 6 Qasr el-Nil Street, Cairo
Telephone: (0)2 574 8677
This unusual restaurant is a mix of heavy ottoman ornaments in a
richly decorated haunt. The food too is a mix and the more unusual
sounding dishes are most likely to be the best. Traditional home
cooking like molokhiyya stew are favourites although the restaurant
blends dishes from several backgrounds with a Lebanese flair.
Rersvations are advisable.
Address: 157 26th of July Street
Telephone: +20 2 735 9640
| Sequoia |
$$$$$ | Mediterranean |
This tent restaurant has become a popular relaxation spot with
trendy locals and expats and for good reason. On the high banks of
the Nile the restaurant has a commanding spot atop the city.
Perfect to relax with flavoured tobaccos and traditional Egyptian
and Lebanese mezze food although there are other options for light
western dining. More of a lounge during the day, the place becomes
a club when the sun sets.
Address: 3 Abou Feda Street
Telephone: +20 2 735 0014
| Cortigiano |
$$$$$ | Italian |
Delicious food and an inviting, cosy atmosphere have made this
restaurant one of Cairo's favourite eateries. Soft lighting and
tasteful décor create the perfect atmosphere to dine on such
dishes as creamy onion soup, veal cordon bleu stuffed with
mushrooms and topped with cheese and tomatoes or thick crust pizzas
loaded with toppings of your choice. Open daily for lunch and
dinner. Reservations essential.
Address: 44 Michel Bakhoum Street
Telephone: (0)2 336 0620
| Al-Fanous |
$$$$$ | Moroccan |
Colourful mosaic and carvings adorn the almost every inch of
this Moroccan restaurant where Middle-Eastern pigeon meat,
colloquially known as the
squab, makes a name for itself in
the pie
pastilla, a semi-sweet Egyptian dish laced with
spices and dusted with cinnamon and sugar. The chicken
tagine, a stew made with dates served in a colonial ceramic
dish comes highly recommended, though adventurous palates may try
the
squab, which is fried pigeon. Alcohol is not served.
Reservations advisable.
Address: Riyadh Tower, 5 Shara Wissa Wassef
Telephone: (0)2 570 1226
With authentic ingredients flown in from Bangkok and a highly
skilled Thai woman at the helm, it's no wonder the food at Bua Khao
keeps guests coming back for more. Renowned for serving the best
Thai food in Egypt, the
massaman and
penang curries
are to-die-for and the
tom kar gai (chicken and coconut milk
soup) is a great way to start things off. Open daily for lunch and
dinner. Reservations advisable.
Address: 9 Road 151, Ma'adi
Telephone: (0)2 350 0126
| The Revolving Restaurant Grand Hyatt |
$$$$$ | International |
Towering above the city 41 floors high, diners can enjoy truly
panoramic views of the city below as the scenery circles by.
Besides taking in the Nile, the city and the pyramids an open
kitchen in the centre of the restaurant puts on a show serving up
an eclectic range of multi-national menu choices. A slightly formal
setting is perfect for romantic evenings and a reprieve from the
congestion 41 floors below. Reservations are advised.
Address: Corniche El Nile
E-mail: cairo.grand@hyatt.com
Telephone: +20 2 2365 1234
| The Fish Market |
$$$$$ | Seafood |
Gone are the days of travelling to Alexandria for good fresh
fish. Nowadays, those looking for decent sea fare can book a table
at the Fish Market, situated on the upper deck of a boat
permanently moored on the west bank of the Nile. With no menu and
just a display of some of the freshest fish Cairo has to offer,
diners pay by weight and choose their own fish, shrimp, calamari,
crabs and shellfish which is beautifully prepared by the kitchen as
you like. Couple that with a slew of Middle Eastern salads and
deliciously home baked bread and you have a recipe for success!
Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations advisable.
Address: 26 Shara al-Nil, Giza (on the American Boat)
Telephone: (0)2 570 9694
Overlooking Maydan Sphinx and complete with exquisite woodwork
detailing, the lavish dining area in Kandahar features authentic
Indian furnishings. The food tastes as good as the restaurant looks
- amazing! The
Baingan Bharta (creamy smoked eggplant baked
in a clay oven and perfect for dipping fluffy Naan bread in) is an
absolute must and
Murgh Tikka (spiced chicken kebabs
marinated in yoghurt) is a firm favourite. Service is excellent.
Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations advisable.
Address: 3 Shara Gameat al-Dowal al-Arabiya, Mohandiseen
Telephone: (0)2 303 0615
| Rotisserie Belvedere |
$$$$$ | International |
Marble lines the floors, alabaster lamps adorn the walls and a
piano tinkles in the background inviting diners to twirl across the
marble dance floor. Couple that with an amazing panoramic view over
the city and an inspired menu and you've got a winner. The mushroom
and potato pyramids topped with tomato-mango chutney are delicious,
but the classic meat and seafood grills take the cake. Desserts are
mind blowing and it is advisable to leave a little room for
something sweet. Reservations essential.
Address: Nile Hilton, Maydan Tahrir
Telephone: (0)2 578 0444
| Koshary Abou Tarek |
$$$$$ | Local |
Consistently ranked as one of the most popular restaurants in
Cairo, Koshary Abou Tarek serves up a uniquely Egyptian dish,
koshary (sometimes spelled koshari), best described as an
Egyptian-style chilli, in large portions for prices even the most
budget-conscious travellers will love. As ubiquitous in Egypt as
curry is in India, Koshary is available at nearly any street vendor
in Cairo, but Abou Tarek's koshary is among the best in the
city.
Address: 16 Maarouf, Shamplion Street
E-mail: tarek@aboutraek.com
Telephone: 202 2577 5935
Sleek and sophisticated, the modern lounge of Sequoia would be
right at home in Manhattan or Los Angeles, but it's located in the
Zamalek district of Cairo instead. Serving a blend of Asian,
Italian, and Egyptian cuisine, the eclectic menu includes both
adventurous dishes and safer options for tourists wanting something
familiar. Lebanese and Egyptian meze platters are some of the most
popular dishes. Located on the banks of the river, the lounge has
stunning views of the Nile, and morphs into a posh nightclub at
midnight. Open from 1pm to 2pm.
Address: 53 Abou El Feda Street, Zamalek
Post code: 11211
Telephone: 202 2735 6050
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