Restaurants in Cairo
Downtown is best for local restaurants, especially Egypt's famous koshary, made with macaroni, black lentils and garlic sauce, at Abou Tarek. Along the Nile around Zamalek and Gezira are huge houseboats with plush restaurants like El Morocco. Most restaurants favour Middle Eastern cuisine, with international cuisine at top hotel restaurants like Japanese Sapporo Teppanyaki in Doqqi. Upmarket restaurants are open until after midnight. Smart dress and reservations are recommended. Service charge is usually included, but add an extra 10% cash for waiters.
Abu el-Sid
Sophisticated Egyptian cuisine
With Oriental decor of mosaic floors, upholstered ornate chairs and stone
walls, Abu el-Sid in Zamalek is loved by fashionable locals. Sophisticated
Egyptian dishes include chicken in walnut sauce, meatballs with molokheya
(green herb) and stuffed pigeon with rice. Save room for the om aly
(traditional pudding) with mixed nuts.
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Opening Hours
Daily 1pm-1am
Address
157, Sharia 26 July, Zamalek, Cairo
Telephone
+20 (0) 2 2735 9640
Sapporo Teppanyaki
Sumptuous sushi
Sapporo Teppanyaki, in the Sheraton Cairo Hotel in Doqqi, has outstanding
Japanese cuisine. Its huge menu contains excellent sushi and sashimi, or the
indecisive should try the teppan special of several courses. Decor is
unfussy and contemporary, diners are wealthy locals, and you will be
mesmerised watching the chef create dishes on the grill.
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Opening Hours
Daily 12pm-10pm
Address
Sheraton Cairo Hotel, Midan Galae, Doqqi, Cairo
Telephone
+20 (0)2 33369700
Revolving Restaurant
Revolving city views
The floor-to-ceiling windows on the Grand Hyatt's 41st floor take in views of
pyramids and the old city, revolving fully in 75 minutes. Not that it
detracts from the food. French cuisine includes pan-fried rib-eye steak or
lobster, followed by creme brulee or roasted peach. Smart dress and
reservations are essential. Ask for a window table.
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Opening Hours
Daily 7pm-1am
Address
Corniche El Nile, Garden City, Roda Island, Cairo
Telephone
+20 (0) 2 2365 1234
El Morocco
Floating Moroccan restaurant
El Morroco is one of several restaurants on board the Blue Nile boat,
floating on the Nile at Gezira. Sink into plump cushions for sumptuous
Moroccan mezzes and lamb tagine. Later on, the restaurant transforms into a
smart and popular nightspot for wealthy well-groomed locals. Reservations
are strongly recommended.
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Opening Hours
Daily 8pm-3am
Address
Blue Nile Boat, 9A, Saraya al-Gezira, Cairo
Telephone
+20 (0) 2 2735 3114
Maison Thomas
Sleek Italian bistro
Clean and sleekly decorated with high ceilings and solid wooden floors,
Maison Thomas is a popular bistro in Cairo's Zamalek area. On the menu are
Italy's most famous dishes, including pizza, lasagne, cannelloni and
generously filled panini. Take a seat at a table or call for delivery, day
or night.
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Opening Hours
Daily all day
Address
157, 26th of July Street , Zamalek, Cairo
Telephone
+20 (0) 2 27357057
Transport
Metro to Nasser
Fish Market
Seafood served simply
On board the Americana Boat, moored at Giza, Fish Market is an unpretentious
and very popular seafood restaurant with no menu, just freshly-caught fish
and shellfish. Everything is simply steamed, grilled or fried, accompanied
by fresh salads. The Nile views are unbeatable, especially at night. It's a
good late-night dining spot. Reservations are recommended.
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Opening Hours
Daily 12pm-3am
Address
26, Shariah el-Nil, Giza, Cairo
Telephone
+20 (0) 2 3570 9693
Transport
Taxi to Midan al-Gamaa
Andrea Mariotteya
Garden spit-roast feasting
Popular after a visit to the nearby pyamids at Giza (and filled with families
in the evenings), Andrea Mariotteya is famed for its spit-roast chicken. Its
real gem is the tree-filled garden, a peaceful retreat from the city's
noise. Start with traditional mezzes and tuck into roasted or char-grilled
tender meat, eaten with your fingers.
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Opening Hours
Daily 11am-11pm
Address
59-60, Qanaat Maryoteyya, Saqqara, Cairo
Telephone
+20 (0) 2 3383 1133
Transport
Taxi
Estoril
Old-time elegance amid local artists
A real favourite with locals, unpretentious Estoril is tucked away in a
Downtown alleyway and serves traditional Egyptian cuisine, plus some
Lebanese dishes. The ambience is old-time elegance and walls are covered
with paintings of upcoming local artists. Come for mezze and a beer, or a
full-blown dinner.
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Opening Hours
Daily 1pm-1am
Address
12, Sharia Talaat Harb, Cairo
Telephone
+20 (0) 2 2574 3102
Transport
Metro to Sadat
Abou Tarek
Local Egyptian favourite
Locals crowd through the doors of Abou Tarek Downtown to sample Egypt's
national dish koushary. Although sold throughout the city, the
much-loved dish combining macaroni, rice, black lentils, chick peas, garlic
sauce and fried onions, has made this a landmark restaurant. Informal, busy
and noisy, this is a local culinary experience worth queuing for.
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Opening Hours
Daily 8am-12am
Address
16, Shariah al Shamplion, Cairo
Telephone
+20 (0) 2 2577 5935
