Egypt is known for mummies, pharaohs, pyramids, and world-famous tourist attractions. Undoubtedly, these hotspots are unique and a must-visit. But you know what else is great?  Local Egyptian food! There are hundreds of cafes across the country that serve a wide variety of cuisines. You will be spoiled for choices when it comes to cafes in Egypt.

I like cafes over restaurants because not only do they offer a variety of food, but they don’t burn a hole in your pocket either. Also, you need not spend a lot of time here, unlike many restaurants. You can have a quick meal in the middle of the day and get going.

Finding good cafes in Egypt can be challenging as it is a huge country, and there are so many to choose from! It’s just a waste of time when you only have a limited amount of it. You have to  do other things in the country too, isn’t it? I visited a few cafes on my solo trip and would like to take you through some of these. While you might not have the time to check out all of them, you can bookmark this blog for later to visit the ones you like at your convenience.

1. Naguib Mahfouz Café

Address: 5 El Baddistan Lane, Khan el-Khalili, Cairo

Timings: 11:00 AM to 12:00 midnight every day except Thursdays and Fridays (closes at 1:00 AM on Thursdays and Fridays)

After your shopping session at Khan el-Khalili, you can stop at Naguib Mahfouz Café for mouth-watering Middle Eastern dishes. The café is air-conditioned and has good music playing in the background. Some of the tastiest food items they serve are pita with various sauces, beef, and chicken kebabs. You can also choose from a variety of milkshakes and desserts.

2. The Platform

Address: Corniche El Maadi, Cairo

Timings: 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM every day

Located on the Nile, 500 metres from the HSBC Building, is an alfresco café named The Platform. It is usually jam-packed because they serve all the meals – breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks, dinner, and late-night snacks. The food is fantastic, and their service is quick. They offer almost everything, from fast food, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, to Egyptian dishes. Do not forget to wrap up your visit with some sweets!

3. Beano’s Café

Address: 14-16 Mossadak, Ad Doqi, Dokki, Giza Governorate

Timings: 7:00 AM to 12:30 AM every day

This is another famous café that has its branches all around the country. I visited the one in Giza. However, you can check out any local branch located in other parts of Egypt, like Cairo and Alexandria. They have a variety of interesting food items to choose from. Make sure that you finish your meal with a cup of coffee, as they have some of the best coffee in town. The staff is quick, and the friendly ambience ensures that you have a great time here.

4. Oldish

Address: 20 Mohammed Mahmoud Downtown, Cairo

Timings: 8:00 AM to 12:00 midnight every day

This café has the most extensive menu I have seen at any place in Egypt! They classify themselves as a restaurant and a café as well, so you can have a full-blown meal here. If you prefer having a quick-bite instead, you will not have to spend more than five dollars. That’s how cheap it is! However, the quality and taste of the food are excellent. After your meal, make sure to grab a pastry that they’re famous for.

5. El Fishawi

Address: Midan Hussein, Cairo

Timings: Open all day, every day!

This café is mainly known for its relaxed and ancient vibes. They offer cuisines from all around the world, so a lot of tourists visit the cafe. It is open at all times and every day of the week. And if you have late-night cravings, you know where to go! You should check out this quaint and quirky place if you want some fantastic teas with shisha.

6. Cake Café

Address: Al-Sheikh Al-Marsafi, Omar Al Khayam, Zamalek

Timings: 8:00 AM to 12:00 midnight every day

As the name suggests, Cake Café is known for serving all kinds of desserts. The pastries are usually served straight out of the oven. But even otherwise, they’re fresh. Do try out their cakes! They are homemade, and I swear they are unlike any other that you will taste. I tried out the rainbow cake, and it was so darn good!

7. Café Greco

Address: 64 Road 9, Maadi Al Khabiri Ash Sharqeyah, Maadi, Cairo Governorate

Timings: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM every day except Thursdays and Fridays (closes at 12:00 midnight on Thursdays and Fridays)

This is one of the most decorated cafes I have visited in Egypt. Also, the views of the city are amazing from here, thanks to the alfresco seating. If you prefer to sit indoors, you can enjoy the little details in the art. They mainly offer beverages with some snacks, all of which are very affordable. It really helps when you are travelling on a budget and want to have some good food at a famous cafe. Make sure that you visit this place at least once to grab a cup of tea or coffee. You will not regret it! 

8. Bocelli Café & Restaurant

Address: 1229, El Sheikh Aly Gad El Haq Street, Heliopolis, Cairo

Timings: 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM every day

If you like fancy cafes and restaurants, this is the place to be at! They have a very cosy atmosphere, and the staff is friendly. While they do not offer many unique dishes, the quality of the food that they offer is worth mentioning. Good food, great ambience, and fantastic service are the highlights of this café. You should surely visit this place if you are looking out for these things.

9. Farsha Café

Address: Sharm Al-Sheikh, South Sinai Governorate

Timings: 11:00 AM to 12:00 midnight every day

Located near El Fanar Beach, the views from this café are absolutely stunning. Unlike any other place, you will have to sit on the floor as there are no chairs. It might sound uncomfortable, but it really isn’t because there are mattresses all around. Further, the food is delicious, and the location of the café makes it all the more enjoyable. The whole experience is truly unique!

10. Espresso Lab

Address: Maadi as Sarayat Al Gharbeyah, Maadi, Cairo Governorate

Timings: 8:00 AM to 1:00 AM every day except Mondays (opens at 7:00 AM on Mondays)

As the name suggests, this place is famous for its coffee. They serve some of the most delicious desserts (try out their hot chocolate!) and snacks for affordable rates. The cafe is work-friendly, so you can get done with some work if you wish to. I’d say Expresso Lab is the perfect place to grab a cup of coffee in the morning to start off your day.

11. Café Riche

Address: 17 Talaat Harb, Bab Al Louq, Cairo Governorate

Timings: 9:30 AM to 12:30 AM every day

Café Riche is one of Cairo’s oldest and most renowned landmarks, which first opened more than one hundred years ago. However, this gem has lost its popularity due to increasing competition. Nonetheless, they serve many cuisines, including authentic local foods that are drool-worthy! They also offer alcoholic beverages and desserts. If you want to have a historical experience while enjoying good food, you MUST visit this cafe!

12. Brazilian Coffee Stores

Address: Al Mesallah Sharq, Al Attarin, Alexandria

Timings: Open all day, every day!

Brazilian coffee is a huge coffee store chain, and there are multiple outlets located across the country. Its menu is primarily centred around coffee, and they are great at it! But you can also try out their desserts and bread, both of which are delicious. The place is compact, and people don’t spend a lot of time here. Due to this, their service is quick. This is the perfect place to visit in the morning, grab a cup of coffee and start your day in Alexandria.

13. Café Corniche

Address: Corniche El Nil, Semiramis InterContinental Cairo, Cairo

Timings: Open all day, every day!

Located inside the five-star hotel InterContinental Cairo, it is one of the fanciest cafes you will see in the country. The best part is that it is open all day, so you can walk in whenever you want to grab a quick meal. There is a lot to choose from, as they offer a wide variety of cuisines. So try visiting Corniche if you’re in its surrounding area. Be it for a tart or mousse cake with coffee, or for sandwiches with a cup of tea!

14. WANTED

Address: Degla Maadi 233, Maadi, Cairo Governorate

Timings: 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM every day

This is a well-decorated café with artistic woodwork. It has a cosy atmosphere and a chilled vibe. The soothing yellow lights surely add to that. If you have a sweet tooth, then heading to this cafe is the best thing you can do for your tummy! Also, everything is moderately priced here, so you won’t be burning holes in your pocket!

15. Pottery Café

Address: Om Kolthoum Tower Hotel, 5 Abou El Feda, Zamalek

Timings: Open all day, every day!

If you ever plan on coming to Zamalek for some souvenir shopping, make sure that you visit Pottery Café at least once. There is a huge seating space, and you can choose between indoors and outdoors. There is a lot to choose from as they serve all kinds of food, from snacks, meals to desserts. You can also choose from a variety of shishas that are reasonably priced.

16. Hookah

Address: 116 El-Sayed El-Merghany, Almazah, Heliopolis, Cairo Governorate

Timings: Open all day, every day!

If you want to try out shisha in Cairo, then this is the place to be at! It is famous amongst the youth of the country as they offer shishas at a very affordable rate. Also, the food is delicious, which makes the whole experience much better. It is open all day, so you can walk in at any time of the day for snacks or shisha. The service is quick, and the staff is amiable.

If you have never smoked shisha or want to learn about the experience in Cairo, click here.

17. 55 Restaurant & Café

Address: 9, Maadi, Cairo Governorate

Timings: 12:00 noon to 3:00 AM every day

Located on a busy corner in Maadi, this place is massive! It has more than six different types of seating areas, including indoors and outdoors. As the name suggests, it is both a café and a restaurant. So, there are many items to choose from. Of course, all of this would be useless if the food isn’t good. But it’s excellent! You can visit this place for a quick bite, a full-blown meal, or to try out their shishas.

18. Costa Coffee

Address: Gazirat Mit Oqbah, Agouza, Giza Governorate

Timings: 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM every day

They have many branches all around the country, and I visited the one in Agouza. The interiors of the café are some of the best I have seen in the country! Once you visit the café, you might think that it is an expensive one. But you can’t be further from the truth. A cup of coffee costs less than a dollar, and you can fill your tummy in a couple. That’s all it takes! It is a pretty popular café, so you can expect a bit of crowd here.

19. Beano’s Café

Address: 509 Road 9, Beside National Societe Generale Bank, Cairo

Timings: 8:00 AM to 12:00 midnight every day

This is easily one of the most popular cafes in the area. Because of this, you can see a huge crowd here. If you don’t mind that, this is a great place to visit. They offer lip-smacking food, and the area is very clean too. I think it is a perfect place to grab a quick meal and get going on your day tour. Make sure that you try out their scrambled eggs and coffee. They’re SO good! 

20. L Passage

Address: 52 El-Horeya Road, 52 Fouad, Al Attarin Sharq, Alexandria

Timings: 7:30 AM to 1:00 AM every day

This is one of the most popular cafes in Alexandria and for good reasons. It is located on a busy street, which is why it attracts many locals and tourists. They offer a wide variety of cuisines, like Italian, Lebanese, Japanese, Continental, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Asian, Japanese, and many others. Even though it is a café, there is a huge seating area. The food is tasty and reasonably priced too, which makes this place a must-visit!

Which ones are you planning to visit?

Those were some of the best cafes that you should visit for great food and shisha in Egypt. I think great cafes with shisha are one of the many reasons you should visit Egypt. I swear most of whatever you are going to try from the list will be great, just like it was for me. So, let me know about your experiences and favourite cafes in Egypt. I would love to hear it!