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Cairo, Egypt Hotels and City Guide
Cairo Hotels and Cairo Guide with Cairo maps, top attractions, room reservations and hotel deals at a wide range of the best Cairo hotels
Cairo - Restaurants
Dining - Local Cuisine & Customs
Many traditional Egyptian recipes have travelled from the kitchens of North Africa to tantalise the taste buds of diners all over the world; hummus, tahini, tabouleh and shish kebab are featured in the restaurants of most cities. However, it is always worth sampling the authentic version of international dishes. In Cairo there is an abundance of traditional cuisine prepared with local ingredients. Most daily dishes are meat free and based instead on ful, a brown bean, cooked with garlic and lemon to make the thick, tasty stew mudammas.
Cairo has an enormous number of restaurants, catering to most needs. Cheap food can be found everywhere in street restaurants and snack stalls. The top notch restaurants are often, but not always, found in hotels and Nile boats. The borders between restaurants and cafes are not crystal-clear in the Egyptian capital. In many places it is perfectly acceptable to just have a drink or shisha. Medium and high-range outlets might have a minimum charge. Cheaper restaurants will normally not serve alcohol as well as some more expensive outlets. In general, downtown is good for budget eating, while for higher quality eating you should head to Zamalek, Mohandesin or any of the other more affluent parts of town.
For those with a greater interest in Cairo's culinary life, look for Cairo Dining, a magazine with a half-yearly update of 1000 Cairo restaurants (and places to go out) sorted by price, kind of food and area.
Otlob.com delivers food from a large number of Cairo restaurants, including fast-food places like McDonalds, as well as higher-end places. Otlob is also useful because it offers a list of restaurants by type of food, area, and even covers menus, conveniently all in English. Almost all but the highest quality Cairo restaurants offer delivery or takeout.
Global cuisine is always available in a large variety of city restaurants, but whether you choose local or international flavours it is wise to leave room for a sticky, sweet Egyptian dessert.
Restaurants by Cuisine
Cafe
Naguib Mahfouz Café
Perfect lunchtime stop amidst the bustling Khan al Khalili shopping district. The local appetizers are well worth trying.
5 Sekket al-Badistan, Cairo
Tel: +20 2 590 3788
Café Riche
Something like a museum in itself, this colonial-feel eatery prepares simple dishes while the patrons discuss its past with the maître d’
17 Talaat Harb Street, Cairo
Tel: +20 2 392 9793
Egyptian
Abu Sid
Probably the best place for local cuisine, set in an art deco apartment with marble tables and Warholesque art
157 26th of July Street, Zamalek, Cairo
Tel: +20 2 2735 9640
Citadel View Restaurant
Situated perfectly for panoramic views of the city’s main sights
Al-Azhar Park, Salah Salem Street, Cairo
+20 2 510 9150
Nubian Village
Serenades from wandering minstrels and the sweet scent of fresh bread permeate the restaurants riverside terrace pavilion
Grand Hyatt Hotel, Corniche El Nil, Garden City, Roda Island, Cairo
Tel: +20 2 365 1234
Abou Tarek
Serving only koshari, the filling Egyptian fast food, this is a staple of any visit to Cairo
16 Shamplion Street, Cairo
Tel: +20 2 577 5935
Sequoia
Trendy tented spot on the Nile, serving excellent Egyptian and Lebanese meze
1-3 Abou Feda Street, Zamalek, Cairo
Tel: +20 2 735 0014
French
Justine
Creating classic French cuisine with local ingredients, this is truly the best of both worlds
4 Shara Hassan Sabri, Zamalek, CairoTel: +20 2 341 2961
Steak
Charwood’s
Using the best meat in town, Charwood’s prepares mouth-watering cuts
53 Gameat El Dowal El Arabia St, CairoTel: +20 2 3749 0893
Thai
Bu Khoa
Seasonal food and continually changing specials mean you’re certain of fresh delights
151 Rd. 9, Cairo Tel: +20 2 2358 0126
Tipping
Tipping in Egypt is called baksheesh. In hotels and restaurants a gratuity of between 10% and 15% is the acceptable norm. However, baksheesh is expected for every service. Attendants at Cairo's historical buildings, footwear supervisors in mosques, taxi and camel drivers, baggage handlers and tour assistants will all ask for something extra from those who can afford it. Low wages necessitate this requirement and the working people of Egypt rely on the generosity of visitors. The equivalent of between USD 1.00 and USD 2.00 is an appropriate amount each time.
Hotels in Cairo, Egypt
 |  | InterContinental Cairo CityStarsOmar Ibn El Khattab Street, Cairo, 11737  Hotel DescriptionThe luxurious InterContinental Citystars Cairo is situated adjacent to Cairo's largest retail and leisure complex, Citystars Heliopolis, and is the ideal starting point for tours, sightseeing and enjoying the vibrant life of Cairo'. The... More » |    |  |
|  | Semiramis InterContinentalCorniche el Nil, Garden City, Cairo, 11511 Explore the ancient and enthralling city of Cairo while staying at the Semiramis InterContinental Cairo Hotel. The great Pyramids of Ghiza, the Egyptian Museum, River Nile, Coptic Cairo and many more attractions of the city are just... More » | | |
|  | Four Seasons Cairo 1st Residence35 Giza Street, P.O. Box 663, El Orman, Cairo, 12311 Hotel Description: Further Information About This Hotel Will Be Available Shortly Services / Facilities / Amenities: Bar Restaurant Swimming Pool Gymnasium Sauna Hairdresser Non-Smoking... More » |  | |
|  | Four Seasons Cairo Nile Plaza1089 Corniche EL Nil, P.O. Box 63, Maglis EL Shaab, Garden City, Cairo, 11519 Hotel Description: The New Nile Plaza is a Magnificent, Multi-Use Development, With Upscale Shopping, Private Residences and, of Course, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo At Nile Plaza.Rising Thirty Storeys On the Corniche At the Nile Rivers Widest Point,... More » | | |
 | Corniche El Nil, Garden City Roda Island, Cairo, 2288 |
 | Ring Road, Mirage City, P.O. Box 427, Heliopolis, Cairo, 11757 |
 | El Remaya Square, P.O. Box 25, Pyramids, Cairo, 12561 |
 | Pyramids' Road, Giza, Cairo |
 | 1115 Corniche El Nile, Cairo, Egypt |
 | Galaa Square, P.O. Box 11, Cairo |
| Sheraton Heliopolis Hotel Towers and Casino Uruba Street Heliopolis Cairo Egypt |
 | 3 El Tayaran Street, P.O. Box 9039, Nasr City, Cairo |
 | 2 El Gezira El Wosta Street,Cairo  |
| Hilton Cairo World Trade Centre Residence 1191 Courniche El Nile Street, Cairo, Egypt |
| 51 El Orouba Street, Heliopolis, Cairo, 2466 |
 | Sofitel Cairo Maadi Towers & Casino Cornish El Nil, Maadi, Po Box 217, 11431 Cairo, Egypt |
 | Ext. 26th Of July St., 0 Cairo, Egypt |
| Po Box 8 Cairo Airport, 11776 Cairo, Egypt |
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