The best bars and cafés Egypt

The great institution of cafes and beer bars, a few steps from Tahrir Square, the National Museum and the Museum of Islamic Arts. Here all social classes cross and in Cairo, it's rare. From the diplomat to the taxi driver to the provincial student, they all mix without judging each other. Milad, the gritty bartender who throws beers like you would roll the dice, is a cult figure downtown. A cartridge hole in a window reminds us that the bloody hours of the 2011 Revolution are not so far away.

The most photogenic and at the same time comfortable of the Khan. You are greeted by a statue of the Egyptian icon Umm Khalsoum. In the velvet armchairs, you are watched by amusing portraits of celebrities like the Mona Lisa, depicted smoking perhaps not very legal substances. On the house in front of you, child sized puppets complete this unique theatrical atmosphere. Here you can drink homemade juices or Turkish coffee, just like at home, listening to the sounds that have marked the country.

An incredible terrace, perched high above the Nile, facing Elephantine Island. A superb bar where Agatha Christie, like the world's greatest, used to drink her cocktails... This Sofitel, aptly described as "a Victorian palace built in the ^19th century on a pink granite rock", is a superb address and the ideal place to watch the sun set over the Nile, with the rustle of palm fronds in the background. The break may be a little pricey, but it's well worth it!

The Camel Bar is the meeting place of Naama Bay. "Three bars in one", on the terrace, lounge or on the roof, to have a drink, follow a match or a concert. The bar welcomes bands, but also offers to give you the microphone during karaoke sessions.... Catering is possible. One of the best atmospheres in the city.

Enjoy a sunset on the terrace, or relax and admire the view from the roof. The three bars serve full menus of dinners and drinks, including cocktails and shooters.

The institution was once frequented by Prince Hassan, great-grandson of Khedive Ismail. The place does not lack charm. The entrance, with its wood panelling and arches, is reminiscent of the local British pubs. The clientele is older than usual. One crosses as many Egyptians as Westerners. Good atmosphere, relaxed. You can also eat there very well, even if there is not much choice. Steak dishes seem to be the best choice, but the place also offers dishes of the day. The large bar is well stocked.

Beautiful place decorated with pictures of King Farouk, but also of the presidents who succeeded him. It is a café full of history that has a special place in the hearts of the inhabitants. King Farouk himself came here in 1952 before the Revolution, so much so that this café is part of Alexandria's heritage! People come here to drink coffee or mint tea and smoke chicha to the notes of a nostalgic soundtrack. Popular atmosphere that unites several generations: you have to come at least once, if only to live a local experience.

A drink at the Marriott is the best way to console yourself for not having booked a hotel suite. The bar, set up in the open air in the garden, is really very pleasant. In front of the hotel's swimming pool, the service there is quite slow. Hundreds of tables are set up all along the length of the building. The minimum charge is 200 LE. We go there to have a drink, but also to nibble some mezze, under one of the parasols set up to protect you from the sun. The waiters do everything to satisfy the customers, rather smart of the hotel.

This café nestles under a canopy of which only the iron frame remains. It can be reached via a bottleneck coming from Mancheya Square, just past the corner of Ahmed Orabi Square. The place is off-beat, located in the inner courtyard of what must have been a chic building with Italian decor, of which we can still see some stucco cornices. Since then, this bellydance café has given another form of authenticity to the place. Finding it is a bit of a treasure hunt, so the best way is to ask the shops and restaurants around.

A mythical establishment founded in 1908. Its cellar connected to tunnels served as a hideout for many revolutionaries who wanted to put an end to the English occupation. In the 1950s, it became an intellectual mecca, where journalists, politicians and spies met! Black and white photos and outdated costumes of the waiters accentuate this journey through time. You can smoke there without being smoked. Mezze, fries and salads to accompany the beer. The service is quite slow, however, so don't be in a hurry when you go there.

Located not far from the museum in a 1920 building of colonial style, the Oasis Café Luxor is the ideal place to enjoy a good coffee and a small snack in a relaxed atmosphere with a well-chosen musical background. You can also enjoy local and European dishes in a more sophisticated atmosphere.

Formerly the restaurant of the financiers of the stock exchange, nice atmosphere in this troquet, with walls covered with photos and pictures from archives, where you can drink a cold beer while nibbling good little mezze and fried squid. A cosy and cosy setting, a bit nostalgic with its period tiles and old-fashioned photos hanging on the walls: an astonishing journey into the past. Interlope address sought after on Thursdays and Fridays. The place to go out but not before 10 pm, the time when Alexandrian nights begin.

This small café (which also doubles as a restaurant) is the ideal place to take a break in the heat of the day during your visit to Luxor. Although the decor is a little basic, its vast windows offer a breathtaking view of Luxor temple. The second floor is air-conditioned, while the fourth floor is not, but offers an even better view. Khaled will welcome you with a huge smile. What's more, the cardamom kawa is delicious - what more could you ask for? Other cafés of similar standing adjoin it, but it's here that you're best received!

Located in the green Maadi, the founders Hoda, Rana and Nadia decided to create this space to provide interested people a place where art can be enjoyed and artists a place to flourish. The Café organizes multiple artistic workshops for adults and children (painting, mosaic, jewelry making, photography, woodworking...). It also offers a place where you can simply drop by to buy or sell art. The Café promotes a family atmosphere to please both children and parents.

Très Bon is a chain of cafés and restaurants whose owner, Seif Bakr, has opened several branches. The food is varied, from Egyptian and Oriental to Italian and international. A variety of pastries are available to accompany your cappuccino once you've finished your chicha. A varied choice of chichas is also available. The address also boasts an attractive terrace. No alcohol is served, but fresh juices and hot drinks are available. Popular with the youth of Heliopolis.

More than just a chic shisha café, the Café Naguib Mahfouz was opened to pay tribute to the writer and emblematic figure of Egyptian intellectual circles. Located in the heart of Khan el Kahlili, this commemorative venue is a pleasant place to be. The paintings by Naguib Mahfouz on the walls, the titles of his books engraved on wood, the arabesque decor, the comfortable seating areas and a selection of hot and cold oriental drinks invite you to more than just a snack. It's a pleasant place to spend some time, even if it quickly becomes crowded.

Coffee to chicheño very frequented by the youth of Doqqi and Mohandessin. No alcohol.

Chicha bar overlooking the Nile, facing Mohandessin. Well frequented. This café, which has no particular charm, is part of a chain that has opened all over the country. However, its location has an interesting feature. As well as overlooking the Nile, it's just a few meters from the statue of Oum Keltoum and her home, now a hotel. This tribute is dedicated to the singer who, with each of her radio appearances, moved the hearts of an entire population.

The mythical café of the Islamic city, where Naguib Mahfouz, who won the Nobel Prize in 1988, and other writers and thinkers, like Gamal El Ghitani, liked to come. Now a tourist hotspot, it's a must for hawkers selling all sorts of artefacts. If you can, stop by in the morning, when it's still quiet. Also known as the Café des Miroirs for its many ice creams. Despite the Khan's narrow, winding streets, the café is easy to find, if you ask for directions from the al-Hussein mosque.

A unique address in Cairo, for its decoration, and its chichas served while listening to the diva... It is located on Orabi Street, in the centre of Cairo, opposite the "Cairo" cinema, which used to be a theatre. A café that the diva used to visit when she gave a performance at the theatre. It was during one of these visits that the owner of the café, then called Café Tawfik, negotiated with Oum Keltoum to use his name as a sign to pay tribute to him. This was in 1948, and since then the name of the queen of oriental music has resonated throughout the world.

This little address, whose real name is El Mahalawy Viagra Juice, is a real institution in Dahab, for locals and discerning tourists alike! The juices are ultra-fresh, with a wide range of tastes, from the most classic to the most surprising: mango, guava, strawberry, banana and also avocado or "Viagra Special", the avocado-banana-kiwi-date-nut-arugula mix, an energy booster we particularly recommend! Enjoy it at any time of day or night, strolling around the marina or on the little terrace, where you're sure to meet some friendly people!