Cairo - Food & Drink
Feast on Cairo's favourite street food like flavoursome koshary with lentils, onions and rice, or recline on plump cushions along the Nile while puffing on a sheesha after a multitude of mezes.
Hearty: Downtown
Downtown's glut of eateries around Midan Talaat Harb are busy and good value, and the best place to sample local dishes like ful medames (garlicky broad beans), bamya (tangy okra) and, naturally, koshary. There's no need to dress up for these hearty meals.
Earthy: Khan-el-Khalili
Nothing fancy here, but the ahwas (tea houses) like famous Fishawi's are perfect for a people-watching shai bi na'aneh mint tea. Food stalls dole up a tasty ta'amiya (falafel sandwich) during a lunch break from bartering in the market.
Swanky: Zamalek
Scattered around embassy land, affluent Zamalek has international dining for its moneyed residents like pasta, kimchi (spicy Korean) and sushi, especially in its top hotels. Not that home cuisine is ignored - high-end Egyptian restaurants as well as top-class patisseries are popular.
Dining Tips
As with all Muslim societies, stick to the right hand for touching food, as the left is considered unclean. Alcohol is only served in upmarket restaurants and hotels, with less still available during Ramadan. During that month, many Downtown eateries are closed all day, so head for top hotels or Zamalek for lunch. Stick to bottled water, and opt for (ice-free) freshly-squeezed fruit juice instead of unknown diluted soft drinks at street stalls.
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