• A dish of hummus with olive oil, ringed by tomatoes and limes, on a wooden table.

    The tables of Tunis village

    Farm cooking served in the guesthouses, above the lake.

    FayoumTunis village, Fayoum

    €€ Mid-rangeWhere locals go
  • Whole fish grilled over charcoal, held in a grilling basket.

    Lake Timsah fish

    Bass, mullet and prawns from the lake, served beside the Suez Canal.

    The Delta and the north coastIsmailia

    €€ Mid-rangeWhere locals go
  • Trawlers moored at dusk

    Suez's fish tables

    Off the beaten track

    Red Sea fish at its northern entrance, far from the resorts.

    The Delta and the north coastPort Tewfik, Suez

    €€ Mid-rangeWhere locals go
  • A platter of fried seafood: whole prawns, squid and a lemon wedge.

    The tables of Ras el-Bar

    Fish and prawns at the point where the Nile meets the sea.

    The Delta and the north coastRas el-Bar, Damietta

    €€ Mid-rangeSea view
  • Two whole grilled fish on a pewter dish, with lemon wedges.

    The tables of Marsa Alam

    Few addresses, plenty of fish: the southern Red Sea's table.

    Marsa Alam & the Red SeaMarsa Alam

    €€ Mid-rangeWhere locals go
  • Two hands cut into a tomato-topped toast beside a glass of beer on a dark table.

    Amphitryon

    A Greek brasserie in Heliopolis, open since between the wars.

    CairoHeliopolis

    €€ Mid-rangeHistoric venue
  • A large platter of yellow rice topped with kofta skewers, chicken and grilled meats, ringed with small bowls of sauces.

    The tables of Nasr City

    The district where you eat at any hour: grills, Yemeni, Syrian, fast food.

    CairoNasr City

    €€ Mid-rangeFamily-friendly
  • Two bowls of dates and prayer beads, set side by side

    Ramadan iftar tables

    Our favourite

    A month when the city eats at the same minute, and the streets become dining rooms.

    CairoAll over Cairo

    €€ Mid-rangeWhere locals go
  • A margherita pizza on a wooden table, tomatoes and garlic beside it.

    Kiki's

    Pizzas and pasta in the heart of El Gouna's Downtown, at reasonable prices.

    HurghadaEl Gouna

    €€ Mid-rangeFamily-friendly
  • Rows of grilled minced-meat fingers on the grill, in the smoke.

    The tables of Ras Sudr

    Fish and grills on the Gulf of Suez coast, two hours from Cairo.

    SinaiRas Sudr, Sinai

    €€ Mid-rangeSea view
  • Two milky coffees in glasses, on white trays at a café table.

    The tables of Maadi

    The leafy southern district, its terraces and its international dining.

    CairoMaadi

    €€ Mid-rangeFamily-friendly
  • A mezze table in small silver bowls

    Cairo's Lebanese tables

    Mezze, grills and fatteh: the foreign cuisine most firmly settled in Egypt.

    CairoZamalek, Mohandessin, Tagamoa

    €€ Mid-rangeVegan options