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Aswan’s independent eateries serve Egyptian food with a Nubian flair. Other cuisines are found in hotel restaurants. The variable city tax on restaurants, combined with service charges, can total as much as 26%. Check menus to verify how each restaurant operates. Unless you are in a major hotel, consider tipping even if a service charge is included in the bill: waiters are not well paid, and the courtesy will be appreciated. If service is not charged, 10%–15% is a reasonable tip. And one more thing: Bring cash; most local restaurants take nothing else. As a rule, most hotel restaurants are open to the general public. Reservations are recommended at all hotel restaurants.
Don your best outfit (casual wear isn't allowed) and have a seat in the red-and-white, keyhole-arched dining room, originally opened in 1902 for dignitaries to celebrate the inauguration of the Aswan Dam. The atmosphere is unforgettable, and the French-inspired menu is heavy on seafood.
Abeer does a roaring trade in barbecued meats, as evidenced by the inevitable (but fast-moving) line. Meals come with sides of rice, salad, and soup, and the staff is friendly and helpful even if there's a language barrier.
The food at this part-café part-restaurant won't knock your socks off, but if you're in the area, the Nile-side view and the laid-back atmosphere are worth pulling up a chair. The menu covers the Egyptian standards and throws in some international dishes as well.
Step off the pedestrianized market street and into this small restaurant for fresh seafood. Take your pick of the catch, and the staff will tell you the price and cook it how you like it.
Escape the Downtown bustle with a meal stop at this refuge from the rigors of the market. The menu is a parade of the usual suspects, primarily grilled meats, and the service is good.
Dig your toes into the sand at this gorgeous restaurant that's painted in bright colors and dishes up Nubian delights. It specializes in tagine dishes, which are slow-cooked in large clay pots.
Overlooking a bend on Gharb Soheil's busy market street, this rooftop restaurant offers a bird's-eye view of the action while you enjoy your lunch. The friendly staff will help you translate the menu, or you can just opt for the juicy chicken that comes with plenty of sides.
Makka serves such local fare as grilled meats and molokheya (a thick, green, often garlicky soup made with jute leaves). As usual, dishes are accompanied by plenty of small plates.
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