josele

Please recommend me some good restaurants in Cairo, mainly local food. Budget is not a problem. Some tip on wines?

Casual_Cairo

What area of town will you be in?

RESTAURANTS
Abu el Sid is a good one and there are 3 branches of it. One in Zamalek, one at City Stars and one in Maadi.

Felfella isn't bad, although I feel it is overrated as a restaurant - while their take away area is GREAT! One downtown and two out near the pyramids.

Andreas is one of my favorites for BBQ chicken and pigeon. One out near the pyramids is best.

If you want the best Kosheri - try to get to Hind in Heliopolis.

I stay away from the 5* hotel Egyptian restaurants. Something they do to the falafel (tamayia) turns it into more of a hockey puck than a taste treat. Having said that, there are some good dishes at the Naguib Mafouz restaurnt, but most of them are listed under Khan Specialties on the menu.

WINE
Stay away from the Obelisque wine except to take home strictly for the label. It probably has the most attractive labels of any of them, but the wine leaves a lot to be desired.
The two best IMHO are the Cape Bay wines. Both red and white are made with South African grapes and are quite decent.
All the others are something you have to try yourself and decide on. Cape Bay will always be a winner. Obelisque will always be a looser. Even Omar Kayam is OK, especially after the first or second bottle of Cape Bay.

Grcxx3

Debbie - is Ptolemy wine still around? That one ALWAYS gave me a headache. I think I used to drink the white Obelisk because it was the best available (SCARY THOUGHT!) when we lived there. I tried the Cape Bay ones last fall......quite nice!

Casual_Cairo

is Ptolemy wine still around?

Not one I'm familar with. Sounds like something I don't need to make friends with anyway.

josele

Thanks for the information. I shall be staying at Ramses Hilton, it is by the Nile, behind the Cairo Museum.

Casual_Cairo

The Ramses Hilton is not the best location for getting out and getting food as you are pretty well trapped on an island in the middle of too many busy roads to cross, but if you will take a taxi you can get over to Zamalek easily for Abu Sid, or downtown for the Felfella take away.

josele

Thanks again. I have read in tripadvisor several good coments on this hotel's restaurants, we may try them.

josele

Needless to say that we'll try your recommendations, too.

lisa1420

Our favourite restaurant is Taboulleh and it is in Garden City close to the Candian Embassy.

Yummy middle eastern food. Chicken shish, tabouli, sujek(sausages) and hommus!

Yummy,,,but make a reservation for dinner.

josele

I returned from Cairo a couple of days ago, and am writing this as a trip report.
I stayed in the Ramses Hilton hotel. Tripadvisor states its restaurants are very good, but I had no occassion to use them. First night we went to the Naguib Mahfoud Cafe, linked to the Khan Khalili restaurant, we booked and enjoyed very much. 70 eur for four. The meet was overcooked. Casseroles were fine.
Next evening we were told that downtown Felfella was closed, so took a taxi (short drive) to Abou Shoukra, totally local, incredibly tasty appetizers and then Kefta, overcooked as well. We enjoyed it, for less than 70 eur. No alcohol in these places.
I have tasted the Obelisk, several bottles during the cruise and found it okay, 2007 Chardonnay. But drank Omar Khayyam on two occasions and found it too strong.