Restaurants in Luxor - overview

Evening meal

For a special occasion go to the 1886 restaurant in the Old Winter Palace. Men have to wear tie or jacket. Food and service are not faultless, but go early, enjoy the Victoria Lounge and Royal Bar as well as the meal for an evening of opulence.

Go to Sofra, near the station, for a good, cheap egyptian meal in colonial surroundings or to Jewel of the Nile for an egyptian meal that is at least as good, using better quality ingredients, albeit without the Sofra's colonial character.

For 'western' quality with economy Maximes and Ritz are hard to beat. For mid-range prices with international choices from several food cultures, including egyptian, and excellent presentation, we suggest King Tut: basement and quiet but a pleasant surprise when you are there.

For a really good meal, without the opulence of the Old Winter Palace but with top class food and service, we choose Snobs, in El Roda El Sharefa St, opposite the Lotus hotel (just past the Sonesta).

Lunch and snacks

For a snack in town you have a choice of five Nile-side restaurants and a bowling club along the lower corniche, a few restaurants around the market and a group of restautants behind the temple.

If you want a Nile-side meal on the East Bank we have a marginal preference for El Kababgy, opposite the Old Winter Palace, but none of them is particularly good or good value. We think it is worth crossing the Nile and trying a restaurant on the West Bank, such as the Abu Ali.

For a better low cost snack on the East Bank, but without the Nile-side views, we prefer Hammes or Sindbad to the Nile side restaurants. They are next to each other, behind Luxor Temple, between McDonalds and the Swiss Inn (formerly the Mercure Inn).

Fast food

McDonalds is behind Luxor Temple in the centre of town. We prefer Snack Time, almost next door. More variety, excellent prices, more recently fitted out and excellent views.

At the other end of town Pizza Hut and KFC are together by the roundabout just beyond the Isis hotel. There are plenty of other (many would say better) local pizza restaurants, especially along Television Street (click for a map).