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 and jacket but the hotel may provide them. If you don't want to wear tie and jacket go to the Corniche restaurant in the same hotel. Food and service are not faultless at either, 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 as good, using better quality ingredients, albeit without the Sofra's colonial character.

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

For a first class 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) or for a top class meal in an English owned and managed restaurant we prefer Puddleduck to the better-known Lantern.

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 restaurants 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. For a better low cost snack on the East Bank, but without the Nile-side views, we prefer Hamees or Sindbad to the Nile side restaurants. They are next to each other, behind Luxor Temple, not far from McDonalds.

We think it is worth crossing the Nile and trying a restaurant on the West Bank, such as Nile Valley hotel or, if you are happy with a rough and ready small restaurant with unbeatable views, for a drink and very light snack, go to the Nile View.

Fast food

McDonalds is behind Luxor Temple in the centre of town. We prefer Snacktime, 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).