The SceneEats Ramadan 2021 Guide
New Ramadan, who dis? Last year may or may not have been a ‘recommended’ experience, but this year, options are being served and things are looking up...like literally, there’s a fanoos everywhere.
Whether you’re a socially distanced kween who never leaves home, a bad chef that can’t cook to save their lives or you honestly want to just wear your fav kaftan and go with your sohour posse somewhere, there’s something for everyone here. We give you the only spots worth trying this Ramadan in the capital. Periodt.
IFTARS & SOHOURS
Lebanese iftar at Ayadina
Wear your fav kaftan, get your Insta story game ready and experience the closest thing you can have to a kheima in these new trying times that we live in. Each restaurant below offers something new to the table that will guarantee a yaas-inducing iftar/sohour.
ZED PARK’S LAYALINA // SHEIKH ZAYED
Because obvs! ZED Park proves once again that it is the park to end all parks with their Layalina kheima, which is shaping up to be the IT spot for anything iftar or sohour this Ramadan, thanks to their endless buffet of nomnomnom classics and live entertainment.
Phone: +2 0150 131 3157
Address: Zed Park, Sheikh Zayed
The National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation - inaugurated on April 3rd 2021 with the arrival of 22 mummies during the Pharaohs’ Golden Parade - is hosting a series of sumptuous iftars and sohours throughout Ramadan as part of their new Mawlay experience.
Phone: NA
Address: The National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation
The Asian-Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant will be offering a special Ramadan set menu that exudes fancy and only that. Think wara2 enab with quinoa and fattah with truffles. If you feel like you’re going to miss their actual menu though, worry not because they’ll still be serving it.
Phone: +2 0120 762 6099
Address: Korba Street, 10 Ramses, El-Montaza, Heliopolis
LABASH // NEW CAIRO, 6TH OF OCTOBER
Labash are still going to have their mashrama as is if you’re worried, but they are also going all our for sohour with their Qedra offering. What’s that, you say? Basically, you get an actual qedra for sohour where you feed yourself foul from. If that’s not the dream, we don’t know what is.
Phone: NA
Address: New Cairo’s Point 90 Mall / 6th of October’s Mall of Egypt
The infamous taco truck is turning into a full-blown sohour tent and serving only the classics - and we’re living. Almost everything Mexican item on their menu is going to vanish, but they will have pico de gallo foul and Churros Om Ali. Oh, and instead of having baladi bread, you can have anything in tortilla bread. We know, right?
Phone: +2 0122 579 6925
Address: Capital Business Park, Sheikh Zayed
The experts of everything meat are comin’ thru this Ramadan with a slew of platters that pack enough protein to last you for the whole month. They’ve got the Lockhart Platter (EGP 188), which is all about the sausage ‘hot link’ life, and there’s the Austin Platter (EGP 281) which comes with a show.stopping chopped brisket sandwich. Then there’s the Texicana Platter (EGP 270_ with pico de gringo taco, then the Dallas Platter with the smoked brisket (EGP 291) - there’s a lot of them, in short.
Phone: +2 0105 008 8358
Address: O1, New Cairo
Located at TWELVE by the Platform in Sheikh Zayed, west of Cairo, At Work brings you well-designed open spaces for you have to have iftar or sohour on the best high floor terrace you could ever see, proving that you can have your cake and eat it too.
Phone: 02 25868683
Address: Majarrah Complex, Sheikh Zayed
Binge (the younger sister of dining favourites, Gigi’s, Mezcal and Izakaya) is the only one of the siblings that’s going to be open this Ramadan, because she’s a good girl. Iftar here is going to stand out from most places because the menu is a whole world away from what’s happening everywhere else, meaning that you can still have all of their universally-loved dishes to break your fast. From tempura prawn tacos, pulled brisket quesadillas and chicken schnitzels, to chimichurri ribeyes, poke bowls, mushroom & halloumi burgers, their crazy ginormous, crazy milkshakes - it goes on and on...and on.
Phone: +2 0122 220 5340
Address: Garden 8, New Cairo
Maadi’s Sicilian rooftop is going to take its Sicilan side on the DL and Om El Donia side on full blast with a new menu filled with all of your favourite, homely classics. Imagine having a Ramadan iftar with THAT killer view. It doesn’t even matter what we eat, just feed us that view!
Phone: +2 0106 6431 590
Address: 11 Road 18, Royal Maadi Hotel, Maadi
Wholesome is the only word you use to describe the Syrian-Egyptian fusion restaurant. It has something to do with the mishmashed name, probably. Having only an outdoor area for dining, you can devour all the koosa bel laban, roz bel 3eesh me7amas or pasta with liver without worrying about Miss Rona as much.
Phone: +2 0122 812 1018
Address: 18 Road 9, Maadi
AYADINA // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Pack up your suitcase because you’re going to Lebanon, except there’s no suitcase for you to pack because Ayadina is right here in Cairo with their batata 7arra, fattoush and kebba naya. Phone: 16267 Address: Branches all over Cairo
Pack up your suitcase because you’re going to Mexico, except there’s no - oh wait, we’ve used this one before. This is embarrassing. In any case, this marvelous Mexican knows how to hit all the right spots and will be giving you all of the empanadas, chimichangas, and everything under the Latin sun, starting at just EGP 39 this Ramadan.
Phone: +2 0127 524 9280
Address: 14 Road 231, Maadi
ZOOBA // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Ain't no sohour like a Zooba sohour because a Zooba sohour has things like eggplant tam3ya with beetroot hibiscus tahina. The forever experimental, Dr. Frankenstein of a restaurant has done it again, making sure that you sit on the edge of your seat whilst you await your sohour.
Phone: 16082
Address: Branches all over Cairo
The one and only El Torr saved our lives last year during quar with their endless frozen products. This year, they’re ready for you to pay them a visit and have them do all of the work instead. No more making hawawshi for yourself again...well, unless you really want to.
Phone: 16685
Address: Garden 8, New Cairo
CHILLI’S // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
No one wakes up to prep for a long day of fasting craving Tex Mex food. But if that day ever comes, you better believe that you’ll be 100% ready with Chilli’s a la carte menu starting at just EGP 55.
Phone: 19002
Address: Branches all over Cairo
Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think Smox’s phosphorus-fuelled collection is complete? You don’t need to answer because these answers were obvs rhetorical.
Phone: NA
Address: 6 Mohamed Kamel Street, Mohandessin
Don’t you love it when a restaurant’s name tells you exactly what it is? Like Turcia - because it's Turkish. See what they did there? Now, your grandparents might tell you that the Turks took most of their cuisine from Egypt, but you take lil’ old whiny Teta down to Turcia this Ramadan, feed her their Tavuk & Badem Guvec and ask her what part of Shobra they stole it from. We’ll see what she has to say then.
Phone: +2 0128 888 3863
Address: Trivium Business Complex, New Cairo
HOTELS
Syrian feast at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence's Aura
Hotels across the capital have given us the chance to not only have a five-star iftar this holy month, but also the chance to treat ourselves to a staycation for super discounted rates. Self-care and Ramadan go hand-in-hand, right?
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL CAIRO AT THE FIRST RESIDENCE // GIZA
Greek iftar on the actual river? What about some mashawy by the pool? Egyptian buffet with a killer Nile view? The First Residence are serving you Ramadan in style and doing it without burning a hole in your pocket. You can have a Syrian iftar at Aura for EGP 585… and then add EGP 300 and have your own private cabana by the pool. There's a buffet of Egyptian favourites for EGP 600 at La Gourmandise and last but certainly not least, there’s that Greek iftar we promised you at First Nile Boat’s Zoe, for EGP 550.
Phone: 02 35671600
Address: 35 Giza St, Oula, Giza
MARRIOTT MENA HOUSE, CAIRO // GIZA
The historic Marriott Mena House’s 139 is going to give you the most extra iftar or sohour - one worthy of royals whose memories are etched in the very existence of the Great Pyramids that stand before you. Anyway, expect mashawy, pasta and seafood stations to go along with that view.
Phone: 02 33773222
Address: 6, Pyramids Road, Giza
CAIRO MARRIOTT HOTEL & OMAR KHAYYAM CASINO // ZAMALEK
If there’s one thing the Cairo Marriott is famous for, it’s the hotel’s restaurants, with each one offering an entirely different vibe. Omar's Cafe will feed your I-only-dine-in-palaces persona and Garden Promenade will have you living your best greenery life. Saraya Gallery will make you think you went to Paris for a second and Egyptian Nights will hit that spot for anyone looking for a traditional Egyptian Ramadan experience.
Phone: 02 27283000
Address: 16 Saray El Gezira Street, Zamalek
THE NILE RITZ-CARLTON // DOWNTOWN CAIRO
Where else in Cairo can you have an iftar buffet or a sohour extravaganza with an extra side of live entertainment and a view of The Egyptian Museum? The correct answer is nowhere.
Phone: 02 25778899
Address: 1113 Corniche El Nil Street, Downtown Cairo
If variety is the spice of life, then Fairmont Nile City is going to be mighty spicy this Ramadan. Bab El Nil is serving up a set menu of Egyptian staples for EGP 375++, while L'uliveto is rustling up a mean Mediterranean buffet for EGP 499++. They have a kheima called Ramadan Nights for sohour so you can wear your fav kaftan, take an Insta story with the hashtag #RamadanVibes and have sohour for EGP 210++.
Phone: 01228864887
Address: Nile City Towers, Ramlet Beaulac
SOFITEL CAIRO NILE EL GEZIRAH // ZAMALEK
The only spot you need to know about is the iconic El Kababgy. Be it iftar or sohour, this restaurant is going to give it to you and more --- from grilled meats to tagines, there’s no limit. Oh, and you get to also see your 3eish balady getting made if you happen to be there for sohour. You’ll smile at the lady making bread, she’ll smile back, you’ll take a photo and cherish it forever.
Phone: 0227373737
Address: 3 El Thawra Council Street, Zamalek
CATERING
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Hearty Ramadan spread from Eten
Not everyone possesses the necessary skills to whip up a feast. It’s a fact. Everyone, however, can just resort to catering and pretend they have those necessary skills instead. The below brands will help you be just like everyone.
Plated Caterer makes, well, anything you want. Literally whatever you want. You can actually ask for anything - within reason, of course. They have three packages: the first one includes the just delivery of the food. The second includes food stations and waiter service, and the last one fives you having an on-ground chef. The more the merrier?
Phone: +2 0101 471 3614
Chezremi’s food comes at the cross section of Lebanse cuisine and canapes; meaning, your appetiser life is going to be sorted with them this Ramadan. Chezremi requires a five-day notice, so make sure you know that before calling them.
Phone: +2 0102 442 5040
Gigi’s excels because they cook just like Mama...which is why you should let Mama rest this Ramadan and let Gigi take care of things. It’s fresh, it’s homemade and it’s even healthy. Sounds too good to be true...
Phone: +2 0100 500 0424
Beyond is called Beyond for a very good reason. They’re the people to call if you want to go beyond the Ramadan food you have every year. We’re talking cheese platters, Philly cheesesteak chips, shrimp curries.
Phone: +2 0100 424 0637
One of the fairer priced options on this list, Eten works on the theory of 'good food is good mood' and does everything from sandwiches to individual meals This Ramadan, they’re ready and waiting to serve up feasts, and though you have to give them two days notice, it’s certainly worth the wait. Minimum order is EGP 600.
Phone: +2 0102 522 8788
Okay so, Umai are not playin’ this Ramadan - like, not even a little bit. They only have time for all things bougie like lobster rolls, and roasted duck with marron, if you’re about that life.
Phone: +2 0100 000 3459
Give YOUR set elbiet a break this holy month and call up Sett Elbiet to dala3ha instead. No shade, but the food might even be better.
Phone: +2 0122 696 9446
Pineapple shrimp fried rice, Italian escalope, mixed grill, okra stew, or California rolls can all be part of your meal without needing to call different catering companies. That’s where Eastwest shine - there's quite literally something for everyone.
Phone: +2 0120 874 7474
DESSERTS
Maklouba from Tortina
No matter what dessert it is, it's always dessert time - especially during Ramadan. Whether you’re a dessert purist and like your konafa with thin slices of eshta in the middle and nothing more, or a new-age experimentalist that likes your basbousa infused with truffles, there are sweet surprises all over Cairo this month.
TORTINA // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Last year they gave us creme brûlée Om Ali, this year Tortina gives us madlouka and maklouba. Both happen to be a fusion of Ramadan classic desserts in the form of a cake. They went there, yes. What a moment that needs to be experienced!
Phone: 15412
Address: Branches all over Cairo
NOLA // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Started from cupcakes, now we here. NOLA went a little above and beyond by creating an entire menu just for Ramadan with new, never-seen-or-tasted-before items. They’ve got things like konafa nut bomb, Cadbury biscuit tart, 2odret 2ader cake and more.
Phone: 16714
Address: Branches all over Cairo
DARA’S ICE CREAM // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
The kween of ice creams has arrived to tell all of you she doesn’t just reign supreme over the ice cream world. Dara now makes baklava ice cream sandwiches and strawberry almond cake. BRB while we die and go to heaven.
Phone: +2 0103 370 8942
Address: Branches All Over Cairo
TBS // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Last year we thought basmoolah was as crazy as it could get. We mean, basbousa and maamoul was mental, but there’s more - there’s always more. TBS had to go and one-up itself by adding roz bel laban and then introducing it with new flavours like Lotus and cream. Sigh.
Phone: 16679
Address: Branches all over Cairo
SALE SUCRE // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Sale Sucre has existed for as long as anyone can remember, but all we have to say right now is that they make bala7 el sham stuffed with Nutella and Lotus. That is all. Go.
Phone: 19632
Address: Branches all over Cairo
We don't think you'll need more than Nino's Lotus and Nutella stuffed katayef, but we don't know your story and we don't want to put you under that kind of pressure.
Phone: +2 0102 314 7888
Address: NA
WEIRDOUGH // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Baklookies are the thing we never knew we needed. But now that they're in our lives and things will never be the same again. We also want the Doughnafa, tbh.
Phone: NA
Address: Branches all over Cairo
HOUSE OF COCOA // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Konafa? Yes. Tiramisu? Yes. Konafa tiramisu? Just take our money already. The masters of chocolate are introducing the power of cocoa into our Ramadan dessert plates, and whenever chocolate is in the picture, we oblige.
Phone: +2 0122 221 2480
Address: Branches all over Cairo
MANDARINE KOUEIDER // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
They might not have any cray cray inventions, but it really is true that old is gold. Nothing beats a classic konafa from Koueider.
Phone: +2 0128 888 3638
Address: Branches all over Cairo
SIMONDS // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Pampering us with a fine konafa Nabulsiya since 1898, you can have a taste of history delivered straight to your door with Simonds. They also make red velvet konafa...if you’re, like, interested.
Phone: 16264
Address: Branches all over Cairo
THE BATTER HALF & CO. // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
There’s roz bel laban and then there’s roz bel laban with Lotus, pistachio or basbousa at the Batter Half & Co. which still gets our award for best named bakery in Cairo.
Phone: +2 0102 448 8878
Address: Branches all over Cairo
LA POIRE // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
Everyone knows that the one thing that makes kahks what they are is the ghee (or should we say samna). Not only is La Poire comin’ thru with their heavenly kahks that are made using 100% Egyptian ghee, but they also come in all shapes and forms. You can get them plain, or filled with dates, goz malban, walnuts, cinnamon, agameya or pistachios that are serving fifty shades of rich flavours. If you’re watching your non-existent summer bod, La Poire made mini kahks just for that where you can get them plain in hopes of fluffing your formet El Sahel fantasy.
Phone: 19515
Address: Branches all over Cairo
COPPERMELT // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
The only bracelets you’re going to wear this season are konafa bracelets from Coppermelt. Did you get it? Nope? Ugh. Coppermelt makes konafa bracelets, k?
Phone: +2 0128 888 0555
Address: Branches all over Cairo
SULTANA // BRANCHES ALL OVER CAIRO
The ice cream stans entered Ramadan with not one but five ice cream konafa cakes. Our fav is the Metdala3a one with Lotus, but they also have Cookie Crumble, KitKat, Ferrero Rocher and Brownies.
Phone: 02 24199738
Address: Branches all over Cairo
FROZEN & READY-TO-EAT FOODS
Loaded Lasagna from ParCooked
Bid farewell to all dem long cooking hours, because these frozen and ready-to-nomnomnom goodies will save you lots of time. Actually, scratch that. They flat out SAVED us last year, and will save us again this year.
The new food delivery service is armed with a very small menu that has everything you could ever need to have an unconventionally delish Ramadan. We’re talking seven dishes, but they’re seven dishes that are in it for the kill. From a food porn-like loaded lasagna and a gratin potato bake, to a chimichurri beef fillet. They deliver it frozen, all you have to do is heat it up. Easy.
Phone: +20 1010699436
This brand has been fighting the good vegetables fight for the past few years now, making sure that most people incorporate veggies in their meals. That is exactly why all of their dishes have hidden greens inside of them -- whether you get chicken pane, meatballs or kofta, you'll be making sure that you get your nutrients with them as well.
Phone: +2 0100 44 83 252
This power plant cafe nabs its spot on our list because it’s the only one that delivers iftar and sohour packages for vegans/vegetarians. The highlights? The tofu shish tawook and lentil kofta. Snigger all you want, carnivores. It’s sincerely good.
Phone: +2 0127 869 3277
Options, options, options. The variety on the Cook’d menu seems endless, offering both their trademark traditional menu, but with the addition of what they’re calling ‘more imported restaurant-style’ options You can have classic mashawy with rice, but you can also have Caprese-style pastas and Lebanse makaneks. Who can say no to that?
Phone: +2 0101 471 7594
Did you know that Wok & Walk (yes, the Chinese joint) has a sister company called Quick Rolls and they specialise in frozen and ready-to-cook foods? Well, you know now. They sell frozen spring rolls, dumplings, mombar balls, mac n' cheese, vine leaves and basically anything to get your iftar party started without having to exert much effort.
Phone: 19548
You don't even need to learn how to bake to enjoy Molly's frozen goods. Spinach pie and some tea at sohour? Don't mind if we do.
Phone: NA
Gourmet is offering ready-to-heat brams including roz me'amar, freekeh, and kibbeh b'laban, bit the swanky supermarket is also cooking up rokak and a selection of desserts for us this Ramadan. The best part is that you can reuse the bram afterwards. Not for cooking though - ha! You can’t cook, that’s why you’re here.
Phone: 19339
Starting at just EGP 40, Smiley's Grill is sending everything from ciabatta bread to mushroom pane and fajita packages your way. If that doesn't put a smile on your face, we don't know what will.
Phone: 16070
It's the appetiser paradise we've been waiting for. Whether it be shrimp konafa, charcuterie boards, or chicken sate that you're currently craving, you can order it from 8AM to PM everyday.
Phone: +2 0127 482 2334
Feteera's semi-cooked feteer rolls will make your iftar and sohour (or any snack sesh in-between) so much more amaze.
Phone: 16287
If you think about it objectively, sohour is a lot more fun than iftar. And if you don't agree, we’re pretty sure thar Desoky & Soda’s party will sway you the other way. You can get your four and falafel fix for just EGP 109, a package that serves four.
Phone: +2 0102 539 4444
You might know them as the app that makes you live your best online grocery life, but what you didn't know is that they have a massive line of frozen foods that can make you throw the best iftar or sohour without breaking a sweat. Think mombar, sambousek, vine leaves and everything else that matters.
Phone: +2 0109 000 0270
Arguably the cutest spot on the island of Zamalek, Cake Cafe has whipped up an adorable sohour box for the aesthetes among us. It's not cake, but it is definitely as pretty. Serving two people, you can get this treat from Otlob through between 10AM to 2AM. And yes, shawarma rolls are totally an acceptable sohour item.
Phone: +2 010 23505014
Crave's Ramadan Comfort Box is the three-course emotional redemption we're all in dire need of. Choose your selection of soup, salad and mains - but don't worry, absolutely everything you choose will come with shrimp konafa. Share the box with three more people for EGP 299 each.
Phone: 02 25210356
Yes, you can make Vinny's pizza yourself at home and for only EGP 95. Pepperoni, cheese, even spinach is on the menu. Order yours through this form.
Phone: 19867
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