Sharm el-Sheikh is a popular resort town near the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is sometimes known as the "City of Peace" because of the numerous international peace conferences that have been held there. The resort contains numerous restaurants, and although many of them are average in quality, there are numerous good options, including a range of good British, Indian, Italian, Thai, Lebanese and Indian-themed outlets, which are highly rated by a large majority of customers.
In general the British restaurants tend to offer bar/pub-type meals, and usually have a bar with some entertainment on offer, for example DJs and karaoke, and TV screens displaying major British sporting events such as Premier League football matches. The Egyptian-themed restaurants, in contrast, tend to be quiet and good for relaxing close to the seaside, and there are numerous seaside restaurants that offer a wide range of seafood, taking advantage of the wide range of sea life that lives around the coastline of Sharm el-Sheikh and the surrounding area.
In short, Sharm el-Sheikh is a good resort for eating out regardless of whether you are into British, European, Asian or Egyptian style cuisine. Here is a selection of some of the best eateries.
British & American
Due to the popularity of the resort with British tourists, Sharm el-Sheikh offers numerous British-themed restaurants and some American-styled ones, too. Some of these are consistently highly rated by customers.
The Three Crowns Restaurant at Club Azure, Nabq, is a popular and quality British-style restaurant. The food is relatively cheap and most customers consider the food to be of consistently high quality, and the restaurant also doubles up as a source of entertainment and nightlife, with a bar, live sport, and Karaoke and quiz nights. The Tavern Bar at Naama Bay serves a range of traditional British meals including a full English breakfast and Sunday roast dinners. It also contains a downstairs bar which offers plenty of entertainment, including a DJ who performs seven days a week, and has 7 screens and a big screen projection system to facilitate watching sporting events including Premier League football matches and Formula One. The Camel Bar & Roof, situated at the Camel Hotel in Naama Bay, has an interior with a Bedouin-style theme, and serves British as well as Indian and Italian food, giving customers a range of choices.
There are many other similar British restaurants that are generally well-received by tourists. The Union Jack Bar at the Sharm Bride Hotel, Nabq, serves a variety of British-themed food at reasonably low cost, which is well-received by visitors (especially the breakfasts), and is also good for viewing sporting events. The Bar One and Restaurant at the Horizon Resort, Nabq, offers a pool table and takes bookings for birthday parties and other special events. The Bus Stop at La Strada Mall, Nabq Bay, as well as serving good food, has a large array of entertainment including play stations, pool tables and Wi-Fi internet access.
Those who would rather dine at an American-style restaurant are advised to try the Hard Rock Cafe at El Salam Road, Nabq Bay, close to the Laguna Vista Resort, which has only recently been set up at Nabq. The Luna Lounge at El Merkato is also worth considering. For those after a relatively light lunch, and some high-quality burgers, the Blendz Cafe and Bar, at the Tropicana Sea Beach Hotel, is a good option.
Asian
Sharm el-Sheikh also boasts a large number of Asian-themed restaurants.
The White Elephant Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar, a Thai restaurant situated at Royal Albatros Moderna, Peace Road, is a relatively expensive, but high quality, option which is particularly suitable for special occasions. Mai Thai, at the popular Soho Square, is a good alternative, and also contains a downstairs bar, and the food is generally well-received, though again it is relatively expensive.
For Indian cuisine, the Camel Bar & Roof, situated at the Camel Hotel in Naama Bay, offers good Indian as well as Italian and British food, which is inexpensive and has a Bedouin-style interior, and also boasts a sports bar downstairs.The Tandoori Indian restaurant is also situated at the Camel Hotel, Naama Bay, near the Camel Dive Centre, and the majority of customers have given the Tandoori favourable reviews. Rangoli, at El Salam Road, Movenpick Resort, Naama Bay, also offers high-quality Indian food, though it is relatively expensive.
Chinese outlets include Peking at Sanafir, Naama Bay, which offers both Chinese and Lebanese menus, and a high quality of service and food, although prices are relatively high. China House, situated at the Tiran Centre, Old Market, is also worth a try, as it offers some high quality Chinese food although it, too, is quite expensive. A cheaper alternative for Chinese food is Man Chow, situated at Il Mercado II.
There is also a reasonable Asian fusion (mixed cuisine)-themed restaurant in Little Buddha, at the Tropital Hotel in Naama Bay, which also serves sushi and French-style food, for those after something a bit different.
Egyptian & Lebanese
Sharm el-Sheikh also boasts numerous restaurants that sell local food, including a few with a Lebanese theme, and some that serve primarily Egyptian food. There are plenty of options for those interested in trying out Egyptian-style cuisine. Many of the Egyptian-style restaurants are also much quieter than the British-style restaurants, with less of an emphasis on entertainment, DJs and TV screens, and more emphasis on simple relaxation by the seaside.
One of the best-received local restaurants is Fairuz, situated at the King of Bahrain Street, Naama Centre, which offers high quality Lebanese cuisine, and is a good stopping-off point during a shopping trip as it is situated within a major shopping centre. The Fawanees Cafe & Restaurant is also situated at the Naama Centre and provides a good variety of seafood and steaks as well as Lebanese food, and it also contains a bar.
For traditional Egyptian cuisine, one of the best options is the On Deck Restaurant at Iberotel Lido, Naama Bay, which boasts spectacular views over Naama Bay, where there are often various species of fish swimming around. The outdoor portion of the restaurant has sea underneath which is lit up, making it easy to spot the fish, while the food is generally highly-rated. As well as Egyptian food, the restaurant also sells seafood. Moon Light is also a good option, also located at Naama Bay, just to the south of El Salam Road, which boasts a quiet atmosphere and lies near the sea front, with a selection of Egyptian food and seafood.
Farsha Cafe is also worth considering, an Egyptian restaurant which lies in El Faraa'na Hotel in Hadaba, Umm el-Sid. It is another relaxing restaurant, boasting good Egyptian food and overlooking the sea.
Seafood
Situated near the coast, Sharm el-Sheikh has a large array of restaurants which primarily serve seafood, and some of them are very popular and well-received by customers. Much of the seafood has a typically Egyptian theme and is caught locally.
The Fawanees Cafe & Restaurant is situated at the Naama Centre and provides a good variety of seafood and steaks as well as Lebanese food, and it also contains a bar, and provides a high quality service. A more "all-out" seafood restaurant is Fares Seafood in the Old Market, which provides large portions of high quality seafood, and there is a wide choice of menu options, which can be cooked in various ways- grilled, boiled, and more- according to the customer's desire. There is also another Fares Seafood restaurant at Il Mercato (Sharm Elysees Street, Hadaba) but this one has been less consistently well-received by customers than the one at the Old Market, and thus the Old Market Fares Seafood is easier to recommend.
There are various other outlets worth considering, such as the Fish Market at Shark's Bay, which serves a variety of seafood, which is high quality and relatively inexpensive, and also sells steaks. The Fisherman restaurant, located close to El Monelat Street near the centre of Sharm el-Sheikh, is another good option, which provides a choice of seafood, including shellfish, as well as numerous meat dishes.
Layaly Kan Zaman offers reasonable quality seafood focused on local products, and the prices are relatively inexpensive.
European
Sharm el-Sheikh features a wide range of European-themed restaurants, of which Italian restaurants are the most widespread, and some are well-received by most tourists and are easy to recommend to visitors to the area.
One of the best-received eateries in the whole of Sharm el-Sheikh is The Lounge at Mall 6 in Naama Bay, next to the Carrefour supermarket. The menus offer a large variety of high-quality and relatively inexpensive food, and the restaurant also boasts a bar, Wi-Fi access, TV screens (e.g. for watching sporting events) and there is entertainment available during the evenings such as karaoke. A good alternative is the Cafe Royal at Sharm Elise - the steaks are especially popular- and free Wi-Fi internet access is also provided. The Camel Bar & Roof situated at the Camel Hotel in Naama Bay, is recommended for good Italian food, as well as Indian and British-themed options on the menu. The restaurant also has a bar downstairs.
While the above restaurants are among the most popular, visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh are spoilt for choice as far as good European and especially Italian restaurants are concerned. Pomodoro, situated at the Camel Dive Club in the centre of Naama Bay, is popular and has a reputation for serving good food, mainly Italian and Egyptian type cuisine. Zigolini's Italian Restaurant is another good option, situated near the Movenpick Jolie Ville Hotel near the Naama promenade, which offers high quality Italian food and good views over the promenade. The Ristorante Cosa Nostra is another good choice, which is situated at Plot 130, Nabq Bay, and offers good, reasonably-priced Italian food.
For those who like Mediterranean cuisine, the Blue Fountain Restaurant at 1 Market Square in Carrefour gives good food, at relatively inexpensive prices, and offers outdoor eating.