30 Best Breakfast Spots in Cairo, Egypt

We Egyptians are known for being night owls of sorts; that’s why Cairo is way more bustling at midnight than it is at 7 in the morning. And while late-night restaurants are a dime a dozen, it’s not always an easy endeavor to find a good breakfast in Cairo that’s not a generic coffee franchise.

But luckily for all you early birds out there, we pulled together a list of our favorite tried-and-true breakfast spots throughout the city.

Here they are, in no particular order:

Koffee Kulture

Location: Sheikh Zayed, Palm Hills

Opening hours: 7:30 am - midnight

One of the breakfast and coffee stars of Arkan Plaza in Sheikh Zayed (and Palm Hills as well). Koffee Kulture's menu features all sorts of omelettes, eggs Benedict, tortilla egg wraps, sandwiches, bagels, open-faced sourdough loaves, a bakery, and a ton of coffee options.

Koffee Kulture's menu.

Lucille’s

Locations: Maadi

Opening hours: 8 am - midnight

The grandmother of all big American breakfasts in Cairo. Yup, way before the concept of all-day pancakes, waffles and omelettes were a thing elsewhere in the city, Lucille’s was already offering it on weekends at their Road 9 branch over 20 years ago.

Lucille’s menu.

Ovio

Locations: Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo, Maadi

Opening hours: 8 am - midnight

This European restaurant has a hefty breakfast menu: pancakes, crepes, different egg styles by the dozen, sourdough toast and morning sandwiches; Ovio’s got it all.

Ovio’s menu.

Arabiata

Locations: Dokki, Nasr City, New Cairo, Heliopolis, Shorouk, Rehab City, Obour

Opening hours: 7 am - 3 am

We can’t go any further down this list without paying homage to the OG of Egyptian breakfasts, Arabiata (formerly El Shabrawy). If you’re looking for cheap, fast and filling, Arabiata’s fuul and taameya sandwiches (plus their potato and eggplant ones!) won’t ever lead you astray.

Arabiata’s menu.

Granita

Location: Zamalek, Sheikh Zayed

Opening hours: 7 am - 11 pm

Nestled next to the All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek is Granita, a "concept cafeteria" that's a nod to the 'grand cafes' of Egypt back in the 1930s and 1940s - think Groppi and other vintage cosmopolitan cafes. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and serve breakfast until 1:30 pm.

Granita’s menu.

Ralph’s German Bakery

Location: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed

Opening hours: 8 am - 10 pm

This bakery and breakfast spot in Dahab on the Red Sea Riviera became so popular that they opened their first branches in Cairo a while back. Besides the freshly-baked breads and croissants they’re known for, they also make various breakfast trays, specialty ‘laugens’ and full English breakfasts.

Ralph’s menu.

Eish + Malh

Location: Downtown

Opening hours: 7 am - 1 am

This Downtown eatery might have a distinctly Egyptian name, but is in fact Italian. They have fruity options for a light breakfast, like fruit platters and berry parfaits, and more substantial options if you’re the mood for a big breakfast: pancakes, french toast, baked eggs and breakfast pizza.

Eish + Malh’s menu.

Zooba

Locations: Zamalek, Maadi, New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed, Heliopolis, Nasr City, Grand Egyptian Museum

Opening hours: 8 am - 1 am

Our favorite gentrified street food has actually made it all the way to New York City! Known for their breakfast sandwiches and dips, they have all kinds of gourmet fuul and taameya options, plus a few classics like eggs with basterma and shakshouka.

Zooba’s menu.

Gaby’s

Location: CFC, Point 90

Known for its comfort food, Gaby’s two New Cairo branches have differing opening times. Their Point 90 branch opens early at 8 am, while their CFC branch opens slightly later, at 11 am. They serve everything from fruity pancakes to all sorts of Egyptian breakfast staples (and feteer!).

Gaby’s menu.

Marriott Gardens (Garden Promenade Cafe)

Location: Zamalek

Opening hours: 6 am - 2 am

Unlike most Cairo hotels that serve a ubiquitous open-buffet style breakfast, the Cairo Marriott is a good destination if you’re looking for a place to have breakfast in the open air. They serve an a la carte international breakfast in their garden restaurant, and they're open very early - from 6 am!

Garden Promenade Cafe’s menu.

Bocca

Location: Mohandiseen, New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed

Opening hours: 10 am - 2 am

Just check out that Lotus feteer! Bocca doesn't have as extensive a breakfast menu as some of the other restaurants on this list, but the few dishes they offer are crowd pleasers.

Bocca's menu.

Il Mulino

Locations: Maadi, Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed

Opening hours: 7 am - 1 am

This bakery and restaurant is known for their fresh olive ciabatta sandwiches, eggs, quiches, calzones and baguettes. They also have a rotating assortment of fresh pastries.

Il Mulino’s menu.

30 North

Locations: Sheikh Zayed, Mall of Arabia, Zamalek

Opening hours: 8 am - 12:30 am

Known especially for their coffee, 30 North also serves up fresh bagels, sandwiches, omelettes, crepes and pastries to go alongside their specialty brew.

30 North's menu.

Tabali

Locations: branches all over Cairo

Opening hours: 7:30 am - midnight

Another good option if you’re in the mood for no-bars-held Egyptian breakfast. They have all kinds of fuul, taameya, eggs, dips, potato dishes, cheese dishes and salads, served either in a sandwich or ‘tableya’ style.

Tabali’s menu.

Desoky & Soda

Locations: branches all over Cairo

Opening hours: 9 am - 12:30 am

A "modern Egyptian kitchen" with not only all the usual Egyptian staples, but big trays and platters as well: the breakfast tray, feteer meshaltet tray, American breakfast platter and more.

Desoky & Soda's menu.

Qahwa

Locations: New Cairo, Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed, Mall of Arabia

Opening hours: 8:30 am - 2 am

From light choices like muesli and yoghurt bowls to all kinds of eggs (omelettes, scrambled, Benedict, poached, sunny side up) to pancakes and French toast, Qahwa has something for everyone.

Qahwa’s menu.

Lokali

Location: Maadi, District 5

Opening hours: 8:30 am - midnight

Lokali is a concept restaurant that focuses around fresh, clean ingredients from local farms, served in a warm garden set-up (and we give them extra points for being pet-friendly!). Their breakfast items all come with a twist -- for example, they have a brioche pastrami scramble, a unique rendition of the classic eggs and basterma.

Lokali’s menu.

Brunch & Cake

Location: New Cairo, 6 October

Opening hours: 9 am - midnight

If you're in the mood for some truly dazzling-looking, treat-yourself kind of breakfasts, than look no further than Brunch & Cake. Not only are their dishes all worthy of an Instagram moment, but they taste pretty great too.

Brunch & Cake's menu.

Nişantaşi

Location: Cairo Festival City, City Stars

Opening hours: 10 am - 1 am

Royal Turkish breakfast, anyone? Enough said.

Nişantaşi's menu.

Felfela

Locations: Downtown Cairo

Opening hours: 9 am - midnight

A family favorite since 1959, Felfela has been one of those classic Cairo places to head to for a weekend breakfast or brunch. They have all the beloved Egyptian breakfast staples, as well as a few signature dishes like the 'taameya katkouta' - Felfela's version of a scotch egg.

Mo Bistro

Locations: Mohandiseen, Sheikh Zayed, District 5

Opening hours: 10 am - 1 am

Remember Cafe Mo? Well it evolved into Mo Bistro. Opening at 10 am, it’s targeted more to the late breakfasters and brunchers. They have nice diversity on their breakfast menu, with everything from English, American and Oriental breakfasts to Benedict Florentine to grilled cheese sandwiches and eggplant breakfast quesadillas.

Mo’s menu.

Willow's

Locations: Sheikh Zayed, District 5

Opening hours: 9 am - midnight

This international restaurant in Arkan and District 5 has a hefty breakfast and brunch menu: omelettes, different types of Eggs Benedict, egg bread bowls, French Toast, pancakes, breakfast platters and cheese platters, 'Pizza Barca' (a type of pizza breakfast boat with eggs), yogurt parfait, sandwiches, salads and a bakery. And tons of breakfast drinks while you're at it!

Willow's menu.

Andrea Mariouteya

Location: New Giza, 6th October

Opening hours: 11 am - 12 pm

A family breakfast/brunch favorite for over 60 years, Andrea Mariouteya is known for their freshly-made feteer meshaltet served with honey and molasses, as well as their large egg platters (perfect for groups), fuul, taameya and other Egyptian breakfast essentials.

Eatery

Locations: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed

Opening hours: 10 am - midnight

Eatery has a full-on international breakfast menu: everything from fuul and falafel to pancakes, waffles and avocado toast. They also have breakfast sandwiches and a ‘healthy corner’ of the menu -- chia seed parfait, anyone?

Eatery’s menu.

Paul

Locations: New Cairo, City Stars, Mall of Egypt, Mall of Arabia, Heliopolis, Mohandiseen

Opening hours: 8 am - midnight

King of the French breakfast, Paul offers everything from eggs to pastries to breakfast bowls to savory halloumi pancakes.

Paul’s menu.

Umami

Location: New Cairo

Opening hours: 8 am - 2 am

Found in Garden 8 in New Cairo (read more: Best Restaurants in Garden 8), Umami has a fun breakfast menu with items like cinnamon buns, bagels, breakfast pizza, all kinds of pancakes, sandwiches and more.

Umami’s menu.

Bashandy

Location: Nasr City, New Cairo

Opening hours: 24/7

Bashandy or 'Am Bashandy, its official name, is a Nasr City staple for Egyptian street food and breakfast (pick-up or delivery only). And get this - they're open 24 hours! So whether you want breakfast at 4 am or 4 pm, Bashandy is your go-to. They also have a second branch in New Cairo.

Bashandy's menu.

Bittersweet

Location: Sheikh Zayed, New Giza, Grand Egyptian Museum

Opening hours: 9 am - 11 pm

Looking to elevate your morning coffee? Look no further than pairing an espresso with Bittersweet's insane O'Smores. If that shot of caffeine and sugar won't wake you up, probably nothing much will! (They also have other 'normal' breakfast selections for those who don't want to be wired for the rest of the day).

Brioche Dorée

Location: Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo, Dandy Mall (6th October), Maadi, Nasr City

Opening hours: 7 am - 12 am

A French bakery/cafe chain that's been going strong across the globe for over 40 years now. They're loved for their pastries, fresh bread, sandwiches and assortment of breakfast and brunch items.

Brioche Dorée's menu.

Ratios Bakery

Location: Maadi

Opening hours: 7:30 am - 2 pm

This famous Maadi bakery offers different types of fresh bread (white sourdough, whole wheat sourdough, cranberry & walnut sourdough, baguettes, seed bread, honey buns, pizza dough), croissants, Danish, sandwiches, pastries, cakes, tarts, cookies, brownies and more.

They get crowded quickly, so it's best to reserve.

Ratios Bakery’s menu.

LOCAL TIP: While these breakfast spots might be great, we have to give a shout out to the real Egyptian breakfast champions, the fuul and taameya carts. They'll always be #1.

You might also like: 10 Best Breakfast, Brunch and Bakeries in Maadi