If you’re staying in El Gouna, or just going for the day from Hurghada (they're about 30 minutes apart), there’s good news and bad news when it comes to eating -- the good news is, there are tons of restaurants to choose from in El Gouna. The bad news? There’s tons of restaurants to choose from. If you’re not a local or recurring visitor, it can be hard to discern which eating establishments are worthy of both your stomach and your wallet -- so as locals, let us help you.
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Now, let us proceed:
1. Saigon
Location: Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna
Cuisine: Vietnamese
In our humble opinion, Saigon is the very best restaurant not only in El Gouna, but in the surrounding Hurghada area as well (maybe even, dare we say, all of Egypt!).
This restaurant on the marina in Gouna has been open and run for over 15 years by a Vietnamese lady who still heads the kitchen until now. The food is consistently awesome, and even if Vietnamese food isn’t necessarily your jam, their menu is full of of more classic pan-Asian items as well.
2. Zia Amelia
Location: Downtown, El Gouna
Cuisine: Italian
Another El Gouna favorite since it opened over a decade ago, Zia Amelia’s owner hails from Napoli and their menu is bursting at the seams with Italian classics and freshly-made pastas. They have an in-house pizzeria (Forno Di Amelia) as well where you can pick up a pizza to go.
The restaurant itself is warm and welcoming, with an inner air-conditioned section for hot days as well as candlelit tables outside for when you want to enjoy the weather. Their staff is always prompt and knowledgeable about the extensive menu as well.
PS: if you’re an animal lover like us, there’s also a few cute resident cats that fall asleep randomly on different chairs in the outdoor area.
3. Chicha
Location: Downtown El Gouna
Cuisine: Latin
Right across from Zia Amelia in Downtown Gouna is Chicha, a fun, bohemian-vibed Latin American restaurant offering a wide range of Peruvian, Mexican and Spanish dishes. They pride themselves on taking their inspiration from traditional dishes and giving them their modern spin.
The star of Chicha's menu are their tacos, but they also have a wide range of other tapas-style dishes that are made for ordering many of and sharing (or don't share, that's up to you, lol). They also have a bunch of great cocktails.
4. El Bahr
Location: Kite Center Road, El Gouna
Cuisine: Seafood
It would be counterintuitive to be a beach town and not have a great seafood restaurant, so luckily El Bahr is there to lead the charge. Away from the hustle and bustle of Abu Tig Marina and Downtown Gouna, El Bahr is right on the beach (as it should be!), where you'll see the sky peppered with bright kites from the kitesurfers cruising the water on breezy days.
As for the menu, besides their appetizers, soups and salads, it's all really about whatever catches your eye from their fresh seafood display. You choose the fish you want, and tell them how you would like it cooked (grilled, fried, salted, in a casserole, etc). They also have fresh shrimp, crab, lobster, calamari, you name it.
5. Sotto Sopra
Location: Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna
Cuisine: Italian
If you’re in Abu Tig Marina, keep your eye out for a cute little outdoor restaurant and bar on the water with pink and white bougainvillea spilling down the front of the restaurant.
Sotto Sopra is known for their super thin crust pizza (which you can order in a standard size or by meter/half meter). They also have great gnocchi and risottos. A resident mixologist is there from 7 pm onwards for their signature cocktails (before 7 pm, you can order beer/wine).
6. Chuchichäschtli - Swiss House
Location: Downtown, El Gouna
Cuisine: Swiss
First things first, please don't ask us how to pronounce the restaurant's name. Chuchichäschtli apparently translates into 'kitchen cupboard' in Swiss German, but it's no wonder why everyone else calls it Swiss House (to the extent that it's now the main name over their door!). Unpronounceable names aside, Swiss House has been serving excellent fondue and other classic Swiss comfort dishes for well over a decade now. And they are by bar one of the most popular restaurants come Christmas and winter -- they go all out with the decorations, and who doesn't want to warm their body and soul with some hot melted cheese?
Even if fondue isn't your thing (weird choice on your part, but ok), Swiss House also offers seared beef fillet that you cook yourself over a hot stone. Also great for chilly nights.
7. Pier 88
Location: Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna
Cuisine: International
You can't talk about great restaurants in El Gouna without talking about one of its OGs, Pier 88 (by the way, not only is Pier 88 one of our favorite restaurants in Gouna, but in Cairo too). The original El Gouna restaurant is literally ‘on’ the water in the Abu Tig Marina -- it’s a stationary floating restaurant/bar.
They serve great steaks, seafood, pasta, salads and cocktails -- and starting 9 pm on weekends, the music picks up and it becomes a favorite ‘night spot’.