A few years ago New Cairo was a neighborhood known for its malls, not its pubs or alcohol-serving restaurants. Residents who wanted dinner and a drink would usually have to seek them out in greener pastures in Zamalek and Maadi - but rejoice eastern Cairenes! Things have been picking up recently when it comes to New Cairo; there’s now more than a handful of really good restaurants that also serve alcohol, so gone are the days when you'd be stuck with either a mall restaurant or a bar with dubious food.
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Our local favorite places in New Cairo to get dinner and a drink are the following, in no particular order:
Lemon Tree & Co
If you’re looking for really gorgeous aesthetics, then head to the Lemon Tree in One Ninety in New Cairo (local tip: this is different from the Lemon Tree Bistro in Katameya Heights, which is also a great restaurant and bar but not the same one we’re talking about now -- more about TLT Bistro below).
Lemon Tree serves upscale international fusion in a massive venue, and they have DJs and music on weekends and certain nights. They're also open for lunch if you want to have a sunny meal with a breeze.
Good for: nights out with friends
Location: One Ninety, New Cairo
Call to reserve: 01120999290
Cucina
This long-loved Italian restaurant at the JW Marriott hotel in New Cairo has been a crowd favorite for decades now. Split into two storeys around an open rotunda with a ceiling that’s painted to look like you’re outdoors, it’s a bit kitsch but we can’t be too mad at it when Cucina has been delivering great service and great food forever.
Good for: dates, family lunches, business dinners
Location: JW Marriott Hotel
Call to reserve: 02 24115588
The Smokery
Overlooking the green expanse of the golf course in Katameya Heights, The Smokery is hard to beat when it comes to dinner and drinks with a view in New Cairo.
They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and serve a variety of upscale international dishes, with everything from sliders to seabass quinoa to sushi. The Smokery became so popular that it opened other branches in Palm Hills, Heliopolis, El Gouna and Marassi.
Good for: family lunches, business lunches, dinner dates
Location: Katameya Heights
Call to reserve: 0102 601 9175
Kazoku
Kazoku, a contemporary Japanese restaurant is a firm favorite when it comes to sushi in Cairo. Their menu doesn’t start and end with sushi though - their signature dishes are miso glazed black cod and Chilean sea bass, and they have an array of cold and hot starters, gyoza, Kushiyaki (skewers) and a handful of main dishes if sushi isn’t your thing.
With both indoor and outdoor seating, Kazoku works as a fine-dining lunch spot during the day (they open at 1 pm) and a dinner & drinks venue at night (they have a full bar).
Good for: family lunches, dinner with friends
Location: Swan Lake Compound
Call to reserve: 0127 000 4877
TLT Bistro
This upscale restaurant and bar by The Lemon Tree Concepts is known for its inimitable interior design, cocktails and overall vibe.
They recently opened a sister restaurant and lounge, Villa Coconut, in El Gouna.
Good for: dinner dates, dinner with friends
Location: Katameya Heights
Call to reserve: 02 27592599
Lexie’s
This chic but still relaxed Italian restaurant is a mix of bar and indoor/outdoor dining. Their pastas are all homemade and not your basic penne or spaghetti - here you’ll find scarpinocc, tortellini, caramelle and mafaldine. They also serve pizza as well as main courses like veal Milanese, salmon confit and pan-roasted chicken.
Good for: business and family lunches, dinner dates
Location: Lake House Club, next to Dusit Thani
Call to reserve: 0128 581 8590
Tao
In the Dusit Thani LakeView Hotel you'll find Tao, a multi-Asian restaurant and bar. They serve Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indian cuisine and pride themselves on their native chefs in the kitchen as well as their expert sommeliers. They also have a live teppanyaki station, and who can resist that! They're open from 1 pm to 1 am daily, and on Thursdays and Fridays they're open to 3 am (but 1 am to 3 am is bar service only).
Good for: an upscale lunch or dinner when you're in the mood for Asian classics
Location: Dusit Thani LakeView Hotel
Call to reserve: 02 2614 0080
The Tap East
This light-hearted restobar, complete with foosball tables and a jovial vibe, is the New Cairo installment of Maadi’s favorite place to grab a beer and some food. They play live music on some nights so it’s always worth it to hit up their FB page and see what’s cooking.
Speaking of cooking, they have an extensive menu of pub food -- they’re famous for their wings, but also have great burgers and a wide variety of other dishes, so no need to indulge in a heavy dinner (or any dinner) before you head over there.
Unlike the Maadi branch, The Tap East has both an indoor and outdoor space, so perfect for lunch in the sun or drinks under New Cairo’s (few) stars.
Good for: laidback nights out with friends
Location: Stella Compound, New Cairo
Call to reserve: 01060000869
Olivo
This pizza bar in Arkan (also open in Zamalek and 6 October) is a good choice if you want to have lunch and a drink or two in a place with a laid-back vibe. Their menu is mainly all pizzas, with a few salads, starters and desserts. Their red, pink & white sangria is always worth ordering too. Their pizza is thin-crust, with fresh ingredients and some of the best buffalo mozzarella found in Egypt.
Good for: lunch/dinner with friends
Location: Katameya
Call to reserve: 0106 8774233
Reif Kushiyaki
Reif Kushiyaki is a restaurant famous for its "unconventional Japanese street food" in Dubai, and has opened its doors in Cairo in 5A by the Waterway. Named after Reif Othman (owner and chef of the Dubai branch) and kushiyaki, which is grilled meat on skewers.
They have indoor and outdoor seating and their menu is a mix of sushi, skewers, ramen and other Japanese street good faves.
Good for: lunch/dinner with friends
Location: 5A by the Waterway
Call to reserve: 01280446862
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