Sunset Bar & Terrace

As the name suggests, the Sunset Bar & Terrace at Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa is built around the moment the sun drops behind the Theban hills. The bar sits on the hotel's riverside grounds in New Karnak, with shaded outdoor seating looking across the Nile to the West Bank, and in the cooler months it moves indoors as the evening temperature falls.

The drinks list focuses on cocktails, and there are traditional snacks to go with them. Because alcohol is not served in many independent restaurants and cafés in Luxor, hotel bars like this are where many visitors come for a sundowner, and the view here is one of the best on the East Bank. Live entertainment adds to the atmosphere in the evenings.

The terrace is a calm, comfortable place to end a day of sightseeing. Feluccas and cruise boats pass on the river, the light on the West Bank turns gold and then pink, and the lights of the town come on along the Corniche. It is more relaxed than lively, and suits conversation rather than dancing.

The bar suits couples, groups of friends, and hotel guests who want a drink without going into town, as well as visitors staying elsewhere who want a Nile-side sundowner. Prices are those of a five-star hotel. Families can join in the early evening, though the bar is aimed mainly at adults.

The Hilton is about a kilometre from Karnak Temple, so the terrace pairs well with an afternoon at Karnak followed by the sound and light show, or with dinner at Silk Road or Olives in the same hotel. The town centre and Luxor Temple are around three kilometres away by taxi. Opening hours are not published online, so check with the hotel, and allow time for the security check at the hotel entrance.

Nightlife in Luxor is low-key compared with Cairo or the Red Sea resorts. Alcohol is served mainly in hotels and a handful of tourist bars, and most visitors keep evenings quiet because sightseeing and balloon flights start very early. A sunset drink on a Nile terrace, followed by dinner, is the typical Luxor night out, and this terrace is one of the most comfortable places to do it.