Restaurant
Khufu’s
Chef Mostafa Seif's contemporary Egyptian restaurant inside the Giza archaeological site, named the best restaurant in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026.
Naguib Mahfouz Café
An elegant, air-conditioned café and restaurant in the heart of Khan el-Khalili, run by Oberoi Hotels and named after Egypt's Nobel Prize-winning novelist.
At a glance
- Type
- Egyptian and international
- Area
- Islamic Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
Good to know
- Air conditioning
- Shisha
- Traditional decor
- Inside the bazaar
Why we recommend it
The Naguib Mahfouz Café sits inside Khan el-Khalili on El Badistan Lane, near one of the bazaar's main entrances. It opened to the public in 1989 and was renamed in honour of Naguib Mahfouz after the Cairo novelist won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988; many of his books are set in these streets. The café is operated by Oberoi Hotels, which also runs the Khan el-Khalili Restaurant at the back of the same building.
Inside, the decoration is in an arabesque style with carved wood, mashrabiya screens, brass lamps and photographs of Mahfouz on the walls. After the heat and noise of the bazaar, the cool, calm rooms are part of the attraction. The menu covers fresh juices, coolers such as lemon and mint, Arabic coffee, tea and espresso drinks, alongside a mix of international dishes and Egyptian classics such as hawawshi, a spiced meat-filled bread, and koshari. Shisha is available, and some areas can be smoky.
The café suits travellers who want a comfortable, reliable break during a day in Islamic Cairo, including families and those visiting the old city for the first time. Prices are higher than at the traditional coffeehouses outside, reflecting the setting, service and hygiene standards. It is a sensible choice for a sit-down lunch between Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Muizz Street.
The café is popular, so you may have to wait for a table at busy times, and reserving at the Khan el-Khalili Restaurant is a good idea if you want a full meal. Allow an hour for lunch, less for a drink. Dress modestly, as you are in a religious and traditional district. Because the bazaar is car-free, taxis drop visitors on Al-Azhar Street or near the Qalawun complex, and the café is a short walk from either.
El Fishawy, the historic coffeehouse with its mirrors and street-side tables, is a few lanes away for a more traditional tea, and Al-Muizz Street and the Mosque of al-Hussein are close by. Combining a late lunch here with an evening walk through the lit-up bazaar makes for an easy and enjoyable half day. Toilets and air conditioning are reliable here, which is not always the case in the older coffeehouses of the bazaar, and staff are used to explaining the Egyptian dishes on the menu to first-time visitors.
Naguib Mahfouz Café FAQs
Who runs the Naguib Mahfouz Café?
It is operated by Oberoi Hotels, which also runs the Khan el-Khalili Restaurant behind it.
Why is it named after Naguib Mahfouz?
It was renamed in his honour after he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988.
What is on the menu?
Juices, coffee and tea, plus international dishes and Egyptian classics such as hawawshi.
Is it air-conditioned?
Yes, which makes it a welcome break from the bazaar.
Do you need to book?
You may wait for a café table; booking the restaurant at the back is advisable for a full meal.
Is shisha available?
Yes, shisha is served.
Where is it?
On El Badistan Lane inside Khan el-Khalili.