Café & Restaurant Maratonga

Maratonga is a simple outdoor café and restaurant directly in front of the temple of Medinet Habu on the West Bank, in the village area of Al Bairat. It is a convenient stop for visitors exploring the southern end of the West Bank monuments, and it offers something rare at the sites: a shady garden where you can sit and look at an ancient temple while you rest.

The menu is short and practical. In the morning there is breakfast with fresh bread and dishes such as a Spanish omelette, while later in the day there are cold drinks, refreshing lemon and mint juice, Egyptian coffee and tea, and simple cooked dishes such as tagine-style stews. Vegetarians are well catered for, which is helpful on the West Bank, where choices can be limited.

The shaded garden seating is the reason to come. After the heat and glare of the temple courts, sitting in the shade with a cold drink and a view of the great pylon of Ramesses III's temple is a pleasant way to pass half an hour. It is informal and unhurried, and staff are used to visitors dropping in between sights.

Maratonga suits independent travellers, families and cyclists exploring the West Bank, as well as anyone visiting Medinet Habu, the Valley of the Queens or Deir el-Medina, all of which are close by. It is also convenient for people staying in the West Bank guesthouses nearby. It is not a place for a formal meal, but it is an excellent rest stop.

Opening times reported by travel guides suggest it opens early and closes in the evening, but they are not published by the café itself, so check locally. Bring cash, as small cafés on the West Bank are unlikely to accept cards. Combine a visit with Medinet Habu in the morning, when the light on the reliefs is best, and finish with a drink in the garden before moving on.

In the summer months, aim to finish your visit to the temple by late morning and retreat to the garden before the hottest part of the day.