What better way to enjoy Egypt’s most famous river than with a delicious meal at a cruising restaurant? The Nile River is home to some of Cairo’s best cruises, and they each offer a different take on what it is like to dine by the river. If you’re planning a trip here, or just visiting for the weekend, these five dinner cruising restaurants will leave you satisfied and full. and they are all located on board different boats!
1. Nile Maxim Cruising Restaurant (El Zamalek)
This is one of the best dining cruises in Cairo. It’s a boat that goes around El Zamalek island whilst you dine and enjoy entertainment from a band, dancers, and singers. You can choose your main course, drink, and dessert from the menu and we can get salad from the buffet bar. The boat is well-maintained and decorated–and you get a nice view of the Nile River and El Zamalek island or Cairo’s city center! It’s one of the highest quality but also the most tourist-friendly cruises compared to others which are both owned by the same company but offer lower quality with fewer choices for food/drinks compared to the Nile Maxim.
2. Nile Lotus Cruising Restaurant (Maadi)
This is a very popular dinner cruise among locals, so it’s best to book in advance if you’re not Egyptian. You get to tour around Maadi and see the Nile River there which is different from El Zamalek. The view of Cairo from this boat is amazing!
The show was mediocre, but the food was tasty and the portions were acceptable for me as I’m a big eater! In addition, they have an awesome chef who can make anything you want on board (special requests are welcome). There are many different courses during your meal followed by dessert at the end which includes chocolate fondue or ice cream depending on what time of year it is (winter only).
3. AL SARAYA (El Zamalek)
The third restaurant is called El Khan. This one is located inside the boat and serves oriental Egyptian cuisine with a variety of options for you to choose from.
The open buffet restaurants aren’t as good, and sometimes the food gets cold because of the wind blowing on it. So if you want something warm or fresh, go for their specialty restaurants that are reserved for tourists.
The food is really good especially um ali! It’s a must-have oriental dessert there! The service becomes poor during crowded days like weekends so try to go during weekdays if possible!
4. Andrea Nile Cruise Restaurant (Maadi)
The Andrea Nile Cruise Restaurant is located on the Maadi side of Cairo and offers 2-hour dinner cruises. The food was tasty and portions were good, but it was all in one room so if you don’t like sharing with strangers, this might not be your place to go. They have indoor seating as well as deck seating that gets crowded quickly during peak hours, especially when there’s a show going on!
The indoor buffet area has decent options but nothing too special compared to other restaurants on this list (I think they could do better). Their outdoor buffet was pretty empty when I went during prime dinner time though so maybe check out their set menu instead? It comes with no shows but at least it has better pricing than most other restaurants here 🙂
5. Nile Pharaoh Dinner Cruise (Giza)
The Nile Pharaoh Dinner Cruise is a great place to have dinner if you are looking for an authentic Egyptian experience.
The ambiance is excellent, with lots of foreigners and locals enjoying themselves as well. The view from the top was amazing and it was nice being able to see all of Cairo at night. The food was delicious, especially when paired with one of their alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks (which are available). They also have Belly dancing shows, Tanoura shows, singers in English, and Egyptian desserts that are simply amazing! It’s not cheap but worth every penny!
