Naguib Mahfouz Cafe
مقهى نجيب محفوظ
A restaurant and cafe named after the famous writer in Khan el-Khalili, offering a quiet respite while exploring the bazaar.
Located in El Badistan Alley within Khan el-Khalili, this cafe-restaurant is named after the Egyptian Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. It features traditional decor and often has live music, described by diners as a peaceful haven in the bustling bazaar. The menu includes hummus, lentil soup, hawawshi, stuffed pigeon, and koshary, as well as mint lemonade, Turkish coffee, and tea. There is no entrance fee, but a minimum spend is enforced, and dinner is significantly more expensive than lunch. You may have to wait for a table during dining hours. Some diners feel the atmosphere outshines the food, so you might want to focus on resting and having tea.
Opening hours
Daily approx. 10:00–24:00 (slight variations across sources)
Nearby sights
- Khan el-Khalili
- Al-Muizz Street
- Al-Azhar Mosque
- Wikala of al-Ghuri (Tanoura Dance)
- Bab Zuweila
- Al-Azhar Park
- Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo
- Abdeen Palace