With rooftop restaurants overlooking bronze mountains and cafes perched on the edge of the Red Sea, there is no shortage of places to eat in Dahab. During my month in Egypt, I sampled much of what this bohemian beach town’s dining scene had to offer, from trendy brunch spots to fast-casual local hangouts.
Whether you’re looking for fresh seafood, killer shakshouka, or fluffy ta’ameya (falafel), these are my contenders for the best restaurants in Dahab. One tip: while most restaurants along the main seaside promenade are busy all day long, there are great meals to be had off the main tourist trail, too.
Seafood
Darwish
If there is a restaurant I dream about in Dahab, it’s Darwish. This no-frills seafood spot features an outdoor seating area with wooden tables in front of a mural with giant depictions of marlin and grouper, and it’s absolutely packed on weekends. Prices are listed in the fish market room off the dining area, where you can take your pick of whole fresh fish and shellfish on beds of ice.
I’d recommend going with a group to share a bunch of plates, as dishes are brought out as they’re ready, not all at once. Stand-outs include the calamari, butterflied shrimp, and Singari-style mullet — a butterflied mullet fillet baked with garlic, cumin, and vegetables.
Google Maps location: Darwish Fishmarket
MiAMi
Located down the street from Darwish, MiAMi is smaller and more low-key than the former, but their seafood is just as delicious. The dining room only has a few tables, which adds to the homey atmosphere, and you can select your fish and shellfish from the refrigerated cases off the kitchen.
The prawns here were excellent, prepared both in a red sauce with cumin and bell peppers or an herb and garlic sauce.
Google Maps location: MiAMi Seafood
Brunch
Tim's Munch
If there’s only one brunch spot you try during your stay in Dahab, make it Tim’s Munch. I spent many mornings at this rooftop cafe, enjoying iced coffees and shakshouka while staring out at the glittering Red Sea. Brunch here was easily one of my favorite things to do in Dahab.
Tim’s Munch is located above H2O Dive Shop, which makes it a bit tricky to find, but it’s definitely no secret, given every table was full each time I visited. The cafe has a good mix of traditional and Western brunch items, from sweet French toast and chocolate pancakes to shakshouka and foul and eggs tajin. The staff is friendly, and they’ll always find space for you at one of the wooden tables, even if it means squeezing in with strangers.
Google Maps location: Tim’s Munch (Enter H2O Dive School and take the stairs on the left side up to the rooftop.)
11:11 Avenue
For strong air conditioning, fast Wi-Fi, and healthy food options, 11:11 Avenue – Specialty Coffee House can’t be beat. This quiet cafe is located near Assalah Square, with neutral tones, rattan lights, and macrame decor reminiscent of Bali.
It’s a great spot to bang out some work with one of their protein bowls or salads and an iced coffee. It’s also one of the only places I encountered in Dahab that served matcha.
Google Maps location: 11:11 Avenue – Specialty Coffee House
Shanti Garden
Shanti Garden is a verdant little oasis nestled a few streets in from Assalah Beach. As the name suggests, the open-air, walled-in dining area shaded by palm trees and wicker furniture has a charming “secret garden” vibe. Though they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I was a fan of their Egyptian breakfast plate, accompanied by fresh juice.
Google Maps location: Shanti Garden Restaurant & Cafe
Dinner
Seaduction
Seaduction is a Lebanese restaurant adorned with bougainvillea and a rooftop dining area overlooking Assalah Beach.
They serve popular dishes from Lebanon like makloubek, an upside-down rice dish with vegetables and a protein; other Arabic favorites like fatteh, crunchy pita with yogurt sauce, chickpeas, and meat or vegetables; and Western standbys like spaghetti bolognese.
I loved going for an evening meal here to catch the sunset painting the horizon in pink and orange over the Red Sea.
Google Maps location: Seaduction
Sarda
Perched right on Assalah Beach, Sarda is a cozy seaside cafe well-suited to a leisurely meal or coffee. The guys working there are super kind, and the menu ranges from coffee and pancakes to salads and wood-fired pizzas (highly recommend).
I love that you can sit inside the cafe or at the beach loungers on the sand, with a front row seat to the Red Sea. There are sometimes kitesurfers at Assalah Beach, and this is a great vantage point to watch them gliding across the water.
Google Maps location: Sarda Cafe
Tota Restaurant
Tota offers a variety of Western and Egyptian dishes, but what really stands out is its weekly entertainment offerings. Tuesday evenings were my favorite, when the rooftop filled with diners and spectators for open mic performances. Grab a spot on the floor and enjoy discounted tacos (Taco Tuesday!) with live music, poetry, and comedy performances.
Google Maps location: Tota Restaurant
Fast food/Egyptian
Yum Yum
Yum Yum is my favorite spot for a filling and relatively affordable Egyptian breakfast. It’s easily recognizable by the bright yellow storefront and multicolored umbrellas shading locals and foreigners feasting on ta’ameya, omelettes, and foul.
The menu has à la carte offerings as well as sandwiches, and my favorites were the shakshouka, baba ganoush, and ta’ameya — fluffy, green Egyptian falafel made with fava beans instead of chickpeas.
Google Maps location: Yum Yum
Lamtna
If you were unaware that Egypt has its own version of pizza, then Lamtna is the place to introduce your palate to feteer. My Egyptian friends convinced me this was the spot to try feteer, and I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike a traditional pizza, the dough is flaky and layered rather than fluffy and yeasty, and often lacks a tomato sauce base, instead served with ketchup. In addition to savory pies, our go-to was a decadent (and sticky) chocolate banana combo.
This fast food joint is located on the main promenade, with a large window into the kitchen where you can watch the pies being prepared. Come sundown, the outdoor tables are packed with diners enjoying feteer (with plastic gloves — genius if you ask me).
Google Maps location: Lamtna _Restaurant
Qasr Elmandy - قصر المندي للمشويات
Qasr Elmandy had the most outrageous meat platter I’ve ever eaten. This spot specializes in mandi, a traditional dish from Yemen consisting of meat, spices, and rice.
Though it sounds simple, their platters are anything but, laden with tender lamb, chicken, and kofta on a bed of yellow rice with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, accompanied by a massive basket of bread, salad, and tahini. Be sure to arrive hungry, and ideally, with a few friends to share.
Google Maps location: قصر المندي للمشويات
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