We Egyptians are known for being night owls of sorts; that’s why Cairo is way more bustling at midnight than it is at 7 in the morning. And while late-night restaurants are a dime a dozen, it’s not always an easy endeavor to find a good breakfast in Cairo that’s not a generic coffee franchise.
But luckily for all you early birds out there, we pulled together a list of our favorite tried-and-true breakfast spots throughout the city.
Here they are, in no particular order:
Lucille’s
Locations: Maadi, New Cairo
Opening hours: 8 am – midnight
The grandmother of all big American breakfasts in Cairo. Yup, way before the concept of all-day pancakes, waffles and omelettes were a thing elsewhere in the city, Lucille’s was already offering it on weekends at their Road 9 branch over 15 years ago.
Lucille’s menu.
Ovio
Mixed berries pancakes
Locations: Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo, Maadi
Opening hours: 8 am – midnight
This European restaurant has a hefty breakfast menu: pancakes, crepes, different egg styles by the dozen, sourdough toast and morning sandwiches; Ovio’s got it all.
Ovio’s menu.
Arabiata
Locations: Dokki, Nasr City, New Cairo, Heliopolis, Shorouk, Rehab City, Obour
Opening hours: 7 am – 3 am
We can’t go any further down this list without paying homage to the OG of Egyptian breakfasts, Arabiata (formerly El Shabrawy). If you’re looking for cheap, fast and filling, Arabiata’s fuul and taameya sandwiches (plus their potato and eggplant ones!) won’t ever lead you astray.
Arabiata’s menu.
Granita
Location: Zamalek, Sheikh Zayed
Opening hours: 7 am – 11 pm
Nestled next to the All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek is Granita, a “concept cafeteria” that’s a nod to the ‘grand cafes’ of Egypt back in the 1930s and 1940s – think Groppi and other vintage cosmopolitan cafes. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and serve breakfast until 1:30 pm.
Granita’s menu.
Ralph’s German Bakery
Location: Maadi, New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed
Opening hours: 8 am – 10 pm
This bakery and breakfast spot in Dahab on the Red Sea Riviera became so popular that they opened their first branch in mainland Egypt a few years back in Maadi. Besides the freshly-baked breads and croissants they’re known for, they also make specialty ‘laugens’ and have full English breakfasts.
Ralph’s menu.
Eish + Malh
Location: Downtown
Opening hours: 7 am – 1 am
This Downtown eatery might have a distinctly Egyptian name, but is in fact Italian. They have fruity options for a light breakfast, like fruit platters and berry parfaits, and more substantial options if you’re the mood for a big breakfast: pancakes, french toast, baked eggs and breakfast pizza.
Eish + Malh’s menu.
Zooba
Locations: Zamalek, Maadi, New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed, Heliopolis, Nasr City, Grand Egyptian Museum
Opening hours: 8 am – 1 am
Our favorite gentrified street food has actually made it all the way to New York City! Known for their breakfast sandwiches and dips, they have all kinds of gourmet fuul and taameya options, plus a few classics like eggs with basterma and shakshouka.
Zooba’s menu.
Gaby’s
Location: City Stars, New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed
Opening hours: 10 am – 1 am
Known for its comfort food, Gaby’s opens slightly later than the rest of the restaurants on this list, so it’s good for a late breakfast or brunch. They serve everything from fruity pancakes and breakfast sandwiches to all sorts of feteer.
Gaby’s menu.
Marriott Gardens (Garden Promenade Cafe)
Location: Zamalek
Opening hours: 6 am – 1 am
Unlike most Cairo hotels that serve a ubiquitous open-buffet style breakfast, the Cairo Marriott is a good destination if you’re looking for a place to have breakfast in the open air. They serve an a la carte international breakfast in their garden restaurant.
Garden Promenade Cafe’s menu.
Il Mulino
Locations: Maadi, Heliopolis
Opening hours: 7 am – 1 am
This bakery and restaurant is known for their fresh olive ciabatta sandwiches, quiches, calzones and baguettes. They also have a rotating assortment of fresh pastries.
Il Mulino’s menu.
30 North
Locations: Sheikh Zayed, Mall of Arabia, Zamalek
Opening hours: 8 am – 12:30 am
Known especially for their coffee, 30 North also serves up fresh bagels, sandwiches, omelettes, crepes and pastries to go alongside their specialty brew.
Tabali
Locations: New Cairo, Zamalek, Heliopolis
Opening hours: 7:30 am – midnight
Another good option if you’re in the mood for no-bars-held Egyptian breakfast. They have all kinds of fuul, taameya, eggs, dips, potato dishes, cheese dishes and salads, served either in a sandwich or ‘tableya’ style.
Tabali’s menu.
Kazouza
Locations: Maadi, New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed, Mall of Arabia
Opening hours: 10 am – 12 am
Home of the all-day Egyptian breakfast, Kazouza has a huge selection of different fuul bowls, taameya, breakfast sandwiches, feteer and a whole lot of sides. Also, how can’t you love those lightbulb orange juice bottles?
Kazouza’s menu.
Qahwa
Locations: New Cairo, Heliopolis, Sheikh Zayed, Mall of Arabia
Opening hours: 8:30 am – 2 am
From light choices like muesli and yoghurt bowls to all kinds of eggs (omelettes, scrambled, Benedict, poached, sunny side up) to pancakes and French toast, Qahwa has something for everyone.
Qahwa’s menu.
Lokali
Location: Maadi, District 5
Opening hours: 8:30 am – midnight
Lokali is a concept restaurant that focuses around fresh, clean ingredients from local farms, served in a warm garden set-up (and we give them extra points for being pet-friendly!). Their breakfast items all come with a twist — for example, they have a brioche pastrami scramble, a unique rendition of the classic eggs and basterma.
Lokali’s menu.
Eggspectation
Location: Heliopolis, New Cairo
Opening hours: 10 am – 11:30 pm
The famous Canadian restaurant chain has landed in Cairo, with a ginormous menu of not only roughly a million egg dishes but pancakes, French Toast, bagels, sandwiches and tons of other brunch items as well.
Eggspectation’s menu.
Oldish
Location: Downtown, Heliopolis, Zamalek
Opening hours: 9 am – 1 am
This cozy restaurant serves up mostly Egyptian classics, but has a few international menu guest stars as well (chocolate waffles, anyone?). They also offer a ‘seyami’ (vegan) menu as well.
Felfela
Locations: Downtown Cairo
Opening hours: 9 am – midnight
A family favorite since 1959, Felfela has been one of those classic Cairo places to head to for a weekend breakfast or brunch. They have all the beloved Egyptian breakfast staples, as well as a few signature dishes like the ‘taameya katkouta’ – Felfela’s version of a scotch egg.
Mo Bistro
Locations: Mohandiseen, Sheikh Zayed
Opening hours: 10 am – 1 am
Remember Cafe Mo? Well it evolved into Mo Bistro. Opening at 10 am, it’s targeted more to the late breakfasters and brunchers. They have nice diversity on their breakfast menu, with everything from English, American and Oriental breakfasts to Benedict Florentine to grilled cheese sandwiches and eggplant breakfast quesadillas.
Mo’s menu.
Koffee Kulture
Location: Sheikh Zayed, Palm Hills
Opening hours: 7:30 am – midnight
One of the breakfast and coffee stars of Arkan Plaza in Sheikh Zayed (and Palm Hills as well). Koffee Kulture’s menu features all sorts of omelettes, eggs Benedict, tortilla egg wraps, sandwiches, bagels, open-faced sourdough loaves, a bakery, and a ton of coffee options.
Willow’s
Locations: Sheikh Zayed
Opening hours: 9 am – midnight
This international restaurant in Arkan has a hefty breakfast and brunch menu: omelettes, different types of Eggs Benedict, egg bread bowls, French Toast, pancakes, breakfast platters and cheese platters, ‘Pizza Barca’ (a type of pizza breakfast boat with eggs), yogurt parfait, sandwiches, salads and a bakery. And tons of breakfast drinks while you’re at it!
Willow’s menu.
Andrea Mariouteya
Location: New Giza, 6th October
Opening hours: 11 am – 12 pm
A family breakfast/brunch favorite for over 60 years, Andrea Mariouteya is known for their freshly-made feteer meshaltet served with honey and molasses, as well as their large egg platters (perfect for groups), fuul, taameya and other Egyptian breakfast essentials.
Bocca
Location: Mohandiseen, New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed
Opening hours: 10 am – 2 am
Just check out that Truffled Melted Croque! Bocca doesn’t have as extensive a breakfast menu as some of the other restaurants on this list, but the few dishes they offer are crowd pleasers.
Eatery
Locations: New Cairo, Sheikh Zayed
Opening hours: 10 am – midnight
Eatery has a full-on international breakfast menu: everything from fuul and falafel to pancakes, waffles and avocado toast. They also have breakfast sandwiches and a ‘healthy corner’ of the menu — chia seed parfait, anyone?
Eatery’s menu.
Paul
Locations: New Cairo, City Stars, Mall of Egypt, Mall of Arabia, Heliopolis, Mohandiseen
Opening hours: 8 am – midnight
King of the French breakfast, Paul offers everything from eggs to pastries to breakfast bowls to savory halloumi pancakes.
Paul’s menu.
El Torr
Location: Mohandiseen
Opening hours: 8 am – 2 am
Known for their creative twists on fuul (they have Maharajah, Armenian and Mexican fuul — all are must-tries), El Torr is a great delivery breakfast option.
El Torr’s menu.
Bashandy
Location: Nasr City, New Cairo
Opening hours: 24/7
Bashandy or ‘Am Bashandy, its official name, is a Nasr City staple for Egyptian street food and breakfast (pick-up or delivery only). And get this – they’re open 24 hours! So whether you want breakfast at 4 am or 4 pm, Bashandy is your go-to. They also have a second branch in New Cairo.
Bashandy’s menu.
Bittersweet
Location: Sheikh Zayed, New Giza, Grand Egyptian Museum
Opening hours: 9 am – 11 pm
Looking to elevate your morning coffee? Look no further than pairing an espresso with Bittersweet’s insane O’Smores. If that shot of caffeine and sugar won’t wake you up, probably nothing much will! (They also have other ‘normal’ breakfast selections for those who don’t want to be wired for the rest of the day).
Brioche Dorée
Location: Sheikh Zayed, New Cairo, Dandy Mall (6th October), Maadi, Nasr City
Opening hours: 7 am – 12 am
A French bakery/cafe chain that’s been going strong across the globe for over 40 years now. They’re loved for their pastries, fresh bread, sandwiches and assortment of breakfast and brunch items.
Brioche Dorée’s menu.
Ratios Bakery
Location: Maadi
Opening hours: 7:30 am – 2 pm
This famous Maadi bakery offers different types of fresh bread (white sourdough, whole wheat sourdough, cranberry & walnut sourdough, baguettes, seed bread, honey buns, pizza dough), croissants, Danish, sandwiches, pastries, cakes, tarts, cookies, brownies and more.
They get crowded quickly, so it’s best to reserve.
Ratios Bakery’s menu.
LOCAL TIP: While these breakfast spots might be great, we have to give a shout out to the real Egyptian breakfast champions, the fuul and taameya carts. They’ll always be #1.
You might also like: 10 Best Breakfast, Brunch and Bakeries in Maadi
