The Red Sea Governorate is Egypt's premier coastal destination, stretching over 1,200km along the Red Sea coast and offering world-class diving, pristine coral reefs, and luxury beach resorts. From the bustling resort hub of Hurghada to the unspoiled shores of Marsa Alam, this governorate combines natural wonders with modern amenities. The region attracts millions of visitors annually seeking underwater adventures, desert safaris, and sun-soaked relaxation.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Moby Dick Restaurant
Moby Dick is a Hurghada institution, one of the oldest and most beloved restaurants in the city, serving fresh Red Sea fish and seafood in a relaxed setting near the marina. The daily catch includes grouper, red snapper, calamari, and prawns — all grilled to order over charcoal. The open-air terrace overlooking the Hurghada marina is a wonderful spot for a leisurely dinner watching the boats return from the sea.
Known for: Fresh daily catch grilled over charcoal — the freshest seafood in Hurghada
Sheraton Road, Hurghada Marina, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
La Plage
La Plage is El Gouna's most romantic restaurant, set on a wooden deck above the water at Abu Tig Marina with panoramic views of the lagoon and the marina. The menu focuses on fresh Mediterranean cuisine — grilled fish, pasta, risotto, and wood-fired pizza — using high-quality imported and local ingredients. The cocktail menu is excellent and the wine list features bottles from Italy, France, and Lebanon.
Known for: Mediterranean cuisine with stunning marina views — ideal for a sunset dinner
Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Abu Khadeiga
Abu Khadeiga is the local legend of Hurghada's Ad-Dahar neighborhood, a no-frills Egyptian restaurant serving authentic local food to workers, fishermen, and budget travelers since the 1980s. The menu includes koshary (Egypt's national dish of rice, lentils, and pasta), foul medames, grilled chicken, and fresh bread from the wood-fired oven. The prices are absurdly low, the portions generous, and the food genuinely delicious.
Known for: Authentic Egyptian street food at local prices — best koshary in Hurghada
Ad-Dahar, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Jokers Restaurant El Gouna
Jokers is one of El Gouna's most popular and lively restaurants, set in the heart of the downtown area near the central square. The restaurant serves a broad menu of burgers, pasta, seafood, Egyptian dishes, and salads in a convivial atmosphere popular with expats, visitors, and local El Gouna residents. The terrace is particularly pleasant in the evening and the cocktail menu is extensive.
Known for: The social hub of El Gouna — reliable food in a lively atmosphere
Downtown El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Kiki's Restaurant
Kiki's is El Gouna's most intimate fine dining experience, a small French-influenced restaurant tucked in the lagoon-side development with tables overlooking the water. The menu changes seasonally and focuses on classical French techniques with Red Sea fish and locally sourced produce. The duck confit, rack of lamb, and fish meuniere are outstanding. Reservations are essential — the restaurant has only 30 covers.
Known for: El Gouna's finest European dining — book at least 48 hours in advance
El Gouna Lagoon Area, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Papillon Restaurant
Papillon is a popular open-air restaurant at the Abu Tig Marina in El Gouna, known for its reliably good food, fair prices, and excellent waterfront location. The menu covers all bases from pasta and pizza to fresh fish and Egyptian mezze. It is particularly popular for lunch, when the marina terrace is buzzing with returning kite surfers, divers, and day-trippers.
Known for: Reliable all-day dining with a perfect marina terrace — ideal for a post-dive lunch
Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Little Buddha Hurghada
Little Buddha is the most glamorous restaurant and bar in Hurghada, housed in a spectacular multi-level venue with a giant golden Buddha statue and theatrical Asian-inspired decor. The menu spans Japanese sushi and sashimi, Thai curries, Vietnamese spring rolls, and fusion dishes that blend Asian flavors with Red Sea ingredients. The cocktail bar is exceptional and the DJ atmosphere makes this the perfect night out in Hurghada.
Known for: Hurghada's most spectacular dining venue — Asian fusion with theatrical cocktail bar
Hurghada Marina, Sakala, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Elysees Restaurant
Elysees at the Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel is Hurghada's premier hotel fine dining experience, offering beautifully prepared international and Egyptian dishes in an elegant beachfront setting. The kitchen is headed by European-trained Egyptian chefs who excel at both classical European cooking and refined presentations of Egyptian cuisine. The seafood mezze and grilled fish are highlights.
Known for: Hurghada's most refined hotel dining — exceptional seafood and Egyptian cuisine
Steigenberger Al Dau Beach, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Seafood
Sea Horse Restaurant
Sea Horse is a family-run seafood restaurant near the Hurghada fishing harbor, where you can choose your fish from the daily catch display and have it cooked exactly to your specification. The freshness is unbeatable — fish caught the same morning appear on the menu by lunchtime. The traditional Egyptian spiced fish preparation with cumin, coriander, and fresh herbs is outstanding.
Known for: Choose your own fish from the morning's catch and have it cooked to order
Near Fishing Harbor, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
El Gouna Fish Market
The El Gouna Fish Market is a fresh-catch restaurant at Abu Tig Marina where diners select their fish from a display counter of the morning's catch, then choose a cooking method. The result is arguably the freshest seafood dining in the Red Sea region. The outdoor setting by the marina is beautiful and the prices are reasonable given the quality.
Known for: Choose your fish from the fresh display counter — ultra-fresh marina dining
Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Bab El Mina
Bab El Mina ('Gateway to the Port') is a popular Egyptian restaurant at the Hurghada marina with a pleasant outdoor terrace. The menu features Egyptian mezze, freshly grilled fish, and traditional meat dishes at moderate prices. It is a favorite for pre-dive breakfasts and post-dive lunches among the diving community.
Known for: Popular with the diving community — excellent breakfast before morning dive trips
Hurghada Marina, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Segara Restaurant Marsa Alam
Segara is a small, charming restaurant at Port Ghalib marina in Marsa Alam, run by an Indonesian-Egyptian family serving a unique fusion of Red Sea seafood with Indonesian spices. The fish curries, nasi goreng with local prawns, and satay platters are delicious and entirely unlike anything else in the region. Divers and travelers who discover Segara often make it their daily dining destination during a Marsa Alam stay.
Known for: Unique Indonesian-Egyptian fusion — the most distinctive restaurant in Marsa Alam
Port Ghalib Marina, Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Captain's Inn Hurghada
Captain's Inn is a nautical-themed restaurant and bar at the Hurghada marina popular for its relaxed atmosphere, cold Sakara beer, and reliably good fish and chips, calamari, and seafood platters. The waterfront terrace is a great spot to watch the dive boats returning in the afternoon and catch a sea breeze over an early evening meal.
Known for: Relaxed marina bar and grill — cold beer and seafood with a sea view
Hurghada Marina, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Le Meridien Beach Restaurant
The beachfront restaurant at Hurghada's Le Meridien resort offers refined international dining with spectacular Red Sea views. The dinner menu features an impressive seafood selection, prime imported meats, and a well-curated wine list. The Sunday brunch buffet is one of the most lavish in Hurghada, attracting hotel guests and outside visitors alike.
Known for: Sunday brunch buffet and lobster — Hurghada's most lavish hotel dining experience
Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Safaga Fresh Fish Restaurant
A simple, family-run restaurant near Safaga's fishing harbor serving extraordinarily fresh Red Sea fish at prices that make Hurghada look expensive. The catch varies daily depending on what the fishermen brought in, and the kitchen prepares it simply — grilled with spices, or fried with fresh bread and salads. This is how Red Sea fish has been eaten for centuries.
Known for: Ultra-fresh harbor fish at rock-bottom prices — the most authentic seafood on the coast
Safaga Harbor, Safaga, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Quseir Fort Restaurant
A charming small restaurant near Quseir's Ottoman fort serving simple Egyptian seafood and traditional food to locals and the few tourists who venture this far south. The grilled fish is always fresh from local fishermen, and the foul and Egyptian breakfast served from 7am is excellent. The setting in the historic old town with views of the Ottoman fortress makes this an atmospheric stop on any journey south of Hurghada.
Known for: Simple, authentic Egyptian seafood near the historic Ottoman fort
Near Ottoman Fort, Quseir, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Orca Restaurant Shagra
The restaurant at Orca Dive Club's Shagra Village north of Marsa Alam is a beloved gathering spot for the international diving community. The menu features simple but well-prepared international dishes including pasta, pizza, fresh fish, and a legendary breakfast buffet that fuels divers for morning dive trips. The beachside setting and relaxed atmosphere make it a highlight of any stay at Shagra.
Known for: The heart of the Shagra diving community — legendary diver's breakfast and fresh seafood
Shagra Village, Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Egyptian
Fares Restaurant
Fares is a beloved local restaurant in Ad-Dahar, popular with Egyptian families and tourists in the know for its outstanding grilled meats, fresh-baked Egyptian bread, and excellent mezze at fair prices. The mixed grill platter featuring kofta, chicken, and lamb is a highlight, and the homemade tahini and baba ganoush are some of the best in Hurghada.
Known for: Outstanding grilled meats and Egyptian mezze at local prices
Ad-Dahar, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Alf Leila Wa Leila (Thousand and One Nights)
Alf Leila Wa Leila is Hurghada's most theatrical dining experience — a large Egyptian dinner show restaurant with a nightly Nubian music and dance show, belly dancing performance, and tanoura spinning show during dinner. The set menu features a generous spread of Egyptian mezze, grilled meats, and traditional desserts. It is popular with groups and resort guests looking for a memorable evening out.
Known for: Egyptian dinner show with belly dancing, Nubian music, and traditional food
Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Oriental Night Restaurant
Oriental Night is a traditional Egyptian restaurant in the Hurghada marina area specializing in home-style Egyptian cooking. The menu features regional dishes rarely found in tourist restaurants — including mulukhiyah (jute leaf stew), feteer meshaltet (layered pastry), and hawawshi (spiced meat in bread). It is popular with Egyptian families and visitors seeking the real taste of Egypt.
Known for: Home-style Egyptian regional dishes rarely available in tourist restaurants
Hurghada Corniche, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Papyrus Tea House
Papyrus Tea House is a charming traditional cafe in Hurghada's El Dahar bazaar district, serving Egyptian ahwa (coffee), mint tea, karkade (hibiscus tea), and light snacks in a relaxed Egyptian atmosphere with cushioned seating and shisha. It is a wonderful place to take a break from shopping in the bazaar and experience a slice of authentic Egyptian cafe culture.
Known for: Authentic Egyptian cafe experience in the bazaar — traditional ahwa and shisha
El Dahar Bazaar, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Sinbad Restaurant Hurghada
Sinbad is a long-established Hurghada restaurant near the El Dahar district that combines Egyptian and international cuisine in a relaxed setting popular with both locals and tourists. The menu spans Egyptian grilled meats, pasta, sandwiches, and seafood at reasonable prices. The mixed grill and fresh-squeezed juices are highlights.
Known for: Reliable Egyptian and international menu at fair prices — local institution since the 1990s
El Dahar, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
International
The Hub El Gouna
The Hub is a casual sports bar and restaurant in El Gouna's downtown area, popular with kitesurfers, expats, and young travelers for its relaxed atmosphere, large screen sports TV, excellent burgers, and cold beer. The outdoor terrace is lively most evenings and it is one of the best places to meet fellow travelers.
Known for: The social heart of El Gouna for sports, cold beer, and casual food
Downtown El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Sharkys Sports Bar Hurghada
Sharkys is Hurghada's most popular sports bar and pub, showing live international football, rugby, and cricket on multiple screens. The menu covers all pub food bases — burgers, wings, nachos, and fish and chips — alongside cold Heineken and Sakara beer on tap. It is the best place in Hurghada to watch major sporting events and meet fellow travelers.
Known for: Hurghada's go-to sports bar — cold beer, pub food, and live sports on multiple screens
Hurghada Marina Strip, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Italian
Portofino Restaurant Hurghada
Portofino is Hurghada's most popular Italian restaurant, serving genuinely good pasta, pizza, and Italian seafood dishes to a loyal crowd of expats and tourists on the marina promenade. The handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and tiramisu are reliable hits. The outdoor terrace is particularly pleasant on warm evenings.
Known for: Best Italian food in Hurghada with a pleasant marina terrace
Hurghada Marina Promenade, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Torno Subito El Gouna
Torno Subito is an upscale Italian restaurant at Abu Tig Marina in El Gouna, affiliated with Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura's international brand. The menu brings contemporary Italian cuisine to the Red Sea, with handmade pasta, Italian imported cheeses, and excellent risotto. The setting on the marina with views of moored yachts creates a European riviera atmosphere.
Known for: Authentic Italian fine dining at Abu Tig Marina — the most upscale Italian in the Red Sea
Abu Tig Marina, El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Bedouin
Bedouin Camp Dinner (Eastern Desert)
This is not a restaurant but a unique dining experience offered by several tour operators: a traditional Bedouin dinner in the Eastern Desert 20-30km outside Hurghada, served under the stars around a campfire. Guests arrive by jeep or camelback, are welcomed with Bedouin tea, and enjoy a traditional dinner of slow-cooked lamb (or chicken) with bread, salads, and dessert under the vast desert sky. The stargazing after dinner is unforgettable.
Known for: Unforgettable desert dining experience under the stars with Bedouin music and stargazing
Eastern Desert, 20-30km from Hurghada
Cafe
Breeze Cafe El Gouna
Breeze Cafe is a delightful coffee shop and breakfast spot on El Gouna's main square, serving excellent specialty coffee, fresh juices, and a wide selection of breakfast and brunch items. The outdoor terrace overlooking the central lagoon is a favorite morning gathering spot for El Gouna's expat community and well-traveled visitors. The avocado toast, shakshuka, and fresh croissants are excellent.
Known for: El Gouna's best breakfast spot — specialty coffee and brunch with lagoon views
Main Square, El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Fusion
Dusk Restaurant El Gouna
Dusk is El Gouna's sunset restaurant par excellence — a rooftop dining venue with panoramic views over the Red Sea lagoons that turns spectacular as the sun goes down. The fusion menu combines Middle Eastern flavors with European cooking techniques, creating dishes that are both familiar and surprising. The cocktail menu is creative and the atmosphere at sunset is genuinely magical.
Known for: El Gouna's finest sunset dining with panoramic lagoon views and innovative fusion cuisine
El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Indian
Tandoori Night Hurghada
Tandoori Night is Hurghada's best Indian restaurant, serving authentic North Indian cuisine with a proper clay tandoor oven, freshly ground spices, and an extensive vegetarian menu. The naan breads baked in the tandoor are outstanding, and the butter chicken and lamb rogan josh are reliably excellent. A good option for travelers wanting a break from seafood.
Known for: Authentic North Indian cuisine with real tandoor — excellent vegetarian options
Sakala, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Japanese
Bonsai Restaurant El Gouna
Bonsai is a sophisticated Japanese-inspired restaurant at the Mövenpick El Gouna, offering outstanding sushi, sashimi, and Japanese cuisine in an elegant setting. The fish for the sushi and sashimi is sourced directly from the Red Sea — the hamour, tuna, and barracuda sashimi are exceptional. A specialist Asian dessert menu rounds out a memorable dining experience.
Known for: Outstanding Red Sea fish sashimi and nigiri — the finest Japanese dining in the region
Mövenpick Resort El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Mediterranean
Casa del Mar Restaurant
Casa del Mar is a casual beachfront restaurant at Sahl Hasheesh offering a relaxed all-day dining experience with excellent views of the bay. The menu covers sandwiches, salads, pasta, fresh fish, and Egyptian dishes. The beachside sunbed dining option — where meals are served to your sunbed — is a wonderful luxury experience.
Known for: Beach-to-sunbed service and fresh seafood with stunning Sahl Hasheesh bay views
Sahl Hasheesh Bay, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Middle Eastern
The Sultana Restaurant
The Sultana is a beautifully decorated Egyptian restaurant in Hurghada's Sakala district, specializing in elevated interpretations of Egyptian and Levantine cuisine. The decor features ornate hand-painted tiles, brass lanterns, and traditional mashrabiya screens. The slow-cooked lamb dishes, stuffed pigeon, and excellent meze selection are highlights of the menu.
Known for: Elevated Egyptian and Levantine cuisine in atmospheric traditional decor
Sakala, Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
Food tours & tastings in Red Sea
Eat your way through Red Sea with a guide.
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Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Tipping practices vary — check local customs. Service charge is often included.
Restaurants may close between lunch and dinner. Plan meals around local dining hours.
Popular restaurants may not take reservations — arrive early or be prepared to wait.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |