A calm Ramadan experience at Al Khan by Granita

🍴 When it comes to Ramadan experiences in Cairo, there’s no shortage of options — from high-end tents to low-key, street-style experiences, we’re spoiled for choice. For our most recent late-night Ramadan excursion, we decided to have our suhoor with a side of great views, and where better than Al Azhar Park’s Al Khan by Granita ?

A gorgeous Arabesque-style restaurant sitting smack on the park’s lake, Al Khan checks all the boxes for a proper Ramadan night on paper. Our latest visit, however, threw us a curveball — here’s what went down: Throughout the holy month, Al Khan boasts Iftar and suhoor menus brimming with oriental staples, live entertainment with tanoura shows and oud players, and an all-you-can-eat menu — unfortunately, we missed out on most of it…

… And found ourselves in an entirely different — yet very pleasant — situation. Having visited the restaurant on a weeknight, we weren’t expecting a full house, yet we didn’t expect to be one of just a few tables occupied. That, it turns out, was a blessing in disguise. Naturally, the buffet was slashed in favor of a set menu featuring oriental mezzes — labneh, falafel, baba ghanoug, bessara, fattoush, halloumi — alongside two ful dishes, two egg dishes, and feteer meshaltet.

With dreams of buffet trips squashed, we soon realized that our visit on a rather quiet night was exactly what we needed — it felt like a private, intimate experience. The stellar view, the soft Arabic oud music, and the ambiance soon made up for what we had feared would be a dull experience, leaving room for company to be enjoyed and conversations to be had. We had no qualms about the food, and both flavor and variety were on point, making for a thoroughly enjoyable meal — though we did have to eat fast, seeing as the outdoor-only setting threatened to cool our meal faster than we could say Ramadan Kareem.

We have no doubt that on weekends the place would be packed — at least we were told as much. Though on weeknights, we’d recommend only visiting if you’re looking for an escape from the crowds. If you’re a large group, then Al Khan proves the perfect destination. Operating hours, however, are tied to the park’s own, which closes at midnight, so be sure you plan for an early night.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Al Khan by Granita is located in Al Azhar Park, Cairo. Reservations are required, and you can make yours by contacting them through Instagram.

💵 Per person: EGP 1k

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes