Editor Pick
Oasis Café and Gallery
You remember in the movie Casablanca they say "Everybody comes to Rick's"? I think in Luxor everybody comes to the Oasis Cafe.
Oasis Cafe is very nice and plush, if sedate. It is not the largest place in the world, being a series of interconnected rooms off a main lobby. The waiters wear tarboushes, there are 1920's photos on the walls, and they have the International Herald Tribune for reading. The clientele tend towards to the genteel rather than backpackers, and the prices reflect this. But what the American owner and his English friend have done is create a restful... well... oasis in the centre of Luxor's hustle.
The cusisine is well cooked and Western, which is welcome after a week of fuul, koshary and shish tawouk. Most people went for burgers, but I opted for steak and rice. The waiter offered me the choice of medium or well-done, but was perfectly happy with my request for medium-rare (maybe a sop to travellers' worries about whether they can trust the local meat?). Anyway, the steak was fab and juicy. In addition to the bed of rice it came with a plate absolutely full of side-salad. The burger-eaters seemed to enjoy the scran just as much as me - they were real two-handed jobs. Equally large are the fresh fruit juices: 'small' are LE10, large are LE15.
I was more than happy to have a proper dessert. What a delight. I was tempted by a selection of muffins, but went for home-made lattice-topped apple pie, made from the owner's brother's own recipe. It came served with vanilla ice cream, and was a little taste of back home.
Steak, apple pie, and two large orange juices just topped LE100, which is pretty expensive for Egypt, but I think it was worthwhile. For those missing home comforts the food here is top-notch, and the American owner obviously cares about the little things that go towards creating a restful and memorable environment. It is maybe more of a lunch venue than an evening dinner one, but I would certainly recommend Oasis Cafe.
From journal Sunrise, Sunset: 24 Hours in Luxor
Oasis Café and Gallery
- November 7, 2004
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Dabu from Luxor, Egypt
This place had a very interesting menu and was in a refurbished old building. There was lots of art and photos. They had good espresso and cappuccino, fresh-baked muffins and scones, sandwiches, salads, soups, and omelets. There was good music and a good atmosphere. It was a good place to hang out and chill.
From journal Enjoying Luxor