Suhoor Places in Ramadan: Where to Have Suhoor in Cairo and Egypt

The best suhoor places in Ramadan in Egypt are the cafés around Al-Hussein Mosque and Khan El Khalili in historic Cairo, the lit-up length of Al-Muizz Street, the Ramadan tents set up by the big hotels along the Nile, and the local ful and ta'meya shops that stay open all night in every neighbourhood. Suhoor is the meal eaten before dawn, before the day's fast begins, and in Egypt it is as much a night out as a meal. Visitors of any faith are welcome to join.

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on about 8 February and end on about 8 March 2027; the exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon. This guide covers the kinds of places Cairo locals go for suhoor and how to fit them into a trip.

Suhoor (also written suhur or sohour) is the pre-dawn meal that Muslims eat before the fast starts at dawn. In Egypt it is usually eaten between about midnight and 3:00, after the evening prayers. In old neighbourhoods a mesaharati still walks the streets with a small drum before dawn, calling residents by name to wake up for suhoor.

Iftar, the meal at sunset that breaks the fast, is the family meal; suhoor is the social one. Friends meet late at night in cafés and tents, and the streets of Cairo are busier at 1:00 than at noon.

Al-Hussein and Khan El Khalili

The square in front of Al-Hussein Mosque is the centre of Ramadan nights in Cairo. Families and groups of friends fill the cafés around the square and in the lanes of the bazaar, including El Fishawy, one of the oldest cafés in the city, with its mirrors and brass trays. Order tea with mint, sahlab or a fresh juice, eat ful and ta'meya from the nearby stalls, and stay to watch the crowds. It is busy, noisy and very Egyptian. Read our guides to Al-Hussein Mosque and Khan El Khalili.

Al-Muizz Street

The medieval street of Al-Muizz, a short walk from Al-Hussein, is lit with lanterns during Ramadan, and its mosques and madrasas are floodlit. It is pedestrian, so walking it at night before or after suhoor is a pleasure. See our article on Al-Muizz Street.

Hotel Ramadan tents

Most large hotels in Zamalek, Garden City, along the Nile Corniche and near the pyramids set up a Ramadan tent (khaima) with oriental decoration, live music, shisha and a suhoor menu or buffet. They are the most comfortable choice for visitors, with clean kitchens and easy reservations. Book ahead for the weekends, when they fill with Cairo's families and companies.

Ful and ta'meya shops

For the real local suhoor, follow the queue at any busy ful shop in downtown, Sayeda Zeinab or Heliopolis. A plate of ful medames, fresh ta'meya, salad and baladi bread costs very little and is exactly what most Egyptians eat before the fast.

Dinner cruises and Nile boats

Some Nile restaurant boats run late during Ramadan, with music and food after iftar. Check the sailing times, as they change during the month.

• Alexandria: ful and falafel shops in the old centre and fish restaurants on the Corniche stay open late; the sea air makes Ramadan nights here pleasant.
• Luxor and Aswan: quieter nights; hotel restaurants and Nile-side cafés serve suhoor, and in Aswan the Nubian villages have their own traditions.
• Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada: resorts and the cafés of Naama Bay and the Hurghada marina keep their usual tourist rhythm, with Ramadan menus and tents added.

• Ful medames: slow-cooked fava beans with oil, cumin and lemon, the classic Egyptian suhoor.
• Ta'meya: Egyptian falafel made with fava beans.
• Eggs, white cheese and yoghurt with baladi bread.
• Ramadan sweets: konafa and qatayef, filled pancakes with nuts or cream.
• Drinks: water above all, plus traditional Ramadan drinks such as qamar el-din (apricot), sobia, tamarind and carob.

More dishes in our list of the most common foods in Egypt.

• Timing: places get busy from about 23:00; the best atmosphere is between midnight and 2:00.
• Dress modestly in the old city, and respect people who are fasting: avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the street during the day.
• Reserve tents at hotels, especially on Thursday and Friday nights.
• Expect slower days: sites open and many shops close earlier in the afternoon during Ramadan, and traffic is heavy just before iftar.
• Take a taxi or Uber back late at night; the old city has few taxis passing after 2:00.

Travelling during the holy month is a special experience. Our guide on whether Ramadan is a good time to visit Egypt covers opening hours and what changes.

Our Cairo food tour can be scheduled at night during Ramadan, and the Cairo by night tour takes you through Al-Muizz Street and Khan El Khalili when they are at their most lively.

What time is suhoor in Egypt?

Suhoor is eaten before dawn, usually between midnight and about 3:00, and must be finished before the dawn call to prayer, which moves earlier or later with the season.

Can tourists go for suhoor?

Yes. Cafés, hotel tents and restaurants welcome everyone, whether or not they are fasting.

When is Ramadan 2027?

Ramadan 2027 is expected to start on about 8 February and end on about 8 March 2027, depending on the moon sighting.