While so many travelers make a day trip of the pyramids—having a quick meal at one of the vendors in the area and hightailing it out of Giza Governorate—the city is a destination in itself if you know where to eat and stay. Any overnight in Giza should be spent sleeping beneath the pyramids, which is possible at the historic Mena House Hotel, a legendary stay that dates back to the 1860s and is now a freshly restored Marriott. The gold-gilded lobby and spectacular balconies overlooking the pyramids are just a stone’s throw away from the Necropolis, where you’ll easily pass a half or whole day. The adjacent Sheikh Zayed City is a modern hub with lots of green spaces, dining, and activities to enjoy.
Once you’re checked in, Abdel Ghaffar advises beginning in the shadow of the city, between Sheikh Zayed and the pyramids, with a meal at Andrea, which has been a family-dining institution for three decades: “You can’t go wrong; it’s very typical Egyptian food and good value for [your] money,” she says of the restaurant, which also happens to be where she got married some years ago. “It’s always an amazing experience, and it’s very close to the pyramids.” Abdel Ghaffar recommends a breakfast of feteer, a flaky pastry topped with honey and nuts. For lunch or dinner, the traditional grilled quail, she says, is a must-try, and crowd-pleasers like mezze and grape leaves (mahshy) are perfect for sharing.
Also near the pyramids is Khufu’s restaurant, where visitors can taste traditional recipes with a side of the Necropolis. “The owner worked on recipes that are ancient Egyptian, but with a contemporary twist,” Abdel Ghaffar says. “So you have duck, because Ancient Egyptians didn’t have chicken but they had duck, they had a lot of fish. It’s incredible and you can enjoy a glass of wine, and you’re literally a few meters away from the pyramids so it’s a beautiful location.”
For an activity beyond the trekking you’ll do around the pyramids, Sheikh Zayed City also offers the Alegria Golf Course, a world-class golfing complex with 18 holes. For those who’d prefer to stay closer to the sites, there’s also one at Mena House. “In Giza you actually have beautiful golf courses, and the one at Mena House is one of the oldest golf courses here—you can play at the foot of the pyramids.”
