Whether you’re like me, a coffee aficionado, looking for a good coffee shop, or seeking an upgrade from the ubiquitous Nescafe that most restaurants in Egypt offer, or if you’re searching for a great spot to work for a few hours, this guide has you covered.
After a whirlwind tour of Egypt, I specifically headed to Dahab for remote work and relaxation. I was delighted to discover several coffee shops that are perfect for digital nomads and anyone working online. Below, you’ll find my favorite coffee shops in Dahab – places that offer excellent coffee, delicious food, and fast Wi-Fi.
While I found online work to be generally smooth in Dahab, there’s one caveat: I experienced multiple power outages during my stay in Dahab, which meant that the Wi-Fi was unavailable at times, sometimes for hours or even longer. This is not ideal for anyone relying on fast internet for Zoom calls or similar activities. My Orange SIM card didn’t work well. (According to Tom, Vodafone has the best internet coverage in Egypt.)
The Best Cafes in Dahab, Egypt
Pure White
This cafe is situated along the seafront in the heart of Dahab. It’s divided into two sections: one over the water and the other within a small building, separated by the main seafront promenade. The cafe offers excellent Wi-Fi inside, and as far as I know, it also extends to the part of the cafe over the water (at least the sofas closest to the main building).
I ordered a Flat White to test if the café’s name was apt, and it did not disappoint. They offer all the classic espresso beverages (hot or cold), as well as milkshakes, cakes, cold and hot sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items.
As far as I know, there’s only one power outlet (under the small table facing the window), but the outdoor seating area doesn’t have any power outlets (and the Wi-Fi doesn’t reach there anyway).
Location: On the main seafront promenade, south of the pedestrian overpass.
Opening Hours: 7 AM to midnight.
Ralph’s German Bakery
They not only offer a wide variety of German bread, rolls, and pastries but also serve delicious German breakfast platters, omelets, and salads. Their menu also includes cold and hot sandwiches.
The main branch is located on the main street (Peace Road) at the northern end of Dahab, a bit of a walk from the city center but larger than the downtown branch. The northern branch is more suitable for remote work, with most tables equipped with power outlets and reliable Wi-Fi. The downtown branch (El Fanar Street) has only three tables inside the bakery – most of the seating is outside without power outlets, but it’s perfect if you just want to enjoy a nice meal and great coffee.
Location: Along Peace Road, near the Asalah Square roundabout.
Opening Hours: Open from 7 AM to 8 PM.
Schonemanns Cafe
This café, situated by the Red Sea, opened in February 2022 when I was in Dahab and quickly became one of my favorites. The owner, Julia, hails from Hamburg, and she has built a lovely, sunlit cafe with about ten tables, large windows, and a stunning sea view. Schonemanns offers healthy breakfasts, salads, bowls, omelets, burritos, and a variety of homemade cakes, including many vegetarian options. All the ingredients come from the nearby Habiba Organic Farm.
The cafe itself and the presentation of dishes have a pleasing Instagram aesthetic, in stark contrast to the typical hippie style of most Dahab cafes. They even offer complimentary tap water – something I’ve only experienced at Schonemanns (and not just plain water – it comes with orange, cucumber, and lemon slices!). The food is also delicious, living up to the famed “German quality.”
During my visit, the Wi-Fi was a bit intermittent, but that’s the Dahab experience (I found Wi-Fi everywhere to be unreliable, except for Ralph’s).
Where? Located on the seafront promenade next to the Beach Garden Camp and Schonemanns Café.
Opening Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM.
Coffee Wheel
This cafe is right on the beach, just opposite Sindbad Camp. Part of the cafe is inside a small hut with large panoramic windows, and the other part is on the round stone beach outside. The Brugnetti espresso machine sits on a small wheeled cart, making it feel like this place was originally a coffee cart. Coffee Wheel offers only espresso coffee and tea (no food), and there’s no Wi-Fi.
Even without Wi-Fi, it’s a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee, listen to the sound of the waves, or simply gaze at the sea while sipping on a Flat White. There are two large tables inside, and plenty of comfortable couches around (with power outlets on the side). The coffee here is excellent.
Where? Located on the seafront promenade opposite Beach Garden Camp and Schonemanns.
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 9 PM.
Bayside Eatery
As the name suggests, Bayside Eatery is right by the bay, although their tables are not directly by the water. The restaurant is on the main seafront promenade, open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM, mainly offering breakfast dishes. You can find all the usual espresso coffee, tea, fresh juices, milkshakes, and smoothies.
The food selection is extensive, including fruit platters, Greek yogurt, cereals, croissants, sandwiches, salads, and soups. If you’re hungry, try their breakfast platters. They also offer various milk alternatives. Most tables in the restaurant have power outlets.
Where? Located on the promenade opposite the Fresh Fish Restaurant.
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 9 PM.
Le Coin
Le Coin has plenty of tables inside and a small outdoor terrace, but if you plan to work with your laptop, you might want to find a table indoors. There are many power outlets, and the Wi-Fi is the best I found in Dahab.
They have an espresso machine and all the classic espresso beverages, from cappuccinos to Flat Whites, and some unusual coffee drinks like Nutella coffee and Coffee Lotus. The menu also includes smoothies, iced lattes, milkshakes, and soft drinks. For food, they have sandwiches, salads, various breakfast options, chicken dishes for lunch, and a variety of cakes.
Where? Located on Blue Beach Road, in front of the Coral Coast Hotel.
Opening Hours: 7 AM to 10 PM.
Treats Cafe
Treats is a small cafe located at the northern end of Dahab, right on the main road. It’s a small cafe with only a few tables, but their coffee is strong, and the Wi-Fi is robust! If you need it, there are a few tables near power outlets.
They also have cookies and cakes (such as cheesecake, chocolate cake, carrot cake, honey cake) and vegan soups.
Where? Located on Peace Road, north of the Asalah Square roundabout, about a 4-minute walk.
Opening Hours: 9 AM to 11 PM.
Shanti Cafe
Shanti Cafe, also located at the northern end of Dahab, just a few minutes away from Treats, offers a delightful atmosphere with lush greenery and intriguing wall art. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi isn’t very fast but sufficient for some online research.
Shanti Cafe provides all the common espresso beverages (with milk alternatives available), tea, fresh juices (including some vegetable juices like ginger, lemon, basil, and cucumber), and a variety of food items: breakfast dishes, pasta, rice, salads, sandwiches, panini, and soups.
The only drawback for me was that the front area of the cafe is a smoking zone; however, the back room is spacious and smoke-free.
Location: Corner of Peace Road, near the Sinai Market supermarket.
Opening Hours: Open from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM.
Coffee Corner
Coffee Corner is situated at the corner of Peace Road and El Fanar Street, just two doors down from Xat Delights. The owner and his staff are among the friendliest people I met in Dahab, and they take pride in serving the best coffee in Dahab.
Most of the seating at Coffee Corner is outdoors, and there are limited power outlets, but the Wi-Fi signal is strong. Apart from specialty coffee (hot or iced) and cakes, the menu includes breakfast items, pizzas, salads, and grilled chicken. They also offer two baked pasta dishes: Bolognese baked pasta and vegetarian baked pasta, both reasonably priced.
Location: Corner of Peace Road and El Fanar Street.
Opening Hours: Open from 8 AM to midnight.
XAT Delights
XAT Delights, located right next to Coffee Corner, is a charming breakfast/daytime cafe, with most of its seating outdoors. This means it can get quite warm in the warmer months, even with a few fans. They have Wi-Fi and plenty of seating. Their breakfast platter is fantastic, and the cakes and pastries are delicious. You can find all the common coffee beverages on XAT Delights’ menu.
Location: Corner of Peace Road and El Fanar Street.
Opening Hours: Open from 7 AM to 7 PM.
Brooklyn Cafe
If you want to work on your laptop, this small cafe on Dahab’s main street isn’t ideal, as it has only a few tables and is quite small. However, if you just want to enjoy a cup of coffee (e.g., a large Americano for EGP 25) or a cappuccino (EGP 30 for medium/EGP 35 for large), it’s perfect. What’s the main attraction of cafes away from the beach? They are more budget-friendly. Brooklyn Cafe is no exception. Besides espresso beverages, they offer juices and smoothies, frappes, milkshakes, and sodas. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try their Nutella coffee (small EGP 21/large EGP 26). Apart from a few chocolate bars, they don’t have any food. The Wi-Fi works well.
Location: Tawfik El Hakim Street.
Opening Hours: Open from 8 AM to midnight.
Other Cafes in Dahab
Villa 42
I wanted to try the food at Villa 42 – mainly Russian cuisine, including potato draniki and Sirniki – but every time I went there, the Wi-Fi was unavailable. The food looked delicious, and I think it’s a great place for breakfast or lunch if you don’t need Wi-Fi (they have plenty of meat-centric dishes but also offer vegetarian options).
Magic Coworking
I was excited when I discovered a coworking cafe in Dahab, but upon investigation, I found the dedicated coworking space upstairs to be less appealing. So, I decided to work in one of my favorite cafes. If you need a quiet workspace or plan to work late into the evening (they’re open until 10 PM), this might be a good option. The Wi-Fi is evidently the fastest and most reliable in Dahab.
