The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

The hippie hotspot of Dahab is famous for its laid back lifestyle and world class diving. The town’s  beach promenade is dotted with restaurants serving up the typical backpacker diet of burgers, fish and pancakes. But within a few days, this fare can grow tiresome and that’s where Athanor comes in.

Located in Dahab’s popular Lighthouse district, the Athanor cafe and pizzeria is a real treat for those who enjoy traditional Italian fare.

At the time of our visit, the ambience of the restaurant was that of a bustling Italian pizzeria as customers chatted while a solitary waiter dashed around serving up piping hot dishes to the hungry masses. Despite a heavy workload, he was cheery and it wasn’t long before he took our order.

First off, we sampled a vanilla milkshake (15LE) which was tasty and satisfying. The consistency of the shake was thick and it could also serve as a chilled snack for those hoping to escape the summer heat. For our main course we decided to sample both a pizza and a pasta dish in a bid to test the authenticity of this Italian style eaterie

Thankfully Athanor succeeded on both fronts. We sampled the restaurant’s tuna pizza (24LE) and also enjoyed the Mediterranean penne (23LE). 

The pizza was light and crispy with a near perfect ratio of tasty tomato base and fresh melted cheese, while a liberal amount of fresh tuna was spread on top. The texture was crisp and crunchy and the use of fresh ingredients made for a satisfying and filling dish.

Meanwhile the pasta was perfectly cooked and the ingredients were fresh and tasty. The dish includes fresh green peppers, mushrooms and olives with a hint of garlic topped with olive oil, oregano and black pepper. When fused together they created a satisfying and sumptuous meal which is simply full of flavour.

One aspect which renders Athanor as less than perfect is the restaurant’s lack of an alcohol licence. However, the management are more than happy to allow customers to bring their own and their is an alcohol store within a few moments walk.

The restaurant menu also featured an impressive array of Italian and Brazilian coffees at very reasonable prices and we will definitely be returning to try them out on a future date. Likewise, the dessert menu also looks promising

Price-wise, Athanor was also pleasing with none of the marked-up tourist price tags found at many restaurants along the beach strip.

In all, Athanor offers a tasty alternative to the usual Dahab fare or a place to enjoy a coffee in a cosy and friendly environment at reasonable prices. A must visit for Dahabians and tourists alike.