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

We all deserve to treat ourselves to a lavish meal out every now and then, especially when Gouna season is in full throttle. A memorable dining experience is about more than food and service. Eating out is also an excellent opportunity to unwind and enjoy a delicious meal in a cosy atmosphere; this is where TLT Concepts came into play with their newest bohemian concept: Villa Coconut. After the great success of Lemon Tree & Co., giving this new homey yet exclusive spot a visit is a must when visiting Gouna.

While strolling the beaches of Downtown Gouna, we stumbled upon Villa Coconut’s unique vibe and music; we decided to book a table for the evening to enjoy a few cocktails and a meal on their captivating lagoon-side tables. As we entered the outrageously spacious venue, we took a tour of the place; the decor is eccentric, homey, and aesthetic, but still comfy and exclusive – everything you would want from an unforgettable evening out. We got to our table and ordered two cocktails: we got one Wasabi Martini (330 LE) – vodka, Triple Sec., wasabi, and lemon juice, and one Smoked Bloody Mary (310 LE) – vodka, Bloody Mary mix [sic], Tabasco, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Both cocktails were beyond amazing; the wasabi in the martini wasn’t overpowering, while the Bloody Mary was flawlessly seasoned and balanced. For our second round of drinks, we ordered a Cosmpolitan (290 LE) – Vodka, Triple Sec., cranberry Juice, citrus, and an Irish Iced Tea (330 LE) – typically made with Irish whiskey, iced tea, and lime. Again, the cocktails didn’t disappoint; the citrusy and mellow sweet tones were pleasurable and palatable.

While we enjoyed our drinks, we decided to get the Cold Trio (292 LE) from the starters section – grilled eggplant with turmeric hummus, tomato bruschetta, and cocktail skewers. The bruschetta was zesty and garden-fresh; however, the turmeric hummus needed more seasoning to shine. The mozzarella, tomato, basil, and melon skewers were fresh but needed a sauce to bind the flavours together. We went with sushi and the Citrus Calamari Black Risotto (422 LE) – citrus squid ink risotto, seared calamari, creamy stracciatella cheese, fresh herbs, and black pepper as our main dishes of the night. The calamari was tender and perfectly cooked, the cheese was stretchy and creamy, but the risotto’s salty, zesty flavour profile might have overpowered the dish a bit. Moreover, the Geisha Roll (228 LE) and the Shrimp Tograshi (209 LE) were quite delectable; the freshness of the salmon, shrimp, avocado, and fillings was noticeable, while the portion size complemented our cocktails quite well.

To end this beautiful night, we finally decided to get the Not An Apple Pie (182 LE) from the dessert section – oven-baked cinnamon apple with ice cream and sugar cookies. The mix was rather successful; the velvety ice cream seamlessly went great with the warm spiced apple and mildly sweet crunchy cookies.

Our fine-dining experience at Villa Coconut was undoubtedly gratifying, from the cosy-chic ambience and service to the fantastic cocktails and fresh ingredients. If you’re in the mood to splurge and have some sunset fun or late-night shenanigans, then this is your spot for sure.