When it comes to location, Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel is close to unbeatable. A few minutes stroll from Giza Pyramids, and facing the nearly completed Egyptian Grand Museum, the 5–star property offers spectacular views and gracious hospitality, it’s probably one of the best places to eat near the pyramids. Great for tourists, you may say. We will let you in on our secret then: Lotus restaurant offers some of the best cuisine we have come across in quite a while. Michelin-star standard, beautifully presented and worth a drive from any part of town, this gem is our latest discovery.
Signature Dishes & Dishes Sampled
Both the à-la-carte menu and the rich buffet have outstanding dishes, and we learned that the Shrimp with Seafood Pâté and Beef Filet with Balsamic Glaze are extremely popular items.
We were easily tempted by the refreshing cocktails on offer, and cooled down with an Electric Iced Tea, a Raspberry Piña Colada and a Strawberry Virgin Mojito before even thinking about food. The deceptively innocent-looking Electric Ice Tea and Raspberry Piña Colada had quite a kick to them, be warned, and we are sure the barista will be happy to divulge the mix.
Nicely relaxed, we still snapped to attention when our starter arrived. A plate so perfectly crafted, it was a shame to cut into it. Succulent pink shrimp, sea bass pâté neatly encased in smoked salmon, a dainty round of vegetables and pistachios in aspic, a shrimp pâté lollipop, all set off with a cheese and beetroot tuile. It tasted every bit as good as it looked. We followed up with a Sweet Potato Soup and a small selection of the many appetizers on the buffet, but still left space for the generously proportioned Angus Beef Filet that arrived with a flourish. Tender, and cooked to just the right point, the beef was set off by a rich balsamic-based demi-glace reduction and came accompanied by a creamy potato purée, eggplant and zucchini. Again, we just had to try a small portion of sea bass from the buffet, along with a little osso bucco, in order to prime ourselves for our next visit.
Dessert was another triumph, a small tower of precisely tempered chocolate, encasing sponge, fruit and an indulgent chocolate mousse. A shame to destroy such perfection, but hey, we knew that it would be too good to miss out on. We also couldn’t resist raiding the dessert buffet for a few choice Oriental and French pastries, they were far too tempting. Our conclusion? Lotus simply must be added to the list of reasons to visit the spectacular Giza plateau, so please take note.
Other Menu Options that Appealed: The buffet was one of the most inviting we have seen, with the same attractive presentation and attention to detail as the à-la-carte menu. We would love to explore it further.
Décor and Ambience
Situated a few steps from the lobby area, Lotus is spacious and airy, with attractive lighting features setting off the lotus shaped columns throughout. The feel is relaxed with just the right level of activity to keep it interesting. With tourism surging again, there was a multicultural ambience that we enjoyed.
Thumbs up: Paper straws are used throughout, respecting the environment.
Clientele mix: On our visit we saw mainly foreign visitors, along with a few locals who had been smart enough to discover the great cuisine.
Price range: Mid-range upwards, but worth the splurge.
Contact information
Opening hours: 24 hour à la carte menu, with a breakfast buffet from 6 am to 10:30
am and a dinner buffet from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
Address: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel. Beginning of Cairo/ Alexandria Desert Road,
opposite Egyptian Grand Museum.
Tel: 02 3377 1782 (Cairo Pyramids Hotel switchboard can connect)
Facebook: @SteigenbergerPyramids
