Al Babinshal Restaurant

Siwa Oasis


On the roof of the hotel of the same name, this might just be the most romantic dining spot in the oases. Moodily lit in the evenings, it’s practically attached to the fortress of Shali and has sweeping views over all of Siwa. This is the place in town to try camel-meat stew.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Siwa Oasis attractions

1. Old Mosque

0.06 MILES

Just above the entrance to the Fortress of Shali is the old mosque with its distinctive chimney-shaped minaret. The mosque was recently restored and a…

2. Fortress of Shali

0.12 MILES

Central Siwa is dominated by the spectacular organic shapes of the remains of this 13th-century mud-brick fortress. Built from kershef (chunks of salt…

3. House of Siwa Museum

0.18 MILES

This small museum contains an interesting display of traditional clothing, jewellery and crafts typical of the oasis. It’s worth the entry fee just to…

4. Ain Al Arais

0.28 MILES

The closest spring to central Siwa is Ain Al Arais, a cool, inviting waterhole with a grotto-like bottom, just five minutes’ walk from the main market…

5. Tomb of Niperpathot

0.7 MILES

In the Tomb of Niperpathot, one of the oldest in the oasis, the inscriptions and crude drawings are made in the same reddish ink you can see on modern…

6. Tomb of the Crocodile

0.7 MILES

This tomb's name comes from its wall painting of a yellow crocodile representing the god Sobek. Many of the paintings inside are badly deteriorating.

7. Tomb of Si Amun

0.71 MILES

The best of Gebel Al Mawta's paintings are in this tomb, where beautifully coloured reliefs portray the dead man – thought to be a wealthy Greek landowner…

8. Tomb of Mesu-Isis

0.75 MILES

The unfinished Tomb of Mesu-Isis in Gebel Al Mawta is interesting for its beautiful depiction of cobras in red and blue above the entrance. The tomb was…