Egyptian · Middle Eastern · Grills
⭐ 4.5 (974 Google reviews)
What it is
Isfahan sits on Lighthouse Road in central Dahab, a short walk from the dive shops and the seafront. The kitchen specialises in slow-cooked tajines and charcoal grills with a Middle Eastern mezze frame around them, and runs from 13:00 until 01:00, which makes it a default choice for groups landing late off a desert trip or finishing a night dive. With nearly a thousand Google reviews and a 4.5 rating, it is one of the better-known sit-down restaurants in town. The room is casual, cozy and a little hip, with outdoor seating that catches the breeze coming off the gulf. Halal cuisine is served and a small wine list is available.
Menu
The menu is built around two anchors: clay-pot tajines that take time to cook and charcoal grills served with rice or bread. Around them sit hot and cold mezze, salads, soups, healthy plates and small plates suited to sharing. Vegetarian options and halal food are listed on Google, alongside dessert. The bar serves wine and a short alcohol list. There is no dedicated online ordering portal; the up-to-date menu is shown in-house and via the Odoo page linked from the Google listing. Phone +20 106 747 6281 to check on specials or to pre-order tajines for a group.
Sample prices: Cold mezze 80–160 EGP · Hot mezze and small plates 120–220 EGP · Salads 100–200 EGP · Soups 90–160 EGP · Tajines 220–400 EGP · Mixed grill platters 280–500 EGP · Single grill mains 220–360 EGP · Desserts 90–160 EGP
Practical
| Reservations | Reservations accepted. Call +20 106 747 6281 to book, which is recommended for groups of four or more, and for any visit after 21:00 in high season. |
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| Payment | Payment options are not fully listed on Google. Cash in Egyptian pounds is the safe default; ask at the till before ordering if you intend to pay by card. |
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| Suitable for | couples · group dinners · families with kids · halal-only diners · vegetarian diners · late-night meals · post-dive dinners · tourists wanting tajines |
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| Accessibility | Indoor and outdoor seating with table service. The Lighthouse Road frontage is broadly flat, but specific wheelchair attributes are not listed on Google; call ahead if step-free access is essential. |
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| Parking | Free street parking and a free lot are listed on the Google profile, which is unusual for the Lighthouse area. |
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The basics
How to get there
Lighthouse Rd, Dahab — see our Dahab map guide for the area layout.
Worth it?
Slow-cooked tajines, charcoal grills and Middle Eastern mezze. Open very late — a favourite for people who want a proper meal after midnight. A solid recommendation if you're in the area.
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FAQ
Where is Isfahan in Dahab?
Isfahan is on Lighthouse Road in central Dahab, just inland from the Lighthouse dive site and the El Fanar seafront strip. From most Masbat and Lighthouse hotels it is a 5 to 10 minute walk. Set your map app to Isfahan Slow-cooked Tajines and Grills to follow the right turning off the main road.
What does Isfahan serve?
Isfahan serves slow-cooked tajines, charcoal grills and Middle Eastern mezze. Expect lamb, chicken and vegetable tajines from the clay pots, mixed grills with rice or bread from the charcoal section, plus salads, hot and cold mezze, soups and dessert. The food is positioned as Egyptian and broader Middle Eastern rather than strictly one regional cuisine.
Is Isfahan halal?
Yes, Isfahan serves halal food according to its Google profile. Meat is sourced as halal across the tajines and grills. The kitchen does also serve alcohol, including wine, so if you prefer a fully alcohol-free room, ask for an indoor seat away from the bar area when you arrive.
What are Isfahan's opening hours?
Isfahan opens daily from 13:00 until 01:00. The kitchen is one of a handful in Dahab that takes orders past midnight, which is why divers and desert-tour groups returning to town late end up there. Lunch and dinner are both flagged as popular times on Google.
Does Isfahan take reservations?
Yes, Isfahan accepts reservations. Call +20 106 747 6281 to book a table, which is sensible for groups of four or more or any visit during peak dinner hours between 20:00 and 22:00 in high season. Walk-ins usually work at lunch and after 23:00.
How much does dinner at Isfahan cost?
Plan for roughly 350 to 600 EGP per person for a starter, a tajine or grill main and a soft drink. Mezze are 80 to 220 EGP, tajines 220 to 400 EGP and full mixed-grill platters 280 to 500 EGP. The price level is mid-range, marked $$, and shared mezze plus one tajine for two keeps the bill lower.
Is Isfahan good for groups?
Yes, Isfahan is suited to groups according to Google. The menu format, with mezze to share and tajines or mixed grills as anchors, suits four to eight diners well. Reserve ahead and ask for adjacent tables; the staff are used to handling pre-ordered tajines so the kitchen has time to slow-cook for a larger group.
Does Isfahan serve vegetarians?
Yes, Isfahan lists vegetarian options on Google. Vegetable tajines, mezze platters built around hummus and baba ghanoush, salads and rice dishes cover most vegetarian needs. Confirm any dairy or egg sensitivities with the server, and ask whether the vegetable tajine is cooked in its own pot rather than alongside meat tajines.
Is Isfahan kid-friendly?
Yes, Isfahan welcomes children. The dining room is casual and the menu has rice, bread and grilled chicken options that work well for kids. There is no specific children's menu listed, but the kitchen can plate a smaller portion of grill or rice on request. Earlier seatings around 19:00 are calmer than the late dinner rush.
Does Isfahan have parking?
Yes, Isfahan's Google profile lists free street parking and a free parking lot, which is unusual on Lighthouse Road. In high season the lot fills early in the evening. If you arrive after 20:00 you will likely fall back on street parking on the side roads heading inland from Lighthouse.
Is Isfahan expensive?
Isfahan is mid-range, marked $$ on Ask Dahab. It is more expensive than a small grill house or koshari shop but cheaper than the seafood platters on the seafront. Sharing mezze and one tajine across two people typically lands the bill around 350 EGP per head with drinks.
Can I order delivery from Isfahan?
Yes, Isfahan offers delivery and takeout according to Google. Call +20 106 747 6281 directly to confirm whether your area is within their delivery zone and to order ahead, since tajines need slow cooking and benefit from a 30 to 45 minute lead time before pick-up or drop-off.
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