The Best Restaurants in Khartoum, Sudan

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Ozone might just be Khartoum’s most international cafe, and therefore is not recommended for those looking for a typical Sudanese meal. Located in the middle of a charming, well-kept garden, surrounded by lush plants and shaded by large parasols, this stylish outdoor cafè is a favourite among the trendy youth of Khartoum’s upper class. It’s particularly recommended when the thermometer soars, in addition to the air conditioning, their delicious, refreshing ice-cream or freshly-squeezed fruit juices will help you fight through the sweltering heat.

The Assaha Resort in Khartoum is more than just another village for tourists. The large establishment is a beautiful replica of a traditional Lebanese village, every part of which was built according to the architecture and with décor typical of Lebanon. The same goes for the resort’s main restaurant, housed in a spellbinding hall washed by abundant light entering from the ceiling. The dining room was constructed with big, clay bricks, and boasts a beautiful floor rich with intricate, decorative patterns. The long menu lists the most delicious highlights of Lebanese gastronomy, which are invariably well-cooked and served in hearty portions.

Khartoum is home to one of the five-star, exclusive Corinthia Hotels, situated in an iconic, super modern building with an oval design that resembles the sail of a ship. The hotel’s excellent Asian restaurant, Rickshaw, is open for both Corinthia’s guests and visitors, and will spoil you with its exquisite Chinese and Japanese dishes, not to mention it’s lavish, eccentric design. The Rickshaw’s highlight, however, is its views. Being the highest of the hotel’s six restaurants, stunning panoramas of the city sprawling at its feet can be enjoyed from up here.

Restaurant Le Grill is also to be found in Khartoum’s Corinthia Hotel. If Rickshaw’s Asian food is not your cup of tea, stop here for a filling dinner of finger licking barbecued meats, or simply one of their delicious hamburgers. The comforting lights and dark mahogany, extensively used throughout Le Grill’s beautifully designed venue, give this restaurant the look and feel of an English pub. Indeed, the football matches often screened on TV and the frequent live music shows contribute to the impression. If this isn’t for you, the hotel also boasts three beautiful cafes, the panoramic Cafè Khartoum, the outdoor Africa Garden and the Nile River Cafè, in the lounge and one more captivating restaurant serving international dishes, the Mugran Restaurant.

Sometimes, there’s no need to seat in a fancy restaurant and pay a costly bill to enjoy some scrumptious food. Sometimes, simple, delicious street food is what you need. Those in Khartoum who have tried the shawarma offered by the several vendors found on the city’s main square can attest to this. Hit Khartoum’s main square to enjoy the best street shawarma in town, take your time to savor the exquisite meat bite after bite, while enjoying the spectacle of the bustling, chaotic square happening in front of your eyes.

Travel guides often label outstanding restaurants as ‘unique’ but Khartoum’s Al Housh really is one of a kind. This enormous restaurant was designed to replicate the local food markets, with two dozens stalls selling fresh ingredients that customers can buy to cook at home or ask that they be prepared on site to enjoy them in the restaurant. Some stalls offer typical Sudanese food, others, like the Lebanese hot and cold mezze stalls or the Mongolian station, can give you a taste of more exotic cuisines. Besides the winning restaurant-cum-market concept, Al Housh impresses with its small balconies, wooden windows, wicker lamps and panels, and many other elements of décor that perfectly recall the Sudanese landscape. To make your stop at Al Housh truly an experience, come here at dusk and sit outside to watch the sun go down near the Nile.

Restaurant Al Nuba is found in Khartoum’s Rotana hotel, one in an upscale chain of hotels mostly based in Middle Eastern countries. Al Nuba offers a sophisticated dining experience. The elegant venue is characterized by the strong contrast between the dark floors and the creamy chairs, and despite the sleek, modern design of the furnishings, there’s a classic feel to Al Nuba. Every night, the kitchen prepares exquisite dishes inspired by different international cuisines. Sunday nights are Arabian nights, on Monday nights the menu speaks Italian, Latin food is up on Tuesday nights, and so on. Choose the day that best fits your preferences or come back often to try it all out.

The taste of Italian cuisine has arrived in Khartoum, and Universal Cafe is among its best proponents in town. The restaurant’s guests are sure to enjoy authentic Italian food here. The chef is an Italian and the menu draws largely from the culinary tradition of the region of Rome, which features a range of mouthwatering dishes with particularly strong flavors, however, customers can expect to find all the best highlights of Italy’s cooking, from pastas to pizzas and mozzarella. The restaurant is a bit on the expensive side, but Italian food lovers wont find a better place than this in Khartoum.