Old Cataract, Aswan (Operated by Mandarin Oriental)

We came to the Sofitel in Aswan for dinner at Oriental Kebabgy, and Mariam was attentive throughout. She moved us to the terrace for the Nile view, and the chairs were so comfortable we stayed there all evening. The food was lovely. I had a mixed grill of chicken, beef, lamb and kofta, a satisfying portion that left me full. My companion enjoyed the lamb shank, which was quite large. A woman makes fresh bread in an oven shaped like a hut, and the background music was quiet enough to talk over while still enjoying it. We loved the setting and only wished we’d booked a stay at the hotel.

Menna made the room tour such a memorable experience for our small group. She showed us the rooms of Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill, and her detailed, enthusiastic explanations really brought the hotel's history to life. We were also warmly welcomed by Mr. Khaled El-Essawy, the hotel's security manager. Thank you both for such a professional visit. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the hotel's past.

Kebabgy Restaurant was a highlight, with excellent food and a warm, attentive team. Miriam and the restaurant manager made the meal feel special, and a big thank you to Shawkat for making things easier for us. The hotel itself is a pearl on the Nile, with breathtaking views and quiet, understated luxury. Everything feels balanced and calm, and the staff throughout are kind and ready to help. It’s hard to put the place into words.

This was my third visit, and I won't be coming back. When I first stayed as a guest, it was my first five-star hotel and I was pleasantly surprised by the service. The rooms were luxurious, and the ones facing the Nile had a nice view. On my later visits as a visitor, entry meant paying a voucher, €20 in January 2025 and €30 in December 2025, which could then be spent on food or drinks. Some drinks are good, especially the mango juice, which was the best I had in Egypt, though others are far too sugary. The food at Saraya was a real letdown. My shrimp were covered in mayonnaise, my mother's chicken was dry, and the sambosas we ordered were almost empty, as the picture shows. A restaurant costing €5 or 250 E£ did better with the chicken. For the most expensive hotel in Egypt, this was the worst food I've had at a high-end hotel. The view is nice, but not astonishing. I've seen better from Elephantine Island and from the cheaper Pyramisa hotel, which is quite ugly but sits on its own island. Outside, tourists compete for places to sit, and the voucher crowds and people taking influencer photos make it feel far from exclusive. When I was a guest, walking through those crowds was uncomfortable. Service is inconsistent. Some bar staff were lovely, while some restaurant servers threw napkins and plates at us. At a cheap but good restaurant 300 meters away, they set the table according to age and gender, which the staff here apparently don't know how to do. I checked whether only we were treated this way, and saw other voucher holders and hotel guests receiving the same poor service. The service also perked up at the end, when staff seemed more interested in checking that we'd paid than helping us find a table beforehand. At the entrance they tell you where you can go, then once you arrive you're told it's full. The hotel seems to rely on its reputation while shortcomings pile up. I wouldn't call it an essential Aswan stop, despite what I've read here. My other comments mention places I loved in Egypt that you could visit instead.