Naama Bay Cafe and Dessert Crawl

The Naama Bay Cafe and Dessert Crawl is a self-guided evening in Naama Bay, the main resort promenade of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt's South Sinai Governorate. No tour operator runs it, so there is no booking, guide or fixed schedule; visitors link together cafe and dessert stops along the promenade at their own pace over about two hours. The route uses well-known stops such as Tam Tam Oriental Cafe and Cilantro, plus other dessert counters and cafes along the Naama Bay promenade. The focus is sweet rather than savoury. Typical orders include Turkish coffee, served strong and small in a cup with the grounds left in; konafa, a pastry of shredded dough layered with cheese or cream and soaked in syrup; basbousa, a semolina cake soaked in sugar syrup; and karkadeh, the chilled or hot hibiscus drink that is a classic Egyptian refreshment. The sequence of coffee, two desserts and a drink makes for roughly four tastings, and the cost is paid at each stop. The budget of EGP 300-600 (about $6-12) covers the tastings for one person at promenade cafe prices, which are higher than in the Old Market but still modest. Transport is not needed for visitors staying in Naama Bay, since the stops are on foot along the promenade, and those from other resorts can take a taxi to the bay. English is widely spoken by staff at promenade cafes, and menus are in English. Dietary substitutions depend on each cafe; konafa and basbousa contain gluten, dairy and often nuts, so people with allergies should ask before ordering, while karkadeh and Turkish coffee are naturally vegan. The pace is leisurely, with cafe seating where visitors can watch the promenade. The crawl works all year since most seating is covered or outdoors in a warm climate, though evenings are the most pleasant time.