what’s on the menu
A listing of some of the restaurants and cafes in Tripoli. Overall, opinions on these restaurants differ from person to person. The best thing to do is to try them all and let us know what you think!
Indian:
Sultan Restaurant
The Sultan Restaurant is located in the Janzour Holiday Village. To find it, enter the gate to the village and turn left immediately.
Opening times:
Saturday – Thursday: 13:00 – 0:00 hr
Friday: 17:00 – 0:00 hr
Website: www.sultanrestaurant.ly
Reviews:
“All our family, including the children, found the food delicious as we ordered a mix of spicy and mild dishes. I loved my mango lassi. They also do takeway and catering. Prices are not cheap, but are very reasonable” - Kate
Mediterranean:
Zuwaddeh restaurant
Location: To get there go along Ben Ashur Street away from the Medina, turn right just after the Oriental cafe, opposite the Septembos clothing shop. It is about 100 m further on the left, on the corner.
Tel: +218 91 3770601, or +218 91 347 0601, or +218 91 353 9337.
Email: info@zuwaddeh.com
Website: www.zuwaddeh.com
Andalusia restaurant
Ideally located for tourists and visitors, Andalusia is in the old French consulate near the Marcus Aurelius arch. They have made a lovely job of it with tilework, wrought iron, camel skin lamps, etc. etc. Food is the usual fare: fish, Libyan soup, rice dishes. I'd like to go back on a warm day for coffee and sit on the terrace where you are able to overlook Tripoli’s oldest arch.
Tel: +218 21 718-9809, or +218 91 355 5900
Opening hours: Mon - Thurs:12:00 - 00:00, Fri: 17:00 - 00:00, Sat - Sun:12:00 - 00:00
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/AndalusiaLibya
Fish:
Abiya Restaurant
Abiya Restaurant can be found near the City Restaurant in the medina. There are two fish restaurants in close proximity. Abiya is upstairs and is usually less crowded than it’s competitor. They serve a highly recommended Octopus salad. Also on the menu is fish soup, spicy carrot salad, fish and couscous.
Tel: +218 92 501 0736
Middle Eastern:
Downstairs in the Corinthia Hotel, a buffet lunch and dinner is served with numerous hot and cold dishes including Middle Eastern specialties. On Fridays brunch/buffet is served.
Moroccan:
The Corinthia Hotel
The Moroccan Restaurant within the Corinthian Hotel serves lunch and dinner.
Reviews:
“It was a beautiful experience!” - Kate
Lamma Cafe/Restaurant
Lamma is beautifully decorated with original art pieces which gives it a unique and modern feel and immediate sense of character.
post office and mosque.
Tel: +218 21 477 0943
Website: www.lamma.ly
Pizza/Pasta:
El Mishtal
El Mishtal pizza restaurant and takeaway is near the stones roundabout in Seraj. The pizzas are tasty and crisp. They also serve meals and sheesha pipes.
Western:
O2
The Americans know their pancakes, so if it’s recommended by the Americans, then it’s got to be good. O2 is a simple cafe on the beach front serving coffee, sandwiches, hot dogs and fluffy pancakes drenched in syrup (or the condiment of your choice!)
O2 has recently refurbished their premises. The indoor area is much bigger than it was previously, with nice mosaics and a mural, but more important: with toilets!!!
The outdoor area is the same size as before, but with new tiles and new shading.
As always the service is great and the food delicious.
Location: Found on the Hay Andalus sea front, O2 can be found behind the big mosque on Gargaresh Road. The cafe is in the same strip as Llama, and the Kashmir Restaurant.
Reviews:
“Kids love it because you can eat small pancakes and then play on the beach while the boring parents talk. The staff is friendly and the clientele sometimes very interesting. Nice music too.”
Coffee/cafe:
Al Saraya
Found on the Green Square in the Medina, Al Saraya is a pleasant place to sit and watch people. They serve a good coffee with a nice selection of cakes to choose from. They serve meals upstairs in the restaurant or outside.
Currently somewhat of a novelty in Tripoli, Al Saraya has wireless internet connection free for its customers.
“I love the out door section of Al Saraya. Inside it is filled with smoke so not a good place to bring your children. For non smokers it is not the place to be inside.” - Fokkelien
Cacao
Cacao is a modern cafe found on Gargaresh overlooking the Mediterranean. The cafe offers a selection of fresh juices, coffee and sandwiches.
Service can be slow at times, especially at 12:00 o’clock, when the kitchen is occupied with lunch orders for nearby offices.
Location: Heading towards town, Cacao can be found before the Shell office, on the left.
Reviews:
“The wraps and club sandwiches are very substantial”
“ I love nothing better than to take a book with me and sit on the terrace with a hot cup of coffee, or on a warm day, a fresh smoothie and just watch the waves crash on the beach” - Emma
Caracalla
One look into the windows of Caracalla and you’d think you were anywhere else in the western world. Themed exactly like Starbucks or Costa, Caracalla serves good coffee and Western-style cakes.
Location: There are two stores found in Tripoli. The first is found on Gargaresh Road opposite the Mental Hospital, along the same strip of shops as the Fergiani bookshop.
The second store can be found in the Souk Thalat (large shopping mall).
Corinthia Cafe
For a light lunch or snack try the Corinthia Cafe, on your right as you enter the lobby. Not the cheapest option, but a nice suggestion is to order the plate of mezze or Asian snacks and share with a friend.
Ewan coffee shop
Location: The Ewan coffee shop is on Gargaresh Road, towards the big roundabout on the seaside. It is on the ground floor of a shopping mall next to the bank with the horse statue.
Ewan also has a coffee shop on Ben Ashur road, close to the round about.
Reviews:
“A bit expensive, but spacious and cool and clean if somewhat sterile”.
Lino's Coffee
Location: Going down Gargaresh towards Tripoli it is just before the first petrol station on your right. In cafe terms this puts it between Cacao and Veranda, on the same side as Veranda.
Reviews:
“Lino's opened during the summer and appears to be a franchise of an Italian chain. It is comfortable and spacious, with a downstairs area, terrace, and an upstairs family room (men only allowed when accompanied by women). Salads are crispy and fresh, although my nicoise was a bit bland. You can also get stuffed crepes and small breakfast pancakes (good), sandwiches, panini and cakes (not tried). There are all sorts of coffees including the weird and wonderful incorporating syrups and flavoured creams ( a lifetime on the hips...). But you can also stick to macchiatos, cappuccinos, etc. Open from 7 a.m. there are a variety of breakfast options and it stays open till 11 p.m. (continuously I think). The staff are friendly but it always seems to take a long time to place your order, and they don't always manage to get things to arrive at the same time when you're eating with friends. Nonetheless, I feel very relaxed there and have enjoyed all my visits. I shall definitely be
back!” - Kate
“With a pudding-like consistency, the hot chocolate is a desert in itself and comes highly recommended. Ten points if you manage to finish it all though!” - Emma
Veranda
Veranda is a very smart cafe which serves coffee, ice-cream and cakes. Boasting an Italian pastry chef, the cafe’s glass cabinets provide a selection of delicious morsels to tempt even the fussiest of eaters. The cafe is very popular with smart young Libyan women, who usually sit in the back, while the male smokers sit at the front.
Location: To find it, head past the Shell office towards town. It can be found on the right, past the petrol station (also on the right) and the Pizza house.
Tel: +218 21 483 5290
Opening times: Sunday to Thursday: 08.00 - 23.30,
Friday: 18.00 -23.30.
Reviews:
“My son loves to look at the colours of the icecream and pick one. Veranda has small colourful bowls and spoons which he just loves!” - Emma
Chinese:
Xian Du China Express Takeaways
A new Chinese takeaway service that has opened within the Regatta arches. Dishes are appropriately sized for one, with very reasonable prices.
Tel: +218 917 757 347
Website: www.china-takeaway.com
Email: info@china-takeaway.com
restaurants
