Where can you buy alcohol in Cairo? Adult visitors can buy beer, wine and spirits from authorized specialist retailers, including branches of Drinkies, or order drinks from a properly licensed bar, hotel or restaurant. You should not expect every supermarket or convenience shop to sell alcohol. For take-away purchases, start with the retailer’s official branch directory and verify hours, available stock, delivery areas and age requirements before heading out.

The important legal distinction: Buying a bottle from a legitimate shop does not mean you can open it on a Cairo street, beside the Nile, at the pyramids or in another unauthorized public space. British government travel advice says drinking outside licensed restaurants, bars, private homes or certain tourist resorts is illegal and can lead to arrest. Plan where you will consume a purchase before making it.

This guide focuses on buying alcohol in Cairo and greater Giza, rather than giving another general guide to Egypt’s alcohol rules. It explains how to locate a shop, examples of areas with retailer branches, the difference between drinking in a bar and buying for later, delivery considerations, typical buying questions and what to do before leaving for an overnight White Desert safari.

Information checked October 2026. Shop locations and menus change; a directory listing is not a guarantee a branch is currently open or has a particular product. This article does not verify live hours or stock at any individual location. Confirm with the retailer.

Quick answers: buying alcohol in Cairo

Question	Short answer
Can tourists buy alcohol in Cairo?	Yes, from authorized retailers, generally subject to a minimum age of 21.
Where is the easiest place to start?	Use the official Drinkies branch directory or ask a licensed hotel for its current bar or retail options.
Do ordinary supermarkets sell alcohol?	Not reliably; specialist licensed shops are usually a more dependable approach.
Can I order alcohol delivery?	Licensed retailers may deliver in supported areas, subject to identification, address and property rules.
Where can I drink what I buy?	Only where legally permitted; an ordinary public street or monument is not an appropriate place.
Can I take beer to the White Desert?	Whether drinking is allowed at a particular campsite depends on applicable rules; ask the safari operator in advance.

Is it legal to buy alcohol in Cairo?

Yes. Egypt has a regulated alcohol industry and established retail channels. Licensed businesses sell locally produced beer, wine and spirits, as well as some imported products. The country should not be described as completely alcohol-free, although many cafés, ordinary grocery stores and guesthouses choose not to sell alcoholic drinks.

For buyers, the practical minimum age is 21. The World Health Organization’s published policy profile for Egypt records 21 for on- and off-premises sales, while Drinkies’ retail policy also specifies age eligibility. Visitors who may lawfully buy beer at age 18 in their home country should not assume that rule follows them into Egypt. Keep appropriate proof of age handy when using a licensed shop or delivery service.

The law on buying and the law on drinking are separate. A sealed bottle from a legitimate retailer does not create a right to drink in a public park, on a busy street or at the Giza archaeological plateau. Read the UK government’s Egypt safety advice and our wider Alcohol in Egypt tourist guide before traveling.

Drinkies in Cairo: how to find an official shop

If you are choosing between local brands rather than simply locating a branch, our Egyptian beer and wine guide compares Stella, Sakara and locally produced wines by product information and style.

Drinkies is an established Egyptian alcoholic-beverage retail chain. The most useful planning resource is its official store locator. It publishes branch names and addresses, allowing visitors to identify an outlet near their hotel or apartment.

Do not use an old Google listing alone to confirm an opening hour. A branch can move, change operating times, temporarily close or alter its service around a holiday. Use the retailer’s own directory, check that the selected branch is serving customers and verify whether it has the product or bottle size you want.

Examples from the retailer’s publicly listed directory include the following. These are location references, not live opening confirmations or endorsements of an individual shop:

Area	Published branch example	How it helps travelers
Zamalek	Drinkies Store – Zamalek, 157 26th July Street	Useful search area for travelers staying in the central Nile-side district.
Downtown	Drinkies Store – Soliman Pasha, 41 Talaat Harb Street	Potentially relevant to visitors based near central Cairo.
Maadi	Drinkies Store – Maadi 9, 29 Mostaga Kamel Street	One of the retailer’s published Maadi-area outlets.
Heliopolis / Roxy	Drinkies Store – Roxy, 18 Demeshk Street	Useful reference for travelers staying in eastern Cairo.
Nasr City	Drinkies Store – Nasr City, 6 Ben Fadlan Street	Potential starting point for that district.
New Cairo	Drinkies Store – New Cairo, Fifth Settlement Service Center	Check for the closest currently operating branch in the newer suburbs.
Giza / Faisal	Drinkies Store – Faisal, 6 Ali Effat Street	Potentially helpful to visitors staying in greater Giza.
6th of October	Drinkies – Milano Mall, Al Hay Al Thaleth	Relevant for west-of-Cairo accommodation.

All addresses above are examples transcribed from the retailer’s published locator as checked in October 2026. The directory may describe districts using administrative names unfamiliar to tourists; confirm the actual map pin before traveling. Branch addresses and availability are subject to change.

Where to buy alcohol in Zamalek and Downtown Cairo

Zamalek is a common base for international travelers who want central access to restaurants and the Nile. Visitors searching for ‘alcohol shop Zamalek’ can start with the published branch listing above and contact the retailer to verify its current operation. Do not assume every Zamalek restaurant serves wine or that a bottle bought in the district may be consumed on a public riverside walkway.

Downtown Cairo similarly has a mix of cafés, restaurants, cultural sites and licensed establishments. The name ‘Soliman Pasha’ may appear in store searches even when a visitor knows the surrounding area by a current street or district name. The retailer’s own locator is more useful than a social post that might refer to an outdated business.

If you prefer to have a glass of wine or beer rather than buy a take-away bottle, choose a restaurant or hotel bar with a drinks menu. This may be the easier option when staying only one or two nights. Your Cairo sightseeing itinerary can then remain separate from evening plans.

Buying alcohol in Maadi, Heliopolis and Nasr City

Maadi is a large residential and hospitality area, and Drinkies lists more than one local outlet. Search for the exact branch rather than treating all ‘Maadi’ addresses as interchangeable. The difference matters if your hotel is far from the relevant street or if a taxi driver is unfamiliar with the specific shop.

In Heliopolis and the Roxy area, the retailer’s directory includes a Roxy listing and additional eastern-Cairo locations. Nasr City also appears in the directory. Tourists should search by their actual hotel location, because Cairo traffic can make a theoretically nearby branch inconvenient.

It is not necessary to cross the city just to buy a particular beer. If the item is not an essential part of your trip, enjoying a drink at an authorized restaurant near your accommodation may be easier, particularly after a long day of sightseeing.

Where to buy alcohol in Giza and near the pyramids

Greater Giza has retailer listings, including areas such as Faisal, and the official locator also shows other Giza branches. Be careful with generic searches such as ‘beer near pyramids’. A licensed retailer in the wider district is not the same thing as a lawful place to drink near the historic site.

The Giza Pyramids visitor guide covers practical site planning; alcoholic drinks should not be part of the archaeological visit. If you stay in a Giza hotel with a licensed bar, ask about its current menu and the policy for drinks in guest rooms or on the roof. An ordinary panoramic terrace without an alcohol license is not equivalent to an authorized bar.

Plan your shopping around where you sleep rather than assuming it will be easy to find a licensed shop immediately after your pyramid tour. Your hotel may know the closest verified option, but asking staff does not mean they are obliged to arrange drinks or that they sell them themselves.

Can you order alcohol delivery in Cairo?

Some licensed sellers offer ordering and delivery in supported areas. Drinkies publishes an online catalog and retail terms, so it is a sensible place to check current coverage and product options. But delivery to your exact property cannot be assumed. Eligibility, service radius, minimum orders, stock and time slots may differ.

A delivery order can also be affected by the receiving property’s rules. Hotels may refuse deliveries of outside alcoholic drinks, prohibit consumption in shared spaces or set their own conditions for guest-room items. If you are staying in a rented apartment, respect the building’s rules and local law rather than assuming privacy extends to a communal staircase or rooftop.

What information do you need to order?

Your exact delivery address, including building and apartment details where relevant.
A suitable phone number to receive confirmation and delivery instructions.
Age-appropriate identification if the retailer requests proof.
Confirmation that the hotel or accommodation accepts the delivery.
A clear understanding of the service area, timing and any fees.

Never request alcohol delivery to a public monument, beach, roadside safari departure point or another unauthorized consumption area. Also avoid buying through unverified social-media accounts offering unusually cheap or unidentified bottles.

Do supermarkets in Cairo sell beer and wine?

Not as consistently as supermarkets in many European countries. Some Egyptian grocery stores have no alcohol section at all. International visitors often assume that a modern supermarket with imported food must also sell wine, which is not a reliable conclusion in Cairo.

Use the official directory of a licensed specialty retailer rather than spending time moving between supermarkets. If a hotel offers a bar, that is another regulated option for consumption onsite. A retail purchase and a hotel bar order are different services with different prices and permission boundaries.

What will beer, wine and spirits cost at a Cairo shop?

For a broader breakdown beyond shop locations, read our 2026 guide to alcohol prices in Egypt, including retail examples and the difference between shop, hotel and cruise prices.

Prices change by brand, size, returnable packaging and date. At the time of this guide’s review, Drinkies publicly displayed a 330 ml Stella bottle at EGP 50. This is a retail example, not a fixed nationwide price or a hotel price. The same retailer’s wider online catalog includes different categories of beer, wine, spirits and ready-to-drink products.

Do not assume a 500 ml can costs the same as a 330 ml bottle. Nor should you expect imported spirits to cost the same as local beer. Check volume, brand, alcohol content, any deposit or returnable-container conditions and final charges. A bar selling a drink by the glass may charge substantially more than a retail shop.

For full product-by-product budget comparisons, see our Egypt alcohol guide; this article focuses on where to buy alcohol rather than claiming a permanently accurate price list.

How to shop safely and respectfully in Cairo

Buy from identifiable authorized sellers

A reputable shop with published details and recognizable products is safer than an informal seller. Look for intact, correctly labeled containers and keep the receipt. If a deal looks implausibly cheap, do not rely on it merely because another traveler shared a phone number.

Keep bottles sealed in public

The street between the shop and your accommodation is not a permitted drinking location merely because you just purchased the bottle. Carry it securely, avoid displaying open containers and follow hotel rules on outside drinks.

Do not shop and then drive after drinking

If you plan to visit a bar, arrange sober transport. UK official travel advice warns of fines and possible imprisonment for driving under the influence. This is separate from the question of where alcohol can be bought.

Consider Ramadan and local customs

If you will visit during the fasting month, check our alcohol in Egypt during Ramadan guide for seasonal hotel, shop and cultural considerations before planning purchases.

During Ramadan, some retailers or hospitality establishments may alter service or schedules. Avoid consuming food or drink openly in public during daytime fasting hours, and confirm current hours rather than relying on old reviews. Be respectful toward staff and neighbors who may not consume alcohol.

Do not take alcohol to cultural sites

Mosques, markets, museums and the Giza plateau are for cultural and historical visits. Even if your hotel or a shop sells alcohol legally, you should not bring open drinks to these locations or assume they are served inside.

Buying alcohol in Cairo before a White Desert or Bahariya Oasis tour

Because the White Desert is a major departure route from Cairo, see our White Desert camping and alcohol guide for campsite-specific questions. It does not claim a blanket ban across all sites.

Many travelers start their desert adventures in Cairo, then drive to Bahariya Oasis and continue into the White Desert, Black Desert or Agabat Valley. It is tempting to assume that buying beer or wine before departure will make an overnight campsite ‘fully stocked’. That is not how the legal or practical arrangements work.

A legal Cairo retail purchase does not answer which alcohol rules apply at your particular outdoor campsite, protected-area site or off-road stop. Ask your tour operator about its rules; do not assume alcohol is included in safari meals or that drivers can supply it. Longer trips also involve bumpy roads, heat and careful handling of waste, making glass bottles an avoidable complication.

If you want to understand the route, read our Cairo to Bahariya transport guide, White Desert camping guide and 2-day White Desert tour. Plan for a nature-first safari and save any desired hotel-bar visit for an authorized location before or after the expedition.

What if you only want one drink with dinner?

If you are staying in Cairo for a short visit, booking a licensed hotel restaurant or established bar can be more convenient than searching for take-away alcohol. Check whether the hotel serves beer and wine, whether imported drinks cost extra and if the dining room allows alcohol at your selected meal time.

Not all luxury properties or dining venues include alcohol, and a sophisticated cocktail photograph on a third-party booking page does not guarantee current service. Ask the hotel directly. If your meal package is ‘soft all-inclusive’, alcohol may be excluded despite the inclusion of food and soft drinks.

For couples, a licensed restaurant can provide a comfortable evening after seeing the pyramids or the Grand Egyptian Museum. For visitors planning a Cairo Nile dinner cruise, ask the boat operator about the exact drink policy; dinner and entertainment do not necessarily include alcoholic beverages.

Cairo alcohol shopping checklist

Verify that you are at least 21 and have acceptable age identification.
Use an official directory to select a licensed retailer in a practical district.
Confirm live opening hours, holidays and Ramadan service if relevant.
Check the exact product, volume, price and bottle type before paying.
Ask whether delivery is offered to your specific address if you prefer it.
Confirm your accommodation’s policy on outside drinks and deliveries.
Keep the receipt and transport the purchase sealed and safely.
Do not open a bottle in a public street, archaeological area or other unauthorized location.
Use a licensed bar or hotel restaurant if you want immediate lawful consumption rather than a take-away purchase.
Do not plan to consume alcohol during driving, swimming, desert activities or excursions.

Where to buy alcohol in Cairo: frequently asked questions

Where can tourists buy alcohol in Cairo?

From licensed specialty retailers and other authorized sellers, subject to the minimum age requirement. Drinkies publishes a branch directory useful for locating shops.

Is there a Drinkies shop in Zamalek?

The official store locator lists a Zamalek branch at 157 26th July Street. Verify that the branch remains open and has stock before setting out.

Can you buy beer in Downtown Cairo?

The retailer’s locator lists a Soliman Pasha branch on Talaat Harb Street. Check current service with the retailer; not every nearby grocery store sells alcohol.

Where can I buy alcohol in Maadi?

Drinkies lists multiple Maadi-area outlets, including a Street 9 branch. Check the exact address and opening arrangements in the official locator.

Can I buy alcohol near the Giza pyramids?

Greater Giza has licensed retail options, but proximity to the pyramids does not permit drinking at the archaeological site. Plan purchases and consumption separately.

Do Carrefour and other Cairo supermarkets sell alcohol?

Do not assume they do. Product range and licensing vary. A dedicated licensed retailer is a more reliable starting point than general grocery chains.

Can alcohol be delivered to a hotel in Cairo?

Some licensed retailers provide deliveries to supported addresses, but the hotel may have its own rules on outside alcohol. Verify both parties’ policies.

Do I need a passport to buy alcohol in Cairo?

Retailers may request valid photo identification proving you meet the minimum age. Follow their current requirements and protect your original documents.

Can I buy wine in Cairo?

Yes, authorized retailers may stock local and selected imported wines, while some licensed hotels and restaurants serve wine onsite. Availability changes by seller.

Can tourists buy whisky or vodka in Cairo?

Selected licensed retailers and venues sell spirits, but brands, sizes and prices vary. Check availability and avoid unidentified or unofficial products.

Are Cairo alcohol shops open during Ramadan?

Do not rely on ordinary schedules. Retail and hospitality operations may change, so contact the establishment shortly before traveling.

Can I take purchased alcohol to a White Desert campsite?

Whether drinking is permitted at a particular protected-area campsite requires site-specific confirmation. Ask your operator before planning to bring or consume alcohol.

Is it legal to drink the beer I bought while walking back to the hotel?

No. Drinking in ordinary public streets is not an authorized use simply because the product was purchased legally.

Is Cairo alcohol cheaper at shops than hotels?

Retail products are generally a different price category from hotel-bar service, but prices vary substantially. Compare the current retail listing with the hotel’s actual menu.

Can my taxi driver stop for alcohol before a tour?

You can ask about a lawful shop stop where appropriate, but drivers and tour staff are not obliged to facilitate purchases, and a shop visit does not grant permission to drink during the excursion.

The best way to plan alcohol purchases in Cairo

Start with a properly authorized retailer rather than guessing which supermarkets sell drinks. Use Drinkies’ live store directory for branch discovery, confirm age and opening policies, keep purchases sealed while traveling and use only lawful consumption locations. If you are looking for an evening out rather than a bottle for later, a licensed hotel or restaurant may be more convenient.

Elzaghandi Travel can help you plan the sightseeing and desert experiences around your stay: explore Grand Egyptian Museum and pyramids tours, browse all Egypt tours, or request a custom itinerary. We do not promise that alcohol can be served on a safari route or at an unlicensed location.

Sources and verification

Drinkies official store locator — branch examples; verify current details.
Drinkies official product catalog — categories and changeable retail listings.
Drinkies official Stella 330 ml bottle listing — illustrative retail price.
UK FCDO official Egypt safety advice — drinking location, Ramadan and driving rules.
WHO Egypt alcohol policy profile — recorded drinking age.

Editorial note, October 2026: Addresses above were published by the retailer; they are not independently verified as open at this moment. This is an informational guide, not a real-time shop listing, delivery guarantee or legal opinion.