Ismailiya is good for
eating out . When the weather's fine, citizens dine alfresco near the fishing port on Lake Timsah; it's worth the cost of a taxi (£E2-3) out along Sharia Talatini to eat fish straight from the lake. You might even risk the local speciality,
Umm el-Khaloul - a kind of shellfish that's best avoided during hot weather. Otherwise, there are several decent restaurants in the centre. The most popular
drinking spots are
King Edward and the bar at the
Mercure Forsan Island, both of which attract an interesting crowd as the night wears on. Alternatively, most of the evening streetlife can be found around Sharia Talatini, Sharia Sa'ad Zaghloul and Sharia el-Geish, where shops, cafés and juice bars are open late into the night.
Restaurants
El-Gandool , the best fish restaurant on Lake Timsah, is past Fayrouz Beach; a £E2-3 taxi ride from town. £E10-20 for their tasty fish dishes.
Fabiola's , off Sharia Sa'ad Zaghloul. Inexpensive pizza joint, but don't bother if empty as this could mean a long wait for mediocre food. Daily 11am-11pm.
George's , Sharia Sultan Hussein. Quiet, A/C Greek restaurant specializing in seafood and kebab. Has a well-stocked bar, the only one in town. £E14-38 for a full meal. Daily 11am-1am.
Groppi's , Sharia Sultan Hussein. Branch of the Cairo patisserie chain. Open 9.30am-9.30pm; closed Sun and during the first half of Ramadan.
King Edward , 171 Sharia Tahrir (tel 064/325-451). A/C haunt of expats and affluent natives, offering tasty Continental and Egyptian food (main dishes £E10-30), wine and beer. DJ plays Western and Middle Eastern music, but don't expect it to get going till after 11pm.
Pizza Inn , 41 Sharia Talatini. Busy take-out and sit-down eatery for burgers (from £E4) and pizzas (from £E6). Free delivery. Daily 10am-2am.
Nefertiti's , Sharia Sultan Hussein (tel 064/220-494). Specializes in fish (£E15-20) and shrimps (£E36), but does meat dishes, too. Sells beer and wine. Daily noon-midnight.
