Where to eat at a Sharm el-Sheikh resort: main restaurant, a la carte, or beach cafes?

According to a recent late-August to early-September report, food service at Beach was fine, with no noticeable shortages or interruptions.

Reef Beach is recommended as a good option: nice beach with swimming and sightseeing, plus a decent restaurant right above the beach with food suitable for both adults and kids.

On checkout day, meals are counted from arrival: if you had lunch that day, nothing more is included after 12pm checkout. However, beach cafes remain accessible for snacks right up until departure.

A new perk this year: guests get one free dinner at the grill bar restaurant per stay. Additional visits cost around $15 per person.

Compared to last year, the main restaurant's food variety has become more modest: no mango or figs for several days despite being in season, only bananas, melon, watermelon, dates, and oranges available; the outdoor evening grill station is also gone.

For lunch, the French restaurant with a sea view is an alternative: some guests specifically took the shuttle there from the beach instead of eating in the main restaurant.

A recent downside about the main restaurant: service can be inconsistent — tables may lack bottled water, cutlery is not always reset promptly after previous guests, and the far side of the dining room may have limited waiter attention.

In May, the main restaurant works well for breakfast, or the second floor option has fewer crowds if you go later. For lunch, coming back from the beach to the first or second line is practical. Dinner can be at the main restaurant or a la carte. Building 14 has the bonus of watching evening entertainment from the terrace.

Some beaches in Sharm el-Sheikh have virtually no food options nearby — worth checking before booking. Self-arranged charter flights and accommodation for 12 days can be done on a tight budget, but meals will need separate planning.

Spending the whole day at the beach makes the small eateries right by the water the most practical lunch option — the main hotel restaurant is too far to bother with midday. Good option for those who don't want to leave the beach.