FOOD IS QUITE often the backdrop to a special occasion, be it a romantic outing or a family celebration. The nation’s independent eateries are very good at offering ambiance to the fine dining experience, but sometimes you need to feel like you’re getting away from it all, even if you can’t leave town. That’s when you ponder having your private party at one of the five-star hotels around the country.

There is something about a waterfront view that makes a meal more romantic. In Cairo that means the Nile, with two hotels laying claim to the best location. On Roda Island is the Grand Hyatt’s Revolving Restaurant — without a doubt the best view in the entire capital, to say nothing of its royal service and excellent continental menu. Just downriver is the Sofitel Gezirah, with Vendome offering French fare in both terrace and indoor seating.

While not on an island, The Grill at the InterContinental Semiramis also has an impressive view of the Nile and a French menu. Waiters in white jackets and black ties arrange Christofle cutlery and attend to your every need, and the restaurant’s private room is perfect for an exclusive dinner party.

The Fairmont Cairo’s Italian restaurant Aqua e Luce has a man-made stream babbling through an immense atrium that shelters live palm trees, a fountain and live musicians. It feels al fresco without being outside — a very good thing since there is nothing — romantic about the Fairmont’s location practically next door to the Cairo International Airport.

Another must-try for couples is Le Meridien Heliopolis’ Marco Polo, with old-school class, patio seating, international cuisine and a menu sous prix for the ladies. The Villa d’Este at the Conrad Cairo not only offers intimacy, it requires it: Attire is formal and the waiters discreetly ask that cell phones be silenced. The menu is Italian, with both à la carte and chef’s daily specials.

For a really romantic waterfront, the coast — either the Red or Mediterranean seas — is the place to be. In Hurghada, the terrace seating at Ristorante Tuscany overlooks the Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort’s lagoon and marina. Italian food by candlelight — the only thing missing is Dean Martin behind your chair singing “Amore.” The Mediterranean menu is popular along the Red Sea, with the Taverna Barba Kiriakos at InterContinental Abu Soma offering Greek fare and live bouzouki music on the beach.

The Sharm El-Sheikh options for couples could fill its own magazine, but the Reef Grill at the palm tree oasis that is the Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh definitely rates a mention for its seafood and grill on the beach.

Then there are the hotels that combine fine food with a healthy dose of history, and Sofitel has the lion’s share of the nation’s historic properties. The Sofitel Cecil, built in 1928, houses Plat d’Or, with French dining overlooking Alexandria’s Eastern Harbor. Sofitel also manages the nineteenth-century Winter Palace in Luxor, bringing its French expertise and menu to the 1886 Restaurant. (The Upper Egyptian sister to the Winter Palace — the Sofitel Old Cataract in Aswan — is currently under renovation.)

The ultimate in romantic dining? Ordering room service at the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh. Sure, this Red Sea honeymoon haven does have restaurants, but when every room is a suite with a private garden and swimming pool, why go out?

It’s unlikely that you’ll find an Egyptian restaurant with food as good as your mother or mother-in-law makes. Even if it does, you’re not allowed to say so — not if you want to stay married. For the sake of peace and harmony, think outside the borders for that full-on family gathering.

Teppanyaki, a Japanese cuisine flamboyantly prepared at a grill in front of your table, makes for an entertaining outing for all generations. Sapporo Teppanyaki at Sheraton Cairo has the simple airy feel of a dojo, while Ritz Carlton Sharm El-Sheikh’s Blue Ginger restaurant feels more formal and intimate with its dark woods and arching footbridge separating the dining areas.

When the out-of-country cousins come to Egypt for a visit, the Pyramids are much more palatable viewed from the historic Mena House Oberoi than from the plateau itself. The Moghul Room in particular has some of the best Indian food in the capital.

The Lebanese restaurant Aura, flanking the terrace pool at the Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence, has a classy yet family friendly atmosphere. The restaurant’s massive wrap-around windows overlooking the swimming pool and a (somewhat obscured) Nile vista adding to the rooftop-dining atmosphere. On the other side of the river, Spice at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza offers Cantonese cuisine in an elegant Nile View setting, with two private dining rooms that can accommodate groups of up to eight.

The resort towns of El-Gouna and Taba Heights, both creations of Orascom Hotels and Development, have come up with a solution for culinary boredom while you’re on vacation. The Dine Around program provides hotel guests with vouchers for restaurants at neighboring hotels or in the downtown and uptown areas. Participating hotels in El-Gouna include Ali Pasha, Arena Inn, Captain’s Inn, Dawar El-Omda, M?venpick, Sheraton Miramar, Steigenberger, Sultan Bey, The Three Corners Ocean View, The Three Corners Rihana Resort and Inn, and Turtle’s Inn. In Taba Heights, the program is offered at the Hyatt Regency Taba Heights, InterContinental Resort Taba Heights, Taba Heights Marriott Beach Resort, Sofitel Taba Heights and The Three Corners El Wekala Golf Resort. et

1886 Restaurant Sofitel Winter Palace Corniche El-Nil, Luxor Tel: +2 (095) 238-0425 / 237-4087 Open 7 – 11:30pm Reservations and formal attire required.

Aqua e Luce Fairmont Towers Heliopolis Tel: +2 (02) 2696-0000 Open 6:30-11am for breakfast buffet, 12pm – 12am for lunch and dinner

Aura Four Seasons Cairo at the First Residence 35 Giza St., Giza Tel: + 2 (02) 3573-1212 Open 11am – midnight

Blue Ginger Ritz Carlton Sharm El-Sheikh Om El Seed Peninsula, Sharm El-Sheikh Tel: +2 (069) 366-1919 Open 6:30pm – 10:30pm Attire is smart casual

El Gouna www.elgouna.com

The Grill InterContinental Semiramis Corniche El-Nil, Garden City Tel: +2 (02) 2795-7171 Open 7pm – midnight

Marco Polo Le Meridien Heliopolis 51 El Orouba St., Heliopolis Tel: +2 (02) 2290-5055 Open 1pm – 1am

The Moghul Room Mena House Oberoi Pyramids Road, Giza Tel: +2 (02) 3377-3222 / 3376-6644. Open 7pm – 11pm

Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh Tel: +2 (065) 344-0777 www.oberoihotels.com. Plat d’Or Sofitel Cecil Alexandria 16 Saad Zaghloul Square, Alexandria Tel: +2 (03) 487-7173, 485-5655 Open 7 – 10:30pm

Reef Grill Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh 1 Four Seasons Boulevard, Sharm El Sheikh Tel. +2 (069) 360-3555 Open Lunch: 12:30 – 5pm, Dinner: 7 – 10pm (May to November); Lunch: 1 – 6pm (December to April)

Revolving Restaurant, Grand Hyatt Cairo Corniche El-Nil, Garden City Tel: +2 (02) 2365-1234 Open 7pm – 1am No children under the age of 12

Ristorante Tuscany Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort Corniche Road, Hurghada Tel: +2 (065) 344-6950 Open 7pm – 12am

Sapporo Teppanyaki Sheraton Cairo 1 El-Galaa Square, Giza. Tel: +2 (02) 3336-9700/800 Open 12pm – 12am

Spice Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza 1089 Corniche El Nil, Garden City Tel: +2 (02) 2791-7000 Open 6pm – 1am

Taba Heights www.tabaheights.com

Taverna Barba Kiriakos InterContinental Abu Soma K48 Hurghada-Safaga Road Hurghada Tel: +2 (065) 326-0700 Open 12 – 3pm for lunch and 6 – 11pm for dinner

Vendome Sofitel El-Gezirah 3 Magles Quadet El-Thawra St., Cairo. Tel: +2 (02) 2737-3737 Open 12:30 – 4pm, 7:30pm – midnight

Villa d’Este Conrad Cairo 1191 Corniche El-Nil, Downtown Tel: +2 (02) 2580-8440 Open 7pm – 12:30am Reservations recommended, formal attire.