Sharm El-Sheikh: Cafe & restaurant – Farsha or New Panorama

Catch the sunset above Sharm El-Sheikh. This evening outing gives you two very different ways to spend five hours: the cozy, sea-facing Farsha Cafe or the more organized New Panorama Cafe and Restaurant. I like the round-trip hotel transfer, which saves you from arranging a taxi at night, and I like the chance to pair mountain views or traditional stage shows with a relaxed evening. The main concern is value: several bookings describe the service as little more than a private taxi, with no clear queue benefit or dependable guide.

Farsha suits you if you want atmosphere, unusual decor, and a view over the sea. New Panorama is the stronger pick if you want shisha, bottled water, soft drinks, and live entertainment included. Both options run for about five hours, but the experience depends heavily on the venue, your pickup timing, and how clearly the inclusions are explained before you leave.

Key points at a glance

• Farsha is best around sunset: Choose the 6:00 PM or 6:30 PM start to see the cafe before darkness settles over the sea.
• New Panorama is the entertainment choice: The evening can include Tanoura, fire, belly dance, and traditional art dance performances.
• The transfer is private: You receive hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned car with a private driver.
• The $15 price needs a value check: Some bookings have described paying around €26 mainly for transport, so confirm exactly what your package covers.
• Farsha has an evening entry rule: After 4:00 PM, it is open only to couples, women, or mixed adult groups.
• Stargazing is possible, not guaranteed: Bring binoculars or a telescope if you want to make the most of the night sky above the mountain.

Two very different nights in Sharm El-Sheikh

This experience is not one fixed show or single restaurant visit. It is a choice between two evening settings, each with a separate mood.

Farsha Cafe is the atmospheric option. It is known for traditional decoration, a cozy feel, and wide sea views from its position on the mountain. The appeal is simple: sit high above Sharm El-Sheikh, watch the sky change color, and spend the evening with drinks or shisha in an unusual setting.

New Panorama Sharm Cafe and Restaurant is more of a planned entertainment package. You receive a five-hour evening with private transport and, for the Panorama option, shisha, soft drinks, bottled water, and several live performances. The Tanoura show, fire show, belly dance, and traditional art dance give the night a clear program rather than leaving you to make your own entertainment.

I would not treat the two venues as interchangeable. Farsha is about setting and views. New Panorama is about inclusions and stage entertainment. Pick the place that matches your idea of a good evening, not just the one with the more attractive title.

Reaching Farsha around sunset

The Farsha option normally begins at 6:00 PM or 6:30 PM. That timing matters because the cafe is at its most appealing when you can see the sea and surrounding hills before the night becomes fully dark.

Your private driver collects you from your hotel and takes you in an air-conditioned car. The transfer is useful if you are staying outside the immediate center of Sharm El-Sheikh, or if you would rather not negotiate a taxi for the return trip late at night.

Do not expect a long guided sightseeing drive. The transport is the practical part of the package. Several bookings have described excellent drivers, but also confusion about the guide, pickup time, and line arrangements. I would keep your phone available, confirm the pickup time directly, and not assume that the driver will provide commentary about the area.

Once you arrive, Farsha gives you time to settle in and order. The venue is built around the experience of sitting, looking out, and taking in the decor. It is not a fast meal stop. You might find cramped seating, limited table space, or a position with a blocked view, especially if the cafe is crowded.

That last point is important. A beautiful venue does not guarantee a beautiful table. One booking account described being placed on a terrace where a large plant blocked the view, with very little room around the table. Staff would not move the party, and the evening ended early. I would ask about the seating position as soon as you arrive, before ordering food or drinks.

Farsha’s atmosphere, views, and evening rules

Farsha has a strong sense of place. Traditional decor and the mountain setting give it more character than a standard hotel lounge. If your priority is a memorable backdrop for a quiet drink, this is probably the more distinctive choice.

The sea view is the star, so timing and seating affect the value. Arriving at 6:00 PM gives you a better chance to watch sunset. Arriving later may mean missing the best light, although the night setting can still work well for conversation and stargazing.

The venue has a specific evening access rule. After 4:00 PM, Farsha is open only to couples, women, or mixed adult groups. A group made up of men and children is strongly advised to visit before 4:00 PM. If you are already inside, you will not be asked to leave, but this rule makes the evening option unsuitable for some family groups.

Food and drinks are not included in the general package. The description presents Farsha as a place to unwind with shisha and drinks, but the included items specifically identify shisha, soft drinks, and bottled water under the Panorama option. Check the exact Farsha inclusions before booking, and budget separately for anything you order at the venue.

Stargazing is another pleasant idea attached to the experience, but it is not a dedicated astronomy tour. There is no listed astronomy guide or supplied telescope. Bring your own binoculars or telescope if you want to look closely at the sky. Treat this as an added possibility rather than the main event.

New Panorama’s five-hour show program

The New Panorama option starts at about 8:45 PM or 9:00 PM. It is a later evening than Farsha, with less emphasis on sunset and more on the entertainment schedule.

The package includes a private transfer, shisha, soft drinks, and bottled water. It also includes a series of performances:

• Tanoura show
• Fire show
• Belly dance
• Traditional art dance

The Tanoura performance is usually the kind of spectacle that gives an evening a clear Egyptian cultural flavor, while the fire show adds a more theatrical moment. Belly dance and traditional art dance complete the program with familiar stage entertainment.

I like this option for people who want their evening to have structure. You can settle in, watch the performances, and avoid building the night around separate orders or activities. It is also easier to understand the value when several refreshments and shows are included.

The trade-off is that New Panorama may feel less personal than Farsha. You are choosing a restaurant and performance setting rather than a mountain lounge built around views. If you want to sit quietly with the sea below you, Farsha is likely the better match. If you want an evening that keeps moving, Panorama makes more sense.

The description says a guide is included for this experience, but the included-services section says tour guide is not included. That is a genuine contradiction. I would not pay extra or plan around having a guide unless the provider confirms it in writing. The private driver and transfer are the dependable elements.

What the private transfer is really worth

At $15 per person, the price can be attractive if you are traveling with several people and want a simple round trip. You are paying for convenience, a private driver, hotel pickup, and hotel drop-off. An air-conditioned car is welcome in Sharm El-Sheikh, particularly after a warm day outside.

The value becomes less clear if your party is small and the venue does not include the extras you expected. One booking account described paying about €26 mainly for transportation and finding that entry was free. Another described a driver arriving an hour late after a long wait. A separate booking had a scheduled 6:00 PM pickup moved to 5:00 PM, with slow replies when the passenger tried to clarify the change.

These problems do not mean every transfer will go badly. The strongest praise is directed at the drivers, with one driver described as excellent and deserving the highest marks. The weak point is communication and the gap between what some passengers expected and what the service actually delivered.

For that reason, I would judge the $15 in practical terms:

• It is fair if you value hotel pickup and a private return ride.
• It is less attractive if you can arrange a cheaper taxi and do not need help with transport.
• It is good value for Panorama if the shisha, drinks, water, and shows are all supplied as described.
• It is weak value at Farsha if you mainly receive a ride and still wait in a long line.
• It is not worth paying extra for a supposed queue-jump unless that benefit is clearly confirmed.

The provider is FTS Travels. The available language options are English, Italian, Russian, and Arabic. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Those terms help if your evening plans may change, but they do not solve last-minute pickup communication.

Lines, seating, and the queue question

The most serious practical issue is the possibility of waiting. One booking account described a three-hour line and a driver who arrived an hour late. Another expected skip-the-line access and found that no such benefit was provided.

Do not confuse a transfer with priority entry. The basic service gets you to the venue and back. It does not automatically give you a reserved table, special entrance, or guaranteed access to a particular show. The wording about a guide and queue-jumping has caused enough confusion that you should ask for confirmation before departure.

At Farsha, seating may also affect the night more than you expect. A table with a poor angle or obstructed view can turn a scenic visit into an expensive drink stop. If the venue is full, staff may not be able to move you. Arrive with realistic expectations: the cafe can be atmospheric, but it is not a private terrace reserved just for your party.

The best way to protect your evening is to confirm four things with the driver or provider before leaving the hotel: the exact pickup time, the return meeting point, what your package includes, and whether any queue or entry advantage is actually provided.

Who should choose Farsha?

Choose Farsha if you care most about the setting. The traditional decor, mountain position, sea views, and sunset timing give it the stronger sense of occasion.

It works particularly well for couples, women traveling together, or mixed adult groups, which fit the evening access rule. You should also like unhurried cafe time. The package does not promise a full meal, a reserved view, or a private table, so Farsha is not ideal if you need a carefully managed dining experience.

I would choose the 6:00 PM start if the sunset matters to me. I would bring binoculars if I wanted to try stargazing, but I would not book this solely as an astronomy activity. And I would confirm how shisha, food, and drinks are charged before setting out.

Who should choose New Panorama?

New Panorama is the better fit if you want entertainment included. The four listed performances give you more than a simple transfer to a cafe, and the package includes shisha, soft drinks, and bottled water.

The late start, around 8:45 PM or 9:00 PM, suits a night out after dinner or a relaxed hotel afternoon. It is less suitable if you want sunset or an early return. The five-hour duration also means this is a major evening commitment, not a quick stop.

I would choose Panorama for families with older children, groups of friends, or anyone who prefers a planned show to an open-ended lounge visit. Because the guide information conflicts with the included-services information, I would still confirm whether you are receiving a guide or only a driver.

Final call: book it or arrange your own taxi?

Book this experience if you want the convenience of a private hotel transfer and you are clear about which venue you are getting. New Panorama offers the cleaner value proposition because the package lists drinks, shisha, water, and four types of entertainment.

Farsha is worth considering for the setting, especially at sunset, but it carries more uncertainty. Seating, lines, and access rules can shape the night, and the transfer alone may not justify the price if a local taxi is easy for you to arrange.

My practical choice would be Farsha for a scenic evening with flexible expectations, or New Panorama for a more organized night with included entertainment. Before paying, confirm the pickup time, return procedure, guide status, and any queue benefit. That short check could make the difference between a smooth night out and five hours spent waiting for a car or trying to find a better table.

FAQ

How long does the experience last?

Both options are described as five-hour experiences.

What start times are available for Farsha Cafe?

Farsha Cafe offers a starting time of 6:00 PM or 6:30 PM.

What start times are available for New Panorama?

New Panorama offers a starting time of about 8:45 PM or 9:00 PM.

Is hotel transportation included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, with transport in an air-conditioned car and a private driver.

What is included with the New Panorama option?

The Panorama option includes shisha, soft drinks, bottled water, a Tanoura show, a fire show, belly dance, and traditional art dance.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are generally listed as not included, although soft drinks and bottled water are specifically included with the Panorama option.

Can families with children visit Farsha in the evening?

Farsha is open after 4:00 PM only to couples, women, or mixed adult groups. Male family groups with children are strongly advised to visit before 4:00 PM.