Best Chatby and Corniche Stops After MOC 2026
Alexandria did not just host another conference this week. MOC 2026 returned to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center from 20 to 22 October 2026 under the theme “Egypt as an Anchoring Force for Energy Security in the Mediterranean”, bringing industry delegates straight into one of the city’s most walkable waterfront zones. That matters for anyone leaving a panel, exhibition stand or business meeting and asking the same practical question: where should we actually eat or grab coffee nearby?
The good news is that Chatby and the central Corniche still reward people who stay close to the library instead of immediately jumping in a car. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (@bibalexofficial on Instagram) sits on Alexandria’s Mediterranean shore in El Shatby, and the venue itself confirms there are cafés near the entrance, a food-and-beverage hub on the Plaza, and conference-center catering with sea-and-plaza views. In other words, the first smart stop may be inside the complex; the second is usually just a short walk away on the Corniche.
The closest option: stay inside the Bibliotheca Alexandrina plaza
If you have just come out of a session and need the least complicated choice, start with the BA Plaza and the conference-center food outlets. The library’s own visitor information says there are cafeterias and restaurants available at the BA Plaza, while the conference-center catering page highlights the Conference Center Restaurant (Greco–Roman Restaurant) with views over the Plaza of Civilization, the sea, and the library itself. That makes the complex ideal for quick business lunches, coffee between meetings, or a low-friction fallback when traffic is not worth the gamble.
This is also the most practical answer for visitors who want to keep exploring the library after they eat. The BA notes that personal laptops are allowed, free guest Wi-Fi is available, and the complex includes cafés near the entrance. For MOC visitors who still have emails to send before heading back to Cairo or the airport, that combination is unusually useful.
Best for
- Fastest lunch without leaving the venue zone
- Coffee meetings between conference sessions
- Visitors combining food with sightseeing at the library and exhibitions
For dependable coffee: La Poire at the library
One of the few nearby names the Bibliotheca Alexandrina explicitly identifies is La Poire Café (@lapoireegypt on Instagram). That matters because it is not a vague “nearby café” recommendation; it is a venue the library itself points visitors toward, and La Poire’s own branch material lists a location inside the Bibliotheca Alex. If you want a recognizable Egypt-wide brand for coffee, desserts, light sandwiches or a casual meeting point, this is one of the safest choices in the immediate area.
It is especially handy for solo visitors, students and delegates waiting on the Corniche side of town rather than committing to a full sit-down meal. For a post-conference reset, it is hard to beat the convenience factor.
For an easy chain-café stop: Cilantro beside the Bibliotheca
Another practical coffee option in the same orbit is Cilantro. A location listing indexed by Tripadvisor places Cilantro on Port Said Street beside Bibliotheca Alexandrina, making it a strong choice if you want familiar café service, takeaway drinks, or a quick meeting before walking onward along the seafront. The appeal here is less about destination dining and more about reliability: coffee, Wi-Fi culture, and a location that is clearly tied to the library zone.
For readers from Cairo, the value proposition is obvious: this is the Alexandria equivalent of taking the low-risk café option when your schedule matters more than culinary adventure.
For the classic sea-view break: Arous El Selsela
If what you really want after MOC is not another indoor seat but the Corniche itself, Arous El Selsela is one of the strongest fits for this exact article’s brief. Reviews consistently place it right by the seafront opposite the Bibliotheca Alexandrina area and describe the draw in the same terms most Alexandrians would: the view. Its location at the Selsela edge makes it more about sea breeze, waves, coffee and a leisurely pause than a polished business lunch.
This is the stop to choose when the conference badge comes off and you want Alexandria to feel like Alexandria again. It works best for:
- Sunset coffee
- Casual seafood or snacks
- Out-of-town visitors who want that immediate rocks-and-water Corniche mood close to the library
For a more substantial lunch: Branzino Fish Restaurant
For delegates who want a proper sit-down meal within walking distance of the BA rather than just coffee and cake, Branzino Fish Restaurant stands out in nearby dining listings. Tripadvisor’s 2026 roundup of restaurants near the Bibliotheca Alexandrina places it about 0.4 miles away and specifically notes its Mediterranean views. In practical terms, that puts it in the sweet spot for visitors who want seafood in Alexandria without straying far from Chatby and the central Corniche.
Because MOC is an offshore energy event, there is something fitting about ending the day with lunch that is unmistakably Alexandrian rather than generic hotel food. A fish restaurant close to the waterfront wins on both geography and mood.
For old-school central Alexandria after the library: Trianon
If your idea of a post-event stop is coffee and pastry in a historic city-center setting rather than directly on the water, Trianon deserves a mention. The brand presents itself as “Timeless Taste | Est. 1905”, and nearby-restaurant listings place it within reach of the Bibliotheca area. It is not the same thing as a sea-view café, but it is a smart extension of the route if you are walking or driving westward into the older central districts after visiting the BA.
Think of it as the better pick for dessert, coffee and Alexandria nostalgia, especially if your group wants to keep the afternoon going beyond the conference perimeter.
How to choose the right stop after MOC 2026
If you need speed
Stay at the BA Plaza or head to La Poire. Both are tied directly to the library complex and require the least effort.
If you need caffeine and a meeting table
La Poire or Cilantro make the most sense for coffee-first plans near the Bibliotheca zone.
If you want the best sea mood
Choose Arous El Selsela for the immediate Corniche-and-rocks experience, or Branzino if lunch matters as much as the view.
If you want to keep sightseeing
Eat at the BA complex first, then continue your visit. The library remains one of Alexandria’s most useful cultural bases because the food, exhibitions and waterfront setting are all folded into one address in Chatby.
The bottom line
After MOC 2026, the smartest move is not overplanning. The conference’s return to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center put visitors in one of Alexandria’s easiest zones for a same-day food-and-view itinerary: start at the BA Plaza if convenience is everything, pick La Poire or Cilantro for coffee, head to Arous El Selsela for a classic seafront pause, and book a longer lunch at Branzino if you want a more destination-style meal. For Egypt-based readers planning their next Alexandria work trip, that is the real takeaway: in Chatby, the best post-conference stop is usually the one that keeps you closest to the sea.