If you want to eat and drink at the same time in Algiers the world is far from your oyster, with venues being scant to say the least. Caracoya Restaurant though is one of these few gems and it so turns out the food and drinks are not all that bad.
And perhaps most importantly it was walking distance from the ABC Hotel, as well as being open. The same could not be said for Restaurant Le Bernais.
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What the Caracoya?
Caracoya is a French-Algerian restaurant located in central Algiers. It was established in the early 2000s by a local Algiers family whose identity is publicly known among residents but not widely advertised online. The restaurant has built its reputation over the past two decades as one of the few venues in Algiers combining traditional French cuisine with local Algerian ingredients.
Ownership has remained within the family since its founding, with management passed to the current generation. It is known for maintaining consistent quality and service, and has become a reference point for both locals and expatriates seeking French-style dining and drink….
The Caracoya Menu
Its a higher end French-Algerian restaurant, so therefore serves for the most part French food in the Algerian fashion. Prices here are more than you would spend in say El Walima, but it also comes with ambience. Alas ambience does not mean they take cards.
Menu items with black market rates:
- Escargot – 1,300 DZD ($9 USD)
- Carpaccio – 1,800 DZD ($12 USD)
- Steak Frites – 2,700 DZD ($18 USD)
- Duck Confit – 3,200 DZD ($21 USD)
- Ratatouille – 1,200 DZD ($8 USD)
- Foie Gras – 3,500 DZD ($23 USD)
- Coq au Vin – 2,900 DZD ($19 USD)
- Salade Niçoise – 1,400 DZD ($9.50 USD)
Drinks:
- Albrau Beer – 400 DZD ($2.60 USD)
- Local wines – 1,800 DZD ($12 USD) per glass
- Imported French wines – 12,000 DZD ($80 USD) per bottle
- Fresh fruit juices – 300 DZD ($2 USD)
- Mineral water – 200 DZD ($1.30 USD)
Food, vibe and ambience at Caracoya Restaurant
From the outside Caracoya looks fairly nondescript and small, particularly as you see no people in there (the non-smoking part), before you go out back and see it is like a proper French restaurant. This extends to the staff who while friendly have a bit of that French arrogance to them.
Food wise I personally went for some carpaccio and escargot, which were more than decent, without being earth shattering. This was knocked down with some Albrau the local water-like beer. One of the guests also had some wine, which was French and therefore decent.
And while it was more expensive than your average restaurant I probably did not even end up dropping $20. Algeria even when doing French food is a real gem in the rough.
Worth a visit?
Absolutely, even though it is far from the best restaurant in the world we do have to deal with economies of scale. This is a good place to get food with a beer in Algiers. After all there are only so many times that you can go to the Hotel Suisse.
Where the Caracoya Restaurant?
Downtown and walking distance from where is important.
Address: Rue Didouche Mourad, Downtown Algiers, Algeria
Phone: +213 21 63 45 67
Email: contact@caracoya.dz
Click to check my Algeria Tours with YPT.