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05

Eat Muscat

Good food is part of the plan

Omani cooking is fragrant rather than fiery: rice, slow-cooked meat, fish, dates and coffee spiced with cardamom.

Markets & food halls

Mutrah Fish Market

A sculptural modern hall where the morning catch arrives. Go early; it is liveliest before 9am.

Mutrah Souq stalls

Halwa, dates, spices and rosewater along the covered lanes; taste before you buy.

A local market north of the airport for fish, fruit and vegetables; few tourists.

Traditional restaurants

Omani dishes in a restored guesthouse facing the corniche; ask for a window table at sunset.

Madinat Sultan Qaboos

A lantern-lit garden courtyard with majlis seating; lovely on a cool December evening.

Shatti Al Qurum

Contemporary takes on Omani cooking in Bareeq Al Shatti, near the Opera House.

Confirm current opening

Omani breakfasts and kahwa in a house styled on Old Muscat, near the Grand Mosque.

Al Manjur at The Cave

Omani dishes, including shuwa, within a cave-themed dining complex.

Check menu availability

Simple Omani dishes on floor cushions in private rooms; unfussy and filling.

Bakeries & cafés

Al Hosni Omani Sweets

A long-established halwa maker selling several varieties in gift boxes.

Confirm branch before going

Halwa shops, Mutrah Souq

Warm saffron, rosewater and date halwa sold by weight; ask for a taste first.

An Omani family ice cream brand; a good treat on a corniche walk.

A popular local café for coffee and light bites.

City Tower Grill & Café

A casual stop facing Al Mirani Fort; egg roll-ups and fresh juice.

Check before going

Highly recommended

Shatti Al Qurum

Refined Omani dining at the Opera Galleria; book ahead and dress smartly.

Shatti Al Qurum

Seafood by the sand with fire pits; an occasion dinner on a cool night.

Reserve; confirm hotel location

Shatti Al Qurum

Zahr El Laymoun

Lebanese plates on pavement benches; easy, sociable and good value.

Northern Indian Mughlai cooking with city views; a long-time Muscat favourite.

Al Daleh Restaurant

Good-value meals prepared by Omani hospitality students.

Check opening days

Eat more

Shuwa

Mashuai (fish & rice)

Kabuli

Harees

Omani bread (khubz rakhal)

Karak tea

Mishkak skewers

Halwa & kahwa

The December plate

Shuwa

Lamb marinated in spices and slow-cooked in an underground pit; a festive dish found on many Omani menus.

Halwa

Sticky, glossy sweet of sugar, ghee, saffron and rosewater; eaten in small pieces with coffee.

Kahwa & dates

Cardamom-scented coffee poured in small cups with dates — the gesture of welcome everywhere.

Muslim traveller note: food is halal by default. International hotel restaurants may use alcohol in cooking; ask if unsure.

04 Mosques & Muslim traveller notes

06 Culture, design & architecture

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