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The restaurants below have been grouped into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over OR20)
$$$ (OR15 to OR20)
$$ (OR10 to OR15)
$ (up to OR10)
These prices are for a three-course meal per person, tax and service included, but without drinks.

Al-Tanoor Restaurant
For a fine dining experience in a gorgeous seaside location it’s worth venturing out to Muscat’s luxurious new resort, about 20 minutes through the mountains from Old Muscat. The Al-Tanoor offers authentic flavors of the Middle East in a chic, understated venue with naked chefs - or at least chefs on show in four open kitchens. Go early for an aperitif in the neighboring piano bar with golden views at sunset.

Al-Bander Hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr al-Jissah Resort and Spa
Tel: 24 776 666.
Website: www.shangri-la.com
Price: $$$$

Mumtaz Mahal
In a capital city with almost more Indian expats than resident Omanis, it’s praise indeed to call this the best Indian restaurant in town. With a hill top perch overlooking Qurm Natural Park, it is a sophisticated choice for a working lunch - though not much work gets done after the snake coffee (a coffee concocted at the table involving brandy being drizzled along a sinuous piece of orange peel and set alight)!

Way 2601, Qurm
Tel: 24 605 907.
Price: $$$

Khargeen Cafe
This deservedly buzzing outdoor cafe is the perfect place to while away an evening, sipping on mint lemon and eating kebabs, hummus and taboule. Khargeen Café is highly popular with the in-crowd, with diners either relaxing cross-legged on Arab-style divans or sitting among the potted plants in the magical little courtyard - summer temperatures permitting.

Medinat Qaboos Shopping Complex, Medinat Qaboos
Tel: 24 692 269.
Price: $$

D’Arcy’s Kitchen
For those who just can’t imagine life without bacon (albeit beef bacon) and eggs for breakfast, steak pie and chips for lunch and a beans on toast for tea, this homely, immensely popular cafe is a short distance from a nap on the beach.

Way 2817, Shatti al-Qurm
Tel: 24 600 234.
Price: $

Bin Atique
It has to be said that Omani food is not to everyone’s taste but if you’re keen to try it regardless, this sit-on-the-floor restaurant, catering mainly for homesick business men from out of town, is one of the few places to sample genuine Omani cuisine - like ma owl (a dish garnished with dried shark).

Slip Road adjacent to Muscat-bound Sultan Qaboos Street, Al-Khuwair
Tel: 24 478 225.
Price: $



Nightlife:

Muscat is not what you’d call a ’rocking’ city and nightlife tends to refer more to a picnic under the streetlamps of the coast road or a few kebabs with friends at one of the ubiquitous coffee shops. That said, all the hotels have lively bars (with a license for alcohol) and a few local dance venues are beginning to gather momentum. All are obliged to double as restaurants.

At the Safari Club, in the basement of the Grand Hyatt Muscat, a live band playing East African rhythms reminds Muscat citizens of their Zanzibari connections. For those whom East Coast means less Mombassa and more Mexico, Pavo Real (Medinat Qaboos Shopping Complex) offers tequila-fuelled dancing at weekends (Wednesday and Thursday nights in Muscat). For more modish maracas-shaking, there’s a nightly ensemble of Santana-types at Trader Vics, InterContinental Hotel, Shatti Al-Qurm. The dance floor is limited but it doesn’t stop diners and divas jostling for hip space - especially after one or two of the venue’s professional cocktails. Much less hip (in fact more T-Bone) is the new kid on the block, Rocklands, Way 1622, Qurm. Located in the Ramee Guestline Hotel, this live rock venue doubles as a steak bar. Other lively nightspots include the InterContinental’s Al-Ghazal in Shatti al-Qurm and the Cellar in the Radison SAS Hotel in Al-Khuwair.

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