4 Best Restaurants in Oman

The bare-bones restaurant in the Bowshar International Hotel doesn't look like much, but the biryani (basmati rice layered with masala spices and either chicken, prawns, or fish) is the best in Muscat. As one of the city's only 24-hour dining options, it is a favorite post-nightclub dinner spot on the weekends. The prawn biryani and the local hamour fish biryani are especially good, served with a cooling yogurt sauce called raita. Order it mild if you are especially sensitive to heat.

This nameless café next to the petrol station when you first enter the township of Bidiyah is pretty much the only real restaurant in town. Most people bring their own provisions to barbecue in the desert, or they rely on the meals provided by the luxury camps where they are staying, but if you find yourself in need of a quick meal, this place will do the trick. The food, basic South Asian fare and rice dishes, is nothing special, but it is decent enough for a breakfast or lunch on the way in or out of town. The chana masala and lentils are good, and the paratha bread is the one thing they do really well.

A well-known Indian chain in Oman with five outlets throughout the country, this family-friendly Indian restaurant offers reliable curries, tandoori-grilled meats, and other typical north Indian cuisine. The dining room is simple but comfortable, and it is nice to have a sit-down option in a city with so few dining outlets. To top it off, the prices are very reasonable.

This popular, high-end franchise from India is known for its seafood specialties, including green chili-spiked crab soup, King crab in a peppery garlic butter, and Chettinad-style prawn curry, rich with grated coconut, garlic, and ginger (from a style of cooking popular in Tamil Nadu). Though there are plenty of non-seafood options on the massive menu, you may find it easier to justify paying the the high prices for the locally sourced fish and shellfish. The dining room is serene and understated, and the dishes well-executed.