37 Best Restaurants in Oman

Al Mandoos

$$$ Fodor's choice

Celebrity chef Issa al Lamki opened Al Mandoos, and though it has since changed ownership, the food still bears his elegant touch, with authentic Omani dishes made with the freshest ingredients and modern twists, like his shorbat harees, a traditional crushed wheat soup, enlived here with tender whole wheatberries in a rich lamb stock. It is the best place to get a taste of local specialties like madroobah, a delicious spiced rice and vegetable mash topped with crisp-skinned chicken, fried fish, or malleh, a dish of saltfish, lime, and onion served over rice. Though unassumingly set on a quiet suburban side street, the interior is a suprisingly chic space decorated with traditional Omani textiles.

Kargeen Caffe

$$$ Fodor's choice

Tucked away behind a strip mall in the posh Madinat Sultan Qaboos neighborhood, this popular restaurant is a tranquil place to spend the evening dining on Arabic and local specialties, sipping on an infused tea from their extensive beverage menu, or to have sheesha. The garden, softly lit with hanging lanterns, is ideal in the cool evenings. Though the huge menu features everything from Arabic mixed grill to pasta, they also serve a great version of the Omani specialty shuwa, lamb rubbed with spices and oil then slow-cooked over embers in an underground pit overnight. Their za'atar bread is also fantastic, and it is one of the only places around where you can sample infusions of simmered cinnamon bark, ginger, or clove. The service is unbelievably slow, so this is not the place for a quick bite; be prepared to have a long, leisurely meal.

Turkish House Restaurant

$$ | Al Khuwair Fodor's choice

Run by a former fisherman who personally selects the restaurant's fresh seafood selections from the Mutrah market each morning, this is the best place in town to sample the incredible local catch. The popular restaurant has expanded to a large building facing the parking lot (so there is rarely a wait), but the smaller original dining room just behind it is quieter with a bit more ambience. An order of the mixed mezze, which includes hummus, babaghanoush, olive tapanade, and a spicy tomato puree, comes with long, thick loaves of fresh-baked Turkish flatbread and makes a great accompaniment to grilled fish and prawns. The house salad, dressed with a light vinegar, is excellent as well. The knaffe, a dessert of slightly salty cheese topped with sweet fried vermacelli, paired with a cup of strong Turkish coffee provides the perfect finish to a meal here.

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Zanzibar Island Restaurant

$ Fodor's choice

The East African island of Zanzibar was part of the Sultanate of Oman up until 1965, when many, like the owner of this casual eatery, returned to Muscat. The vibrant red walls of the dining room are covered with old photographs and paraphernalia from Zanzibar, and the kitchen turns out authentic, home-style Afro-Arabian specialties. Ask your server what is on offer, and he will lead you to the small kitchen to see hot pots of daily specials, which will likely include beans, cassava, and spinach simmered in coconut milk, spice-encrusted fried fish and chicken, and fresh chapati bread. Request a mixed plate to sample them all. After your meal you will be served complimentary light Omani coffee spiced with cloves and a plate of sweet, dried dates. This is one of the best lunch values in town.

Al Angham

$$$$ | Shatti Qurm

Al Angham impresses with opulence, both in its design and on your plate. The high-ceilinged dining room is adorned with intricately carved wooden details, including Arabesque arches and artfully chosen, modern Omani touches that mimic the grand design of the Opera House. The extensive menu features traditional regional Omani dishes artfully presented in delicate portions, either à la cart or as part of several tasting menus. This is a favorite lunch spot for government officials and business leaders with big expense accounts, who want to offer visting guests some local flavor and a sophisticated of environment. It may be the most expensive alcohol-free restaurant in Oman.

Al Mandi Al Dhahabi

Just across the main road from the Nizwa Souq, this restaurant serves wonderful Zanzibari dishes like coconut curried shrimp, fried chili and potato puffs called kachori, and fluffy, cardamom-scented mandazi bread. It also serves a strange combination of "international dishes" like pizza and pasta, which are best avoided.

Al Mas

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.

Althoq Turkish Restaurant

This is the only restaurant in Bahla, and you might be skeptical of this run-down-looking Turkish café, but the private family rooms inside are comfortable, and the chicken shawarma (spit-roasted slices of chicken served in a wrap as a sandwich or with rice and chopped vegetables) is actually excellent.

Bait Al Luban

$$ | Mutrah

At the northern end of the Mutrah Corniche, the exquisitely designed "House of Frankincense" offers diners a taste of authentic Omani dishes, including grilled beef, chicken, and squid mishkak skewers;harees (a savory porridge of chicken or meat slow-cooked with wheatberries and spices, topped with fried onions and ghee); and rice kabulis (flavourful basmati pilaf cooked with whole cardamom pods, cinnamon bark, ground cumin, corriander, and other spices), along with local seafood from the nearby fish market and modern inventions like shuwa (Omani slow-cooked meat) lasagna. The tranquil dining area features traditional dark, carved wood accents and colorful Omani pillows and tapestries, and the sound of Arabian oud music plays softly in the background. A few small tables on the balcony overlooking the Corniche are a romantic option during cooler months.

Beach Pavilion Restaurant

$$$$

The secluded seaside restaurant at the exclusive Al Bustan Palace Ritz-Carlton, which is about ½ hour from central Muscat, is one of the most romantic destinations in the city. Dining by moonlight, serenaded by the sound of waves, warm sand beneath your feet, and a silhouetted backdrop of mountains and ocean, you'll have as memorable a meal as you are likely to have in Oman, well worth the high price and long drive. The service is as good as you would expect, and the food, while not earth-shattering, is well-prepared, especially the grilled local seafood. The real star, besides the unbeatable ambience, is the well-curated, international wine list, which is one of the most sophisticated in Oman.

Begum's

$ | Al Khuwair

The small size of this relaxed North Indian eatery—it has only has a dozen tables—only partially accounts for it being perpetually jam-packed. Friendly service helps, but the overwhelming draw is the excellent Mughlai cuisine. Dozens of dishes—with plenty of vegetarian choices—beguile even the most persnickety palate: specialties like chicken or fish kebab biryani, chicken curry, and paneer tikka masala are plentiful, spiced to perfection, and habit forming.

Bin Ateeq

This well-known franchise serves Omani cuisine in a no-frills environments the traditional way: on large silver trays set down on the floor of a private dining area. The shuwa, a local celebration dish of spicy, pit-roasted lamb served on a mound of rice with a tangy tomato salsa on the side, is particularly good. Steer clear of the seafood, as the inexpensive restaurant does not always source the best or the freshest catch.

Bin Ateeq

Traditional Omani restaurants are few and far between, and this one gives a rare introduction to the regional specialties in a traditional setting. The menu offers a huge range of dishes, like slow-cooked meats with fragrant spices served with boiled wheat, along with fish dishes, super-sweet desserts, and the rich cardamom flavored coffee served with dates to end the meal. There are four branches in Salalah, two on 23 July Street.

Cafe at Wadi Bani Khalid

This simple café is the only dining establishment for miles around, and it serves up good fresh juice and an inexpensive buffet lunch featuring a hodgepodge of dishes and several types of rice.

Camilia Cafe

Amid the towering buildings in the Central Banking District (CBD) in Ruwi, this Turkish standby is the best dining option in the entire area. It offers a plethora of grilled options, including Turkish-style ground meat kebabs, garlic- and lemon-marinated chicken, lamb chops, whole fish, and prawns; the mixed grills are the main draw and are ideal for sharing. But the kebabs and grilled chicken wrapped in flatbread with a smear of garlic mayonnaise, a few french fries, and house coleslaw for 700 baisas (less than US$2) are the best value in town. During the day the restaurant bustles with the lunch crowd from surrounding banks, but at night the quiet outdoor dining space takes on a more relaxed, romantic feel.

Itin Restaurant

Just off the freeway, surrounded by undeveloped construction sights, this tiny restaurant doesn't even have tables and chairs. Go inside and order a platter of mandi, saffron-tinged Yemeni-style rice, and the house specialty, camel meat. Then take a seat on one of the woven mats set outside the building. Within minutes you will be presented with a silver tray mounded with yellow rice and a smaller tray of caramelized meat and onions. Expertly prepared, the delicacy is meltingly tender with a richer flavor than beef and less gamey than lamb, This is the idea place for adventurous diners who want to try the best possible version of this Arabian Gulf delicacy.

Karak Taste

On the new corniche, across from the Sur Beach Holiday Resort, this small takeaway karak shop makes delicious, paper-thin Omani bread stuffed with savory fillings like egg and cream cheese, or sweet combinations like honey and cheese or Nutella, along with the namesake beverage, a milky tea sweetened with condensed milk and spiced with lemongrass, cardamom, and ginger. Just pull up front and honk; someone will come to your car to take your order.

Kurkum

$$$ | Mutrah

Steps away from the Mutrah souk, overlooking the sea, this fine-dining restaurant stands in sharp contrast to the cheap tourist-trap cafés that otherwise line Al Bahri Road. The interior is filled with crisp white banquets, though the scattering of outdoor tables offer the best vantage point for watching an interesting mix of tourists and the elderly Omani locals who still reside in the maze-like neighborhood just behind the shops. You will pay top dollar for the excellent service at this quiet oasis, which is owned by a member of the royal family, but you'll also get a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of old Muscat. The food is "Omanized" Indian, meaning that it is much less piquant, and incorporates rich coconut milk into many of the curries. The seafood is excellent, from the grilled hamour tikka (grilled fish) to the luxurious prawn curry, but it is the attentive touches, like complimentary welcome mocktails and amuse-bouche, that really set the experience apart.

Lebanese House

Fresh, authentic Lebanese food is a nice change from Salalah's ubiquitous shawarma and Indian restaurants. This compact, family-run restaurant serves a range of Lebanese specialties, including an excellent falafel, fresh tabouleh, light and lemony humous, yogurt salad with tomato, cucumber, and garlic, and a range of roasted meats and fish. A huge meal for two can be had for less than $10.

Lulu Prepared Foods

One of the best dining options in the Dakhiliyah region is the massive Lulu Hypermarket in Nizwa. The prepared foods counter offers all manner of Indian delicacies, grilled and fried chicken, rice dishes, fresh baked breads, and cold salads. There are countless scenic places to picnic after stocking up on food and beverages at Lulu, and the quality of the food is superior to almost all the restaurants in the area.

Marina Café

$$$ | Shatti Qurm

Cloistered in the ministries district, just behind the U.S. Amassador's villa, Marina Café sits directly on the beach, its glass walls offering unobstructed views of the Gulf of Oman and a small, palm-lined park. The casual menu has a strong Lebanese bent, with shawarma plates and mezze, along with typical café fare, from a fried seafood basket to club sandwiches and burgers. The fresh juices, teas, and sheesha coupled with the views and relaxed atmosphere are draw enough to make this a destination for a leisurely afternoon or evening, but the food is also of good quality, if not a bit expensive for what it is. Free Wi-Fi is available, and during the cooler months there is also an outdoor seaside patio. Due to a change in Omani smoking laws, children under the age of 12 are no longer allowed in the main dining room where sheesha is offered, but there is a smoke-free family dining area, and during the winter months, the patio is open to all.

Marlins

$$$

Overlooking the Marina Bandar Al Rowdha, this poolside restaurant offers a wide international selection of dishes, including a good BLT (with real pork bacon), fish-and-chips, rack of lamb, Indian curries, and all manner of local grilled seafood options, along with cocktails, wine, and beer. At breakfast time, the main draw is the full English breakfast. The relaxing seaside location, free pool access, liquor license, and menu of Western comfort foods make this a charming oasis for those craving a taste of home.

Memories

$$$

Dar El Ezz, the first fine-dining "restaurant" to open in the Dakhiliyah region, is actually more of a dining complex with multiple restaurants housed in one large building. The best of the bunch is Memories, a 200-seat restaurant with an outdoor terrace built amid waterfalls. The international buffet is expensive and good, if not great, and is one of your best options if you are looking for a higher-end meal in a polished atmosphere. In the same building is the lovely rooftop coffee shop and sheesha lounge called Clouds, where you can enjoy unencumbered views of the surrounding mountains and palm forests along with a post-meal latte.

Old Turkish Restaurant

$ | Al Khuwair

After midnight on the weekends, waiters rush huge platters of grilled meat, kebabs, french fries, and hummus, and glasses of fresh juice to the boisterous groups occupying the outdoor tables and to cars waiting in a long queue for takeaway at this lively 24-hour restaurant. The late-night scene is an experience in and of itself, but the expertly prepared Turkish grill restaurant is well worth a visit anytime.

Osan

This simple restaurant is one of the best places to enjoy the traditional Yemeni dish called mandi, which consists of lamb or chicken set atop a pot of simmering spiced rice; it's wildly popular in Oman. Upon entering, you will be shown to a private room strewn with cushions. Remove your shoes and take a seat. When the waiter returns, you need only tell him whether you want chicken or meat. Once you've ordered, head to the back of the restaurant to wash your hands, which will also be your utinsils for this meal. By the time you return, a large silver tray mounded with saffron-yellow rice and crowned with tender chicken or lamb will likely be waiting for you along with mild, tomato-based Yemeni salsa and some fresh chopped vegetables and limes. Eat your meal the traditional Gulf Arabrian way, using your right hand to take a small peice of meat and a pinch (or a handful) of rice. Be sure to take a complimentary cup of sweet Yemeni tea on your way out.

Pakistani Take-Away

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.

Rawazen Restaurant Ibra

Known locally as "the pink restaurant" because of the vibrant exterior, this is simple Turkish place is a favorite of Ibra residents. The mixed grill is a good lunch option on the way from Muscat to Bidiyah, which is another 30 to 40 minutes' drive, or after a visit to the Wednesday ladies' market.

Shuwa Express

$ | Shatti Qurm

Shuwa (meat slathered in Omani spices and then slow-roasted in an underground pit overnight) is considered by many to be the most iconic of Omani dishes, and it is usually reserved for major holidays, like the Eids or wedding celebrations. At this casual eatery in the Bareeq Al Shati mall, lamb or chicken shuwa is used to stuff sandwiches made with your choice of seven types of flatbread; then choose from eight different sauces and other fillers like cheese or shredded vegetables. The lamb is the best option, expecially delicious in the oily, pan-fried paratha bread. Despite being adjacent to a mall food court, the shop has a surpising amount of ambience, with Omani-style decor and high-top tables made from brass serving trays. It is a great option for those craving simple sandwiches and french fries, but with a local twist.

Spicy Village

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.

Sur Beach Restaurant

This run-down restaurant has no ambience: the dark dining area offers plastic-covered tables while a leaky air conditioner keeps the space reasonably cool. But what it lacks in decor it makes up for in an unusual menu item: cuttlefish biyrani. This spiced, layered rice dish of South Asian origin is wildly popular in Oman, and the giant squid known as cuttlefish is a local specialty. And it's something to savor: well-seasoned rice topped with cashews and raisins, layered with tender cubes of cuttlefish dressed in a luscious, mildly spicy masala. One order is more than enough for two people.

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