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Muscat Nightlife, Oman

Nighttime in Muscat is busy despite its predominantly conservative Muslim population. There are good numbers of restaurants and nightspots found in the city for a late night or early night get away. Apart from the famed Omani or Lebanese cuisine available in these restaurants, there are also several choices that may range from Western, European and even East Asian.

The worldwide phenomenon that is Starbucks is available in Muscat. It is planked between two international hotels so locals and tourists will have the chance of enjoying their favorite Frapuccinno or espresso by the sea breeze. The view of the splashing waves via the glass walls of the coffee house is also a sight that is hard to miss. Other coffee shops – the more traditional kinds – are found in almost every busy street or at the corner offering affordable yet genuine coffee for those caffeine lovers out there.

If it is food that you seek, you will never have to go so far to find the tang your taste buds has been looking for. Al-exandria in Fanja House in Ruwi offers the best Indian Rotis in town. To top it all, parts of their cuisine include authentic Indian dishes like the chicken Jalfrezi and Paneer aloo. Automatic is another affordable restaurant to try out. It serves genuine Lebanese cuisine including their famed dishes like Hummus or the Chickpea paste, Fatoosh or their very own Salad, Mutabel or an Egg Plant paste, and Falafel and mint tea. However, should you ask its waiters, the western origin of the name of the restaurant is hard to explain. There are also many restaurants targeting Indian guest workers in Al Khuwayr and Ofair and Ibn Ateeq Omani restaurants. For the more expensive taste, the international hotels house several themed restaurants that represent various parts of the world. One is Mumtaj Mahal, as the name suggests, and serves authentic and high-end Indian dishes. Samarkhand, on the other hand, dish up Indian Peshawari cuisine.

Nightlife in Muscat is not mainly based on food or drinks. A serene walk, barefooted on the beach is an enlivening experience to the young and old alike. This becomes extra special if you are holding the hands of the one you love. The restaurant choices here are endless yet the natural beauty of the city almost outweighs the palatable experience for the tongue. Muscat is truly the up and coming Middle Eastern City.