Bringing together the richly spiced dishes of Arabian cuisine with influences from Oman’s history, seafaring past and cosmopolitan present, Muscat is one of the most captivating culinary cities in the region.
Dishes like qabuli (rice slow cooked with camel or chicken) give a rich taste, while seafood dishes like mashuai (kingfish with lemon rice) show off the rich bounty of the gorgeous coastline. The best restaurants in Muscat play off both traditional and contemporary flavors of Oman and beyond, offering visitors an unforgettable culinary experience.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Savor Classic Omani Delicacies
The exquisite flavors of Omani cuisine are given headline status throughout the day at Al Khiran Kitchen, one of the high-end dining options in Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, one of the jewels of Muscat’s hospitality scene. There’s no better way to start the day than with a traditional Arabian breakfast: ful medames, a spiced fava bean stew, is on the menu here, as is shakshuka and cheese manakish (flatbread). International options include eggs Benedict and Belgian waffles.
If you’re in the mood for al fresco dining, look no further than The Pavilion at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which serves the freshest seafood and other seasonal local produce.
At lunch and dinner, traditional Omani dishes include shuwa — slow-cooked spicy lamb, served with saffron rice. This is a rare opportunity to try a special dish that’s usually reserved for festive occasions. Simple dishes which highlight fresh local produce include the likes of grilled kingfish with a lemon butter emulsion. There are also hot mezze platters with regional specialties including fried kibbeh, crispy spinach fatayer and cheese sambousek (a kind of samosa).
Another fantastic place to try traditional Omani cuisine is Bait al Luban, an atmospheric restaurant decked out in dark wood and overlooking Muscat’s famous corniche. Be sure to try the harees dijaj (chicken slow cooked with barley), and don’t forget to leave room for a sticky date cheesecake pudding, tshiz kik, the ultimate Omani dessert.
Explore the Timeless Flavors and Spices of Omani Cuisine
Oman’s past as a great seafaring nation means it has long been a hub for cultural exchange, and that is represented in its diverse dining scene.
The flavors of China meet the fresh produce of Oman’s country and coast to spectacular effect at Ba Ban, located at W Muscat. Some dishes explore the complex flavors of China’s regional cuisines, such as Omani hamour with pickled Szechuan chili; others highlight more local flavors, like profiteroles with Omani frankincense. Then there are those options which are just pure indulgence, such as Omani lobster spring rolls with XO black truffle sauce.
This restaurant’s food is worthy of a banquet, and the dim sum sharing platters are a luxurious feast for couples or small groups: wagyu beef, lobster with squid ink, crystal sesame mushrooms and Peking duck are among the offerings. Just be sure to leave room for dessert, as the sweet options here are beautifully considered and infused with aromatics. Take the Earl Grey tea ice cream, for instance, the raspberry and rose sorbet, or the tatin Chinoise with jasmine ice cream.
China Mood, within Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, is another of the region’s top Asian restaurants, with a menu full of authentic Chinese flavors. Try the Hunan-style baby squid and Szechuan poached chicken, for instance, which evidence the exquisite balance of ingredients that have made this kitchen’s reputation.
Amid the beachfront luxury of W Muscat, meanwhile, you’ll find Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar, where the menu showcases the freshest Omani ingredients in a style inspired by coastal Mediterranean cuisine. There is also a strong Asian influence on the food at the restaurant. Try an order of gyoza, sushi or sashimi — there are several options to choose from. Succulent meat dishes are on offer, too, including lamb chops and beef short rib.
Dine with Gorgeous Ocean Views
It’s not just delicious seafood which Muscat gains from its oceanfront setting — the views aren’t bad, either. One of Muscat’s great charms is its glorious coastline, with rocky mountains suddenly giving way to a green sea hemmed by bone-white beaches and secret coves.
In one such cove is nestled Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz Carlton Hotel. Vistas of the ocean are everywhere here, nowhere more so than at the gorgeous dining venue The Pavilion, which has huge windows overlooking the coastline and outdoor seating areas right beside the beach.
Similarly spectacular are the views at Al Khiran Kitchen, where the restaurant’s gorgeous marble-walled interior gives way to vistas over the hotel’s infinity pool, which melts away to the horizon and the Gulf of Oman.
In the upmarket Shatti Al Qurum neighborhood, meanwhile, you’ll find Twins, a laid-back Turkish restaurant where you can feast on mixed-grill meat selections and meze platters while sitting on a raised deck, overlooking the golden sand and swaying palms of Qurum Beach with the ocean beyond.
Wherever you choose to dine overlooking the ocean in Muscat, just be sure to take the time to look up from your food and enjoy the view.
Enjoy Fresh, Wholesome and Fragrant Cuisine
Eating nutritious meals doesn’t need to mean you have to compromise on flavor, and nowhere does it better than Harvest, a wellness-focused restaurant in W Muscat with an emphasis on wholesome dishes made using only the freshest seasonal ingredients.
The most beloved flavors of the Middle East are on show here, from cold mezze platters of baba ghanoush and muhammara to heartier kibbeh, falafel and fatayer dishes. The famously healthy Mediterranean diet gets good exposure, too, with superb Greek salads and fresh burrata served with heirloom tomatoes. An East Asian influence comes in the form of prawn tempura and steamed edamame.
While traditional Omani food makes extensive use of red meat, if you opt a vegetarian diet, you’re in luck: Muscat’s plethora of Indian restaurants offer a huge range of meat-free options. Head to Woodlands, in the Madinat Sultan Qaboos neighborhood, for healthy Chettinad dishes like eggplant curry and okra stewed with lentils.
Dive Into Some of the Gulf’s Finest Seafood
Wherever you choose to dine in Muscat, exquisite fresh seafood won’t be far away, with dozens of restaurants harnessing the bounty offered up by Muscat’s coast each day. This is showcased in all its glory by The Pavilion’s Raw Bar — platters of Gulf shrimp, littleneck clams, Indian Ocean oysters on the half shell and more, beautifully accented with dressings of truffle, ginger or soy. Cooked seafood options include blackened hamour with chili lime and smoked avocado, lobster fettucine and steamed shrimp salad.
At W Muscat‘s Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar, meanwhile, you can graze on the likes of crab rolls with tobiko (flying fish roe) or sea bass sashimi.
For a superb seafood experience in a laid-back environment, try Samakmak, an Egyptian-style restaurant with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and plates piled high with fresh fish. The hamour and cuttlefish are superb, and the lobster thermidor is unforgettable.
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