Restaurants in Muscat

For a fine dining experience in a gorgeous seaside location, it's worth venturing out to this luxurious resort, about 20 minutes through the mountains from Old Muscat. Offering authentic flavours of the Middle East, this understated venue has chefs on show in four open kitchens. Go early for a sunset aperitif in the neighbouring bar.

In a capital city with nearly as many Indian expats as resident Omanis, it's praise indeed to call this one of the best Indian restaurants in Muscat. With a hilltop perch overlooking Qurm Natural Park, it is a sophisticated choice for a working lunch or a special dinner, known for its tandoori grills.

From the impeccably cooked seafood to the romantic seaside views, The Beach Restaurant is the jewel in the crown of the Chedi's restaurant offerings. Tuck into some of the best-dressed lobster in the country whilst looking out over the Gulf of Oman, but be sure to wear your finest threads as it's a formal restaurant.

Serving up tasty Indian cuisine, this is a Muscat must-visit when you have a craving for curry but don't want to blow your budget. Located just off Sultan Al Qaboos Street, Begum's is renowned with locals and visitors for its excellent Mughlai delicacies, friendly atmosphere and beautifully presented biryanis.

This buzzing outdoor cafe is the perfect place to while away an evening, sipping on minty lemonade and eating kebabs, hummus and tabbouleh (bulgur salad). Highly popular with the in-crowd, diners either relax cross-legged on Arab-style divans or sit among the potted plants in the magical little courtyard.

When nothing but a burger will do, head for Slider Station, a popular industrial-styled chain that serves its thick meat sandwiches on a sushi-style conveyor belt. Don't miss the dynamite burger, which comes with cheddar, jalapenos and spicy chipotle ranch sauce. Just be sure to leave room for dessert.

Omani food is not to everyone's taste, but if you're keen to try some, this sit-on-the-floor restaurant, catering mainly for homesick businessmen from out of town, is one of the few places to sample genuine local cuisine like ma owl (a dish garnished with dried shark) and qaboolisamakhkenadh (king fish with biryani rice).

For those who just can't imagine life without bacon (albeit beef bacon) and eggs for breakfast, steak pie and chips for lunch and beans on toast for tea, this homely, immensely popular British café is a short distance from a nap on the beach. The coffee is decent as well.

Inside the Muscat Grand Mall, this lime-coloured restaurant offers an affordable and authentic taste of Thailand with dishes like plaphad prick Szechuan (stir-fried fish with Szechuan sauce) and gang panaeng (spicy Thai red curry). Its weekly buffet is particularly cheap. If you really enjoy your meal, learn how to cook it with Shang Thai's onsite cooking classes.