4 Best Restaurants in Oman

Cars queue in front of this little café from morning (opening time is 8 am) until closing (around midnight). Honking horns draw over waiters from the shop, who bring over cups of the local specialty karak, a spiced tea sweetened with creamy condensed milk, and paper-thin Omani bread smeared with savory cheese and egg or sweets like Nutella or honey, to customers in idling cars and those seated at the scattering of tables out front. In the evening, when the temperature cools down, groups of men gather here before and after going to prayers at the adjacent mosque, and though groups of ladies are rare, all are welcome at the friendly shop. There are similar karak shops beside gas stations and on roadsides throughout the city, but this is by far the best one. Try the zataar karak, made with wild thyme or the "special" mixed spice karak alongside an order of paper-thin Omani bread stuffed with egg, cheese, and "Chips Oman."

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.

This small takeaway tea shop at the base of Jabal Akhdar is a great place to stop for breakfast on your way back to Nizwa after a night camping on the mountain or to grab a snack before making the ascent. You can get karak, a tea sweetened with creamy condensed milk and spiced with cardamom and ginger, as well as crisp Omani bread stuffed with savory combinations like cheese and egg, or sweet combinations like honey and cheese.

Directly between the Fort and the Souq, this little coffee shop sits on prime real estate. Although there are only a few bistro tables out front and a few inside, you can always find a place to sit. The shop offers a wide range of hot, caffeinated beverages, including espresso, chai tea, and traditional Omani coffee that is served with local dates. It is a nice place to rest after a long afternoon exploring the surrounding sights.