Oman Today Restaurant Awards, International
Sultanah: 24776550
Al Husn Hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa

Sultanah has won several plaudits – it was included in Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List Tables 2007, in addition to being named the Best International Restaurant in the Oman Today Restaurant Awards 2008.

Named after the first Omani ship to sail to New York in 1840, its stylish interior is designed to mimic that of an ocean cruise ship; the daily specials are inspired by dishes from the country at which the ship is said to have ‘docked’ for the night.

Ports of call include Bangkok, Barcelona, Boston, Cape Town, New York and Yokohama.

The food based on authentic recipes, depict the individual flavours of each port. On the evening we visited, a delicate amuse-gueule (chanterelle soup) and delicious breads were followed by expertly cooked main courses such as beef with truffle, and luxurious puddings. Sultanah is open 12–3.30pm and again from 7 to 11.30pm.
RO40 ll

Alauddin: 24600667, 24604257

MQ traffic lights
At Alauddin, visitors can choose between Chinese, Indian and Continental foods. This restaurant is another branch of Omar Khayyam – the original Ruwi location is one of the oldest restaurants in Muscat. And there’s good reason the company has survived so long: Alauddin serves spicy, filling food cooked with lots of oil and a liberal sprinkling of every kind of hot Indian spice – this is food best for those with stomachs acclimatised to the heat of dishes in the subcontinent. You’ll have to look hard for something soft on the palate; dum aloo or palak paneer would probably fit the bill.
RO5

Al Aktham: 24489292
Al Khuwayr, behind OIB HQ

Al Aktham has been serving the faithful for 12 years. There are hits and misses with its food, but the service is superlative and the interiors are either charming or dated, depending on the way you see it. The tandoori kebabs were some of the best we’ve eaten in Muscat, and the fish jalfreizi was excellent. Al Aktham has character and its brand of forgotten charm offsets its few shortcomings.
RO4

Al Diwan: 24603555
Ramada Beach Hotel

Al Diwan, which serves food from around the world, is open for lunch, 12.30–3.30pm and for dinner between 8pm and 11.30pm.

Al Khiran Terrace Restaurant: 24764000
Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat

Overlooking the Gulf of Oman, the all-day indoor and outdoor dining restaurant serves a breakfast buffet and an international lunch buffet with live cooking stations. For dinner, the special daily buffet theme nights are designed to take guests on a culinary journey around the world in seven days. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

B + F Roadside Diner
Located in the busy Shatti al Qurm, Roadside Diner serves American, Italian and Mexican cuisines. With a rustic theme, the restaurant attracts diners of all age groups, and is open from 12.30pm to 10.45pm when last orders are taken.
RO5 veg-friendly

Bait al Bahr: 24776565
Al Waha Hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa

Bait al Bahr is situated on the beachfront. It features some of the best nouvelle cuisine in Oman – we recommend the lobster ice cream with melons.

The same creative flair characterised the dried-lime and fennel-seed-crusted yellowfin tuna, on asil sidr, glazed carrots and pearl-barley risotto.

Other great dishes include white tomato soup with poached sea bream, served with sautéed prawns and leeks, with a cumin-spiced, shellfish sauce; and guava-glazed beef fillet with red-onion and date chutney, potatoes and spinach. Bait al Bahr is open for dinner from 7–11.30pm.
RO20

Beach Pavilion Restaurant and Bar: 24764000
Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat

Set at the water’s edge, the Beach Pavilion is a speciality restaurant serving fresh local seafood and imported fish that is freshly flown-in daily.

With both outdoor and indoor seating, it offers diners with magnificent views over the Gulf of Oman. Open for lunch and dinner.

Blue Marlin: 24737288
Marina Bandar al Rowdha

For a peaceful night out head to Blue Marlin, which has an open-air section overlooking the marina.

We ordered steaming potatoes, which came topped with a layer of cheese; and the warm date-and-ginger pudding, served with cream, was even better.
RO12

Class Room: 24813141
NHI, Wadi Kabir

Class Room is tucked away towards the end of the Wadi Kabir slip road, after the Sri Lankan School and is in the National Hospitality Institute (NHI).

With the food cooked and served by students, Class Room is open only for lunch (RO3 per head) on Saturdays and Wednesdays, between 1pm and 2.30pm, and on Tuesdays for dinner, between 7pm and 8.30pm.

There is a set menu from which guests can make a few choices.

RO8

Coral Reef Café: 26795545

Al Sawadi Beach Resort
Coral Reef Café serves international cuisine, with a seafood night on Thursdays. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served from buffets. It is open 6am–11pm.
RO5

Coffee Shop: 24702311

Al Falaj Hotel, Darsait

Coffee Shop serves reasonably priced Indian and Continental cuisine, 6am–1am, spread over buffet breakfasts and à la carte lunches and dinner. Also delivers for a minimum of 25 people.
RO7

Flavours: 24794002/3
CBD area
This restaurant serves dishes inspired by cuisines from round the world. The lunch-time buffet is popular.

Four Seasons: 24707207
Haffa House Hotel

Try the lunch buffet of soups, and Arabic and Indian dishes of chicken, lamb, fish and vegetables. There is also an à la carte menu featuring steaks, sandwiches, seafood and Arabic meals. Four Seasons is open from 7am until 10.30am, and 12–3pm.
RO4

Japengo: 92892868
Qurm

Overlooking the sea near the Crowne Plaza, this international restaurant, which has nine outlets in Dubai, serves cuisine from around the world though it specialises in Japanese food. Japengo is open from 10.30am to midnight, when last orders are taken on weekdays; and on weekends, last orders are taken till 12.30am.

Jean’s Grill: 24560567
Sultan Centre
RO5

Khaboura Café: 24592900
Majan Hotel

Khaboura Café serves Chinese food on Saturday, Arabian cuisine on Sunday, Indian food on Monday, international on Tuesday, tandoori on Wednesday, sizzlers on Thursday and grills on Friday.
RO2

Left Bank: 24693699
Top of Qurm Park waterfall

Left Bank burst upon the Muscat nightspot scene and quickly vied for top spot. Over the recent past it has consolidated its position there, offering an unbeatable combination of excellent views of the city below, al fresco dining and a lounge-bar atmosphere you will fall in love with. The drink list is extensive and the food is excellent. The place isn’t cheap, but you do get quality and, above all else, atmosphere. It is open daily, 12–3pm and 6pm–1am (Wednesday –Thursday, to 2am).
RO20

Le Jardin: 24510300

Golden Tulip Seeb
RO5

Mediterranean Grill: 24680000
InterContinental Muscat

The Mediterranean Grill serves international food and also has theme nights – Asian food on Tuesdays, Italian on Wednesdays, barbecue on Thursdays and a family brunch on

Motif: 24696601

Beach Hotel

From noon until 2am, Motif serves seafood, steaks, burgers, sandwiches and Arabic-style rice dishes. It also caters to outside parties.
RO3

Musandam Café: 24680000
InterContinental Muscat

This restaurant offers a great Friday brunch from 12.30pm until 3.30pm.
RO5

Nando\'s: 24561818
Opposite CCC

The perennially popular Nando’s specialises in flame-grilled chicken with peri-peri sauce. Nando’s latest signature dish is the Cataplana – a traditional Portuguese dish of grilled chicken thighs marinated in their famous Peri-Peri sauce, then simmered with fresh strips of bell peppers, tossed with courgettes, onions and ripe tomatoes and served on a bed of spicy rice.

The dish is presented in the traditional closed Cataplana dish, which captures and concentrates the flavour. The Chicken Pita Meal priced at RO2.4 has an oven-baked pita filled with tender chicken strips, basted in a flavour of our choice with diced tomato and cucumber.

Other menu offerings include the Vegetarian Pita Meal, a preparation of grilled vegetables and paneer, with hummus and a choice flavour, wrapped in pita bread. Nando’s also offers special beef, steak and ‘kidz’ meals.
RO4.100

Neptune Bar: 26795545
Al Sawadi Beach Resort

Neptune Bar serves snacks, sandwiches and meals aimed at children. It is open from 10am to 7pm

Odyssey: 24824240
Oman Dive Center, Bandar Jissa

Odyssey has a terrace overlooking Bandar Jissa, and the food is good, served both from a menu and a buffet. It offers guests a wide range of fine cuisine and a beach bar. It is open for breakfast, 7–10am and for dinner, 6–10pm.
RO6

Olivos: 24487777
Radisson Blu Hotel

Olivos runs great themed evening buffets. On Saturday the buffet offers international food; Sunday is a barbecue; Monday offers Indian cuisine; Tuesday, seafood and fish; Wednesday, Mediterranean cooking; Thursday, Italian; and Friday, Arabic. The restaurant is open daily – buffets are available 6.30–11am, 12–3pm and 6–12pm.
RO7

Palayok: 24797290
Ruwi high street

This friendly Filipino restaurant serves traditional dishes such as Daing Na Bangus (marinated milkfish) and Bulalo Special (bone marrow soup).
RO2

Priya Darshini Restaurant: 24499160
Al Ghubrah
A new restaurant by Al Shiraa Hotel Apartments, Priya Darshini serves Arabic, Chinese, Indian and Continental food

Samba: 24776565
Al Waha Hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa

A Latin American restaurant, Samba features Mexican, Chilean, Ecuadorean, Brazilian and Peruvian flavours that range from empanada, chicharron de calamar and guayaquil chocolate moelleux to Argentine-style grilled meats prepared with South American marinades.

This lively restaurant offers all day dining (the tequila bar inside the restaurant remains open until 11pm) and also has an à la carte menu.

The buffet comes highly recommended – in both 2006 and 2007 it won in the Best Buffet category of the Oman Today Restaurant Awards.

RO25

Second Avenue: 24695164
Shatti Qurm

This new restaurant behind the Grand Hyatt Muscat serves international-style cooking – French, Italian, Chinese, Mexican and Lebanese dishes. There are also daily specials suitable for vegetarians. Open daily, noon until midnight.

Stomach: 24692486
Jawaharat A’Shatti Complex

A welcome addition to the first floor of Jawaharat A’Shatti, this restaurant serves international cuisine daily, 8am–10pm.

Sundowners Beach Bar: 26795545
Al Sawadi Beach Resort
This bar offers snacks and sandwiches