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Bahrain » Going Out

Food and Drink

There is a good selection of restaurants serving all kinds of food, including American, Arabic, Chinese, European, Indian, Japanese, Lebanese and Mexican. Arabic food is mainly spicy and strongly flavoured. Lamb is the principal meat with chicken, turkey and duck. Salad and dips are common. Strong Arabic coffee and tea is also widely available.

Things to know: The sale of alcohol is not encouraged, although it is available to non-Muslims in nightclubs, good restaurants and luxury hotels, except during Ramadan. Muslims in Bahrain are not allowed to drink alcohol at any age. Non-Muslims over the age of 18 are allowed to drink, but are not allowed to transport any alcohol and must drink their alcohol where they buy it. Even non-Muslim adults are forbidden to drink during Ramadan.

National specialities:
• Machbous is fish or meat served with rice.
• Muchammar is brown, sweet rice served with sugar or dates.
• Baba ghanoush is a delicious dinner of pureed garlic, aubergine, yoghurt and sesame paste, usually served with vegetables or pita bread.
• Shawarma is lamb or chicken carved from a rotating spit and wrapped in flat bread.
• Sambousan are crisp pastry cases filled with meat, cheese, sugar or nuts.

National drinks:
• Arak (grape spirit flavoured with aniseed).
• Gahwa (coffee) often has cardamom and saffron added to it.

Tipping: 10% is expected by waiters, particularly when service is not included, and is normal practice.

Nightlife

Restaurants, nightclubs and cinemas showing English and Arabic films can be found in the main towns.

Shopping

There is a wide range of modern shopping complexes with imported luxury goods. Pearls are the main local product. Famous red clay pottery is available from the village of A’ali. There are weavers at Bani Jamra village and basket-makers at Jasra village.

Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0830-1230 and 1530-1930. Some shops are open for a few hours on Friday mornings in souks.

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Information in this section was last updated: Monday, June 30 - 2008

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