Gourmet products local specialties and wines Muscat

The Mutrah fish market, with its innovative architectural concept, offers the luxury of clean, tiled and air-conditioned spaces, less local colour than the country's other markets, but more adapted to the merchandise and the freshness of the products. Every day, the fishermen gather there to display their catch, and the place is as much for the stalls as for the spectacle offered by the sun-sculpted faces and the subtle play of the trade... In the extension, a large air-conditioned room hosts a fruit and vegetable market.

This one-way street starts at the Al Hamryah roundabout and ends at Al Jami Street. Here we are in the heart of the lively and vibrant Ruwi district. One shop after another, all run by Indians. The first part of the street is rather dedicated to DIY (plumbing... ), the second to fabrics and textiles, the last to jewellers. The fabrics are sold by the meter, the jewels by the gram, and all prices are negotiable. Also come to be grafted to the whole: coffee-shops, restaurants, shops of household appliances, travel agencies... Typical!

It is the largest hypermarket chain in the Middle East, present throughout the United Arab Emirates and in the Sultanate's main cities and tourist centers. Muscat is home to several, including the huge Oman Avenues Mall. A veritable institution, this is a popular hypermarket offering good value for money. You'll find just about everything here, from groceries and cell phones to books, furniture, clothes and household appliances. Online shopping and delivery available.

Boulevard Boutique Mall is a pretty, chic little mall in the most central part of Muscat, next to the Opera House and a stone's throw from the beach. In addition to a few boutiques, it is especially popular for its cafés and terraced restaurants, where Muscat's golden youth like to linger during the day or evening for dinner, coffee or a drink. Walk from the nearby Jas Complex to enjoy grilled meats at The Steak Company or stop off in style at Ubhar, the first modern bistro serving Omani cuisine.

It was the first mall to open in the Sultanate. This "pioneering" aspect in no way detracts from the quality of the brands present, starting with the perfume brand Amouage, which has a sumptuous boutique here. Sabco brings together several luxury brands (mainly watches and eyewear, but also Armani and Hugo Boss clothing), as well as a hairdresser, florist and more. At the far end is an "Omani" souk with a multitude of handicrafts whose origins didn't always strike us as local.

Less extensive than its big brother next door at the airport, this downtown City Center is similarly arranged around a Carrefour supermarket and features virtually the same brands: international ready-to-wear brands for men, women and children, watch and jewelry boutiques, lingerie and swimwear stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, banks... and the usual procession of cafés, fast-food outlets and restaurants. On the entertainment side, the mall boasts a VOX cinema and a Magic Planet amusement park with attractions for all ages.

It is one of the largest shopping centres in the Sultanate, arranged around a Carrefour, and recently expanded. The shopping mall has a multitude of shops in all categories and several restaurants where locals love to stroll and relax with their families, evenings and weekends. On site: VOX cinema, huge Magic Planet area with rides for the little ones, video games, adrenaline-charged attractions and sports offers for adults. Good to know, the perfumer Amouage has a nice shop here.