Gourmet products local specialties and wines Oman

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!

Apart from the most typical incense souk of Al Husn, which may no longer be operational during your visit, Salalah has a gold souk like others in the sultanate, where you can buy gold and silver ornaments, Bedouin-style jewellery and traditional accessories such as the khanjar. At 3 km from the city centre there is also a large open-air market where you can buy mainly foodstuffs, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, dates, etc. and where you can capture beautiful scenes of life. Come early in the morning or at the end of the day.

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.

What a delight it was to discover this ice cream parlour on leaving the visit to the Fort and before tackling the visit to the old town! It's impossible to miss this place, easily identifiable by its acidulous colors, which stand out against the ochre of the earthen houses. Only 3-4 chairs and a swing allow you to sit inside, but it is not the concept, you rather choose your flavors and you suck your ice cream while strolling in the old Nizwa. Everything is homemade and the quality is there: crispy cones, delicious flavours. Also some Monin syrups.

Renovated in the style of Omani fortresses, it is a closed enclosure that houses about twenty shops under arcades, a pleasant place, but not very lively. Due to the limited number of visitors, several establishments open only sporadically. There are, however, spices, local handicrafts (chests, pottery, etc.) and weapons. The Angel of Shinas coffee-shop seems to be there to give a bit of life back to the whole. A few tables and chairs are set up outside and you can sit down to have a drink, eat or smoke shisha.

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.