There is a varied choice, from pastry shops to restaurants offering African, Asian or international cuisine. Several of the hotels have restaurant and bar facilities of international standard, serving international dishes, and most towns have small restaurants serving local and north African dishes. Hotel restaurants are open to non-residents. Alcohol is available in bars (with very late opening hours), but since the majority is Muslim, there is a good range of fresh fruit juices. Most people tend to drink fruit juice rather than alcohol.

National specialities:
• La Capitaine Sangha (a kind of Nile perch served with hot chilli sauce, whole fried bananas and rice).

National drinks:
• Malian tamarind and guava juices are delicious.
• A traditional drink is Malian tea which should be drunk in three stages; the first is very strong (‘as bitter as death’); the second is slightly sweetened (‘just like life’); the third is well sugared (‘as sweet as love’). Visitors to Mali may be invited to partake in this tea ritual.

Tipping: A 10% tip is customary in restaurants and bars.

Bamako has a good selection of nightclubs with music and dancing.

Traditional crafts range from the striking masks of the Bambara, Dogon and Malinko peoples, to woodcarvings, original designs in ebony and bronze, woven cloth, and mats, gold and silver jewellery and copperware. Excellent pottery is made in the Ségou region, while Timbuktu is a good centre for iron and copper articles, including swords, daggers and traditional household utensils.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1800; some open Sun 0900-1700.