Syrian Arab Republic Going Out
Food and Drink
Things to know: Table service is the norm and a meal is paid for afterwards. There are bars serving a wide range of alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is permitted but restrictions are imposed during Ramadan when it is illegal to drink in public from dawn to dusk, even for non-Muslims.
National specialities:
• Kubbeh (minced semolina and meat formed in balls and stuffed with minced meat, onion and nuts).
• Yabrak (vine leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat), ouzi (pastry stuffed with rice and minced meat) and a variety of vegetables cooked with meat and tomato sauce, usually presented on separate plates and eaten by mixing it with cooked rice.
• Mensaf (pieces of lamb on rice and pine nuts).
• Main vegetables are okra, French beans and malukhiyya.
• Baklava is a favourite dessert made from flaky pastry filled with honey and nuts.
National drinks:
• Tea and coffee.
• Local beers include Al-Sharq, brewed in Aleppo, and Barada, from Damascus.
Tipping: Often expected, especially in more expensive establishments; 10% is generally acceptable.
Shopping
Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0930-1400 and 1630-2200 (summer); Sat-Thurs 0930-1400 and 1600-2000 (winter).
Fresh ideas are just one click away...
Travel Deals
-
Finland Activity & adventure holidays Finnish Lapland has enormous areas of untouched wilderness and mile upon mile of wild rolling fells. This vast open countryside, sparkling in the winter sunshine, just begs to be explored by
-
Orlando Adrenaline Whether you’re enjoying the hair-raising delights of the world’s only flying rollercoaster called Manta at SeaWorld or racing through the Everglades on an airboat in search of alligators, one thing’s for
-
Cambodia Luxury holidays Today Cambodia is symbolised by awesome Angkor Wat, the largest man-made religious structure in the world. However, Cambodia is also home to some of the finest boutique hotels in the world
-
Laos Inspire Me When the French colonised Indochina they had a saying: "The Vietnamese grow the rice, the Cambodians watch the rice grow, and the Lao people listen to the rice grow." This is
-
Vietnam Cultural breaks Vietnam is a country with a rich and varied history that is now firmly focused on her bright future. This is why it has become one of the hottest destinations for
-
Dominican Republic Family holidays The Dominican Republic has soared in popularity as a tropical hotspot for families seeking sun, sand and an affordable holiday in the Caribbean. The island's main attraction is magnificent golden sand
