In large cities, restaurants are mostly modern and very clean, offering a vast range of cuisines, prices and facilities. Restaurants come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from fast-food, self-service and counter service, to drive-in and table service. ‘Diners', now a fading US institution, consist of simple food served from the counter. These are often located in smaller towns, and although they have been replaced by fast food chains in many areas, can still be found all along the east coast. See Food and Drink in the individual state sections for further details on regional specialities.

Things to know: There are also many types of bars, cocktail lounges, cafe-style bars and English-style pubs. Generally speaking, waiter/waitress service costs more. Drinking laws are set by the individual states, counties, municipalities and towns; on average, closing time in bars is between midnight and 0300.

National specialities:
As the country has become more culturally diverse, so has the average palate. Today every imaginable dish can be found coast to coast, with an increasing emphasis on fresh and healthy. The following list is simply a sampler of foods that are favourites in most regions.
• Hamburgers.
• Fried chicken.
• Barbecue.
• Cheesecake.
• Key lime pie.

National drinks:
• Coca-Cola.
• Regional wines.
• Microbrewery beer.
• Speciality coffees.

Legal drinking age: The legal age for alcoholic consumption varies from 18 to 21 years from state to state and the laws on the availability of alcohol run from New Orleans' policy of anytime, anywhere and to anyone, to localities, such as parts of Utah, where drinking is strictly prohibited. Verification of age is frequently required prior to service.

Tipping: Widely practised, as service charges are not usually included in the bill and waiters depend heavily on tips for their income. Waiters generally expect 10 to 15% gratuity. It should be noted that a cover charge is for admission to an establishment, not a tip for service.

Clubs generally stay open until the early hours in cities, where one can find music and theatre of all descriptions. Theatre tickets for Broadway, New York's equivalent of London's West End ‘Theatreland', can be booked through the Group Sales Box Office (tel: (212) 398 8383 or  1 800 223 7565 in the USA and Canada only; website: www.bestofbroadway.com). Gambling is only allowed in licensed casinos and the legal minimum age for gamblers is 21.

Variety, late-closing hours, competitive prices and an abundance of retail goods typify US shopping. Many small stores, speciality food shops and hypermarkets are open 24 hours a day. Clothes and electronic goods can often be bought direct from factory outlet stores. Retail outlets range from flea markets and bargain stores to large chain department stores. Malls are a popular way of shopping in the USA and consist of a cluster of different shops in one building, often multi-level, connected by indoor plazas and eateries.

Note that a sales tax is levied on most items in most states, and the addition is not included on the price label; sales tax can be anywhere from 3 to 15%, variable by state.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900/0930-1730/2100. There may be late-night shopping one or two evenings a week. Some states permit Sunday trading; hours vary.