Uzbek food is similar to that of the rest of Central Asia. During the summer and autumn, there is a wide variety of fruit: grapes, pomegranates, apricots (which are also dried and sold at other times of the year) and, dwarfing them all, mountains of honeydew and watermelons. Uzbeks pride themselves on the quality and variety of their bread. In general, hotel food shows a strong Russian influence. There are a number of restaurants that serve both European and Korean food. Beer, wine, vodka, brandy and are all widely available in restaurants.

National specialities:
• Plov is the staple food for both every day and celebrations, and usually consists of chunks of mutton, shredded red and yellow carrot and rice fried in a cast iron or aluminium pot. There are dozens of variations of this dish.
• Shashlyk (skewered chunks of mutton barbecued over charcoal, served with sliced raw onions).
• Lipioshka (rounds of unleavened bread) are served in restaurants and are often sold on street corners and make an appetising meal.
• Samsa (samosas) are also sold in the street, but the quality is variable.
• Manty are large boiled dumplings stuffed with meat.

National drinks:
• Tea is the staple drink of Central Asia, and chai-khanas (tea houses) can be found almost everywhere in Uzbekistan, full of old men chatting the afternoon away with a pot of tea in the shade.
• Shampanski (sparkling wine).
• Kefir, a thick drinking yoghurt, is often served with breakfast.

Tipping: It is usual to tip 5 to 10% in restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Restaurants in international hotels usually include service in the bill.

Tashkent has a variety of theatres that show everything from European operas to traditional Uzbek dancing and music. The Navoi theatre, opposite the Tashkent Hotel, shows opera and ballet. The prices are low by Western standards; shows generally start at 1800. There is also a number of themed Western-style bars, restaurants and discos.

The best place to experience Central Asia is in the bazaars. The bazaars of Tashkent and Samarkand offer goods ranging from herbs and spices to Central Asian carpets. In the Alaiski Bazaar in Tashkent, it is possible to buy decorated Uzbek knives. Silk is still produced in the country and well-priced silks can be bought at large department stores.

Many museums have small shops which sell a variety of modern reproductions and some original items. It is possible to buy carpets and embroidered wall hangings. Bukhara is famous for its gold embroidery, and visitors can buy elaborately embroidered traditional Uzbek hats. Visitors should be aware that it is illegal to export anything more than 100 years old or items which have a cultural significance.

Shopping hours: Food shops open 0800-1700, all others open 0900-1900.