The distinctive flavour of comida criolla, as Venezuela's cuisine is locally known, resides in roots and vegetables: yams, yucca, plantains and beans. Beef from the cattle ranches of Los Llanos also figures prominently; it's done a la parilla (charcoal grilled) at the country's many steakhouses. Equally enticing are the varieties of fresh fish and seafood stews prepared along the Caribbean coast. Authentic Italian, Chinese, Spanish and Middle Eastern cuisines are also widely available, thanks to the presence of substantial immigrant communities. 

From pineapples to papayas, tropical fruit is fabulously varied and blended into batidos (shakes). Venezuela produces excellent rum and is a major importer of Scotch. Polar (served ice-cold, naturally) is the most popular of several local beers.

National specialties:
• Arepas (corn cakes generously stuffed with all manner of fillings).
• Pabellón criollo (shredded meat served with fried plantains, black beans and rice and a slab of cheese).
• Hallaca (corn dough filled with beef, pork, olives, etc, and steamed in banana leaves; a Christmas favourite).
• Cachapas (slightly sweet corn pancakes, usually folded over hunks of white cheese and/or ham).
• Hervido (hearty soup of beef, chicken or fish with root vegetables).

National drinks:
• Coffee (espresso style - specify café marrón for milk).
• Merengadas (fruity milkshakes).
• Chicha (sweet and creamy rice-based drink).
• Papelón con limon (refreshing beverage of sugar cane juice and lemon).

Tipping: In most bars and restaurants, 10% is added to the bill; at fancier establishments it's customary to leave an additional 10% on the table.

Venezuelans are fond of their rumba (revelry), and after-hours entertainment is a highly developed art. The evening's activities usually get started with a couple of cold Polars or rum cocktails at a bar, followed up by a night of dancing. Most discos cover the musical spectrum from salsa to Latin pop, while the more youth-oriented venues tend toward rock and reggaetón. The capital, Caracas, boasts the country's most hedonistic nightlife scene, with multi-hall clubs thumping through the night, but most towns of any significant size will have a disco or two. For a less frenetic night out, stately old theatres in Caracas, Maracaibo, Maracay and Valencia feature classical music, opera, ballet, and (if your Spanish is up to it) plays. Cinemas, often located in shopping malls, generally feature recent Hollywood fare with Spanish subtitles.

Venezuelans are mad about shopping, and much social activity revolves around the glitzy malls that dot the urban areas. Shoppers flock to Isla de Margarita, particularly the town of Porlamar, to take advantage of the island's duty-free status.

Travellers are more likely to be interested in the quality handicrafts produced by Venezuela's indigenous inhabitants, including hand-woven baskets by the Ye'Kuana people of the Orinoco Basin, chinchorros (palm fibre hammocks) by the Wayúu (also know as Guajiros), and devil masks from San Francisco de Yare. The northwestern state of Lara is renowned for its woodwork and blankets, particularly from the village of Tintorero, while adjacent Cojedes state is a producer of harps, cuatros (small guitars) and maracas. Gems and gold and silver jewellery also make good purchases. It's best to look for these items where they're made, but if you're unable, try Hannsi, an enormous crafts department store in El Hatillo, an outlying district of Caracas.

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1900; shopping malls, daily 1100-2200.