Hotel restaurants serve both Oriental and Western dishes, particularly Chinese and Indian. There are a few independent restaurants serving international and Arab cuisine.

Things to know: Alcohol is not generally available but may be served in hotels. It is illegal to buy alcohol for a Yemeni citizen. Tourists are advised to respect Muslim customs and traditions.

National specialities:
• Haradha (a mincemeat and pepper dish).
• Marag lahm (meat soup).
• Hanid (lamb meat cooked in typical oven with spices).
• Kabsa (rice with lamb meat).
 
Tipping: The practice of tipping is becoming more common. Waiters should be tipped 10 to 15%.

This is generally centred on the major hotels.

Souks (markets) are interesting places to shop and buy handicrafts. Purchases include foutah (national costume), leather goods, jambia (daggers), candlesticks, scarves (woven with gold thread), amber beads, brightly coloured cushions and ceramics. Other items include gold- and silverwork, spice, perfume, bukhur incense with charcoal and pottery containers in which to burn it, coloured mats and sharks’ teeth.

Shopping hours: Sun-Thurs 0800-1300 and 1600-2100.