Oman is a Muslim country and alcohol is restricted to licensed venues — almost always inside the big international hotels. The Chedi, the Al Bustan Palace, the Intercontinental and the Grand Hyatt have the best bars, most with a terrace and a sea view. Outside of those, the café culture is strong: Arabic coffee (kahwa) spiked with cardamom, fresh dates, shisha lounges around Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum, and a steady spread of international coffee chains in the shopping malls.