Jazeera Airways’ charming home country offers world-class food, shopping and hotels

Local Knowledge

Olly Biswas Financial Adviser

When I need a caffeine fix I always go to Carabou Coffee (+965 575 2366). There are several branches in Kuwait, all of an excellent standard in good locations. They offer teas and coffees from around the world, plus muffins and cakes. It’s a great place to relax.

Top Tables

Awtar Libnan

Yet another fine Lebanese restaurant in Kuwait, Awtar Libnan has everything going for it. Big, cosy outdoor sofas? Check. Beautifully presented and tasty mezze dishes? Of course. Great value and friendly service? Certainly. A convenient location by the entrance to Marina Mall? Naturally. We recommend the smooth, creamy moutabel, the fiery muhammara and the succulent mixed grill. Marina Mall, Salmiya, +965 224 4815

Burger Boutique

This Kuwaiti-owned restaurant does so much more than merely deliver knock-out burgers and fries. It transports you to a world far away from the boring shopping mall on the other side of its doors. It’s a Batcave of playful kookiness, where the low lighting, innovative menu design and funky furniture make it look more like a trendy nightlife venue than a restaurant. The burgers are top-notch (try the rib-eye version), although the home-cut fries are sadly nothing special. The cash-rich can try the super-tender Wagyu burger, while the indecisive can order a varied selection of mini-burgers. Arraya Centre, next to the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, +965 299 7775

Café Blanc

A slice of cucumber here, a pomegranate seed there; the difference is in the detail at Café Blanc. As befits a restaurant with a French name, the presentation here is almost beautiful enough to elevate Lebanese food to fine dining. These arty flourishes, along with gorgeous crockery and tableware, good service, reasonable prices and a prime view of the marina, set Café Blanc apart from the competition. From the velvety houmous to a perky tabbouleh and a range of succulent kebabs, this restaurant gets just about everything right. We can’t recommend this particular address highly enough. Marina Mall, Salmiya, Crescent Side, +965 224 4644

Shatea Al-Watya

Indigenous cuisine can be hard to find in Gulf countries. This isn’t because nobody eats the food anymore; on the contrary, people eat their own cuisine at home and want something different when going to a restaurant. Shatea AlWatya is Kuwait’s only restaurant serving the national cuisine, but despite the lack of competition it’s a fine place for lunch or dinner. The Behbehani house it inhabits is over half a century old and is an atmospheric backdrop to a meal of marquoq (dough balls with meat in a tomato sauce), murabyan (a shrimp curry) and makbous (chicken or lamb with rice). Behbehani Complex, +965 242 2077

Sarai

The cooking at Sarai is influenced by Armenian, Turkish and Syrian culinary traditions, and it’s quite brilliant. Meals start with crispy breadsticks, olives and dips of labneh and zaatar. The houmous muhammara is wonderful, with the hot pepper and walnut blend spicily swirled into the chickpea dip. Even better is the kebbeh assourat. The raw minced lamb should be wrapped up in soft, puffy flatbread with onion, fresh mint and garlic cream – a wonderful combination. The two-storey restaurant is atmospheric and the service is polite and attentive. Highly recommended. Next to Movenpick Hotel, Safat, +965 224 2424

Suitcase Fillers

Mubarikiya

Kuwait’s Old Souq has recently been polished up and modernised, all without sacrificing any of its traditional flavour. Shop here for herbs and spices, gold jewellery and traditional attire. Old Souq, Downtown Sultan Centre Running out of time, but have loads of shopping left to do? Make your way to the Sultan Centre. Whatever it is you are looking for – clothing, cosmetics, electronics… pretty much anything – chances are you’ll find it here. Inside Souq Sharq, Gulf Road, +965 571 9620

At Your Leisure

Tareq Rajab Museum

The Tareq Rajab Museum is the nation’s foremost privately owned collection of art, calligraphy, textiles, jewellery and musical instruments. Mr Rajab has almost singlehandedly assembled one of the world’s finest collections of Islamic artefacts, making this a must-visit for tourists. Tareq Rajab incorporates a museum of Islamic calligraphy, while Dar El-Cid, an art gallery and exhibition hall, is located just around the corner. Jabriya, +965 531 7358