Nightlife in Oman: Top 16 Places For Omani Nightlife in 2024

Oman is a country full of rich culture, history, captivating art and artefacts, but nightlife in Oman mostly about spending some quiet time with your loved ones by exploring Arabic night markets, attending an excellent show, enjoying Arabic delicacies like kebabs and much more. Evenings in Oman are quiet and tranquil, perfect for a long stroll across the well-lit beach promenade. That said, Oman also has many clubs and bars, where you could grab a drink at the end of a tiring day. We have suggested a few ways on how to spend a night out in the amazingly-splendid country of Oman.

Best Clubs and Bars in Oman

Despite being a Muslim country, Oman has quite a lot of licensed pubs and nightclubs to help you end a perfect day by grabbing a drink. Most of the bars are located in the hotels, but even outsiders are welcome. You can sit back with a pint, enjoy nibbles, and listen to live band performances. Here are a few clubs in Oman-

1. Whisper’s Bar

Popular with locals as well as tourists, Whisper’s Bar is Hilton’s indoor bar, with live music and dance performances. On Thursdays and Fridays, they host a DJ night where you can request songs and shake a leg on the dance floor.

Location: Western Salalah, Oman.
Timings: 6:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Cost for two: OMR 40

2. Island Bar and Restaurant

Situated in an artificial island, away from Marina, this place is perfect to grab a late-night bite for the nightlife in Oman because it has a lively bar and restaurant. It is mostly famous for its seafood, but the bar also has its following, with a dance floor where you can request songs as per your choice.

Location: Beach resort, Salalah, Oman
Timings: 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Cost for two: OMR 35

3. Compass Bar

With a stunning view of the Marina, Compass bar serves international cocktails as well as bottled beers, along with your favourite sides. On certain days of the week, they have music performances and DJ nights as well

Location: Wudam Al Sahil, Al Masnaah, Oman
Timings: 6:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Cost for two: OMR 35

4. Piano Lounge

One of the most popular bars in Muscat, a part of Shangri-La’s indoor bar, they serve all kinds of drinks, starting from virgin mojitos and fresh lime sodas for different types of international cocktails. This upscale bar, with a long terrace overlooking the sea, has live music performances by bands and happy hours on specific days.

Location: Shangri-La, Barr Al Jissah Bay, Muscat, Oman
Timings: 7:00 AM - 3:00 AM
Cost for two: OMR 45

5. Route 66

With breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean, Route 66 is an absolute favourite, especially with locals. They have different bands playing live music every day and also a diverse menu, to accompany the drinks.

Location: The Cave Complex Darsait, Oman
Timings: 7:00 AM - 3:00 AM
Cost for two: OMR 35

Night Shopping, Live Music and Cultural Shows

A holiday is never complete without shopping for your loved ones back home, and Oman is famous for its traditional markets, perfect for authentic Omani items. There are also a lot of places where you can get a glimpse of Oman’s rich cultural background and a lively atmosphere. The nightlife in Oman is incomplete without a bit of late-night souvenir shopping.

7. Mutrah Souq

If you’re into antiques, artefacts, silver junk or merely interested in exploring a traditional Arab market rush in Oman, then Mutrah Souq is just the right place for you. Located right in the centre of the Corniche, this market has more than one entrance, so ask a local if you feel lost. You can explore traditional Bedouin silver jewellery shops, where you will get the most exquisite silver jewellery. Other local items, worth buying include Frankincense, an aromatic resin grown in Oman, or a ‘mandoo’, junk jewellery, spices and souvenirs. Always bargain at these shops to avoid exploitation and make sure you have cash, although they accept other modes of payment too. There is also an old traditional coffee house near the entrance of the Souq, do give it a try.

Location: Southwest Asia, Muscat, Oman
Timings:
Monday to Sunday - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

8. Sohar Souq

Sohar Souq is just a 2 hours drive from the capital city of Muscat and sells beautiful traditional handicrafts. The market structure has intricate arabesque architecture, worth admiring. Sohar Souq is mostly famous for it's silver and gold jewellery, spices, honey etc.

Location: Near Sultan Qaboos Mosque,Al Batinah, Oman
Timings:
Monday to Sunday - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

9. Souq Es Sabt

Souq Es Sabt means Saturday in Arabic. So every Saturday, during November to February, there is a farmer’s market, a lot like a flea market, which promotes home-based entrepreneurs by displaying local handicrafts, traditional home-cooked foods, and much more. In the late evening, there is a unique gathering of music lovers, where different bands perform live.

Location: Almouj, Al Hail, Seeb, Oman
Timings:
Market- 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Live music - 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM

10. Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House is truly worth a visit if you want to have a different experience for nightlife in Oman. It has housed some of the finest Broadway musicals, concerts, plays and ballet performances in the world. Not just that, the stunning interiors, the intricate artwork and the arabesque designs of the Royal Opera house is sure to captivate you. You can spend an evening watching the opera shows, or you can admire the marvellous structure. However, if you decide to watch the shows, make sure you are in proper attire because they have strict dress codes for the audience. Also make sure you check out their schedules available online, to catch the best shows.

Location: Shatti Al Qurum, Al Kharjiyah Street, Muscat, Oman
Timings: Refer to their website for timings of your preferred show.

11. Copper Restaurant

Copper restaurant hosts live music sessions every Tuesday, where guests can have a good time by enjoying delicious food along with soulful music by passionate artists. They also give first-timers a chance to hit the stage, but for that, you need to register with them by 7:45 PM.

Location: Sayh Al Malih Street, Qurum, Oman
Timings: Tuesdays - 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Late-Night Walks

Oman has a lot of eateries, both roadside as well as fancy, which remain open even after midnight. You can head over for a nice Arabic meal to any of the restaurants to spend a peaceful evening and experience Oman’s nightlife or take a stroll down the alleys and experience Oman’s beauty. Here are a few places you can visit-

12. Ruwi

Also known as ‘Little India’, the streets of Ruwi has amazing food stalls set up after dawn, which you must try, when in Oman. As you enter the streets, you will be welcomed by the intense aromas of Arabic spices. There are also a few stunning restaurants, serving the best Arabic delicacies. Few of the must-try restaurants here are Woodlands, Bait Al Luban Omani Restaurant, Kurkum, The Golden Oryx, The Blue Marlin Restaurant, The Souq Cafe and Golden Grill House.

13. Rowdha Marina

With stunning views of the sea, restaurants at Marina have the perfect ambience to spend a peaceful night with mouth-watering food. The Blue Marlin Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants here. If you wish to have a splash in the pool or enjoy the Jacuzzi, you are free to do so.

14. Mutrah Corniche

If you’re willing to admire the beauty of Oman at night and want to take a quiet stroll along the promenade, Mutrah Corniche is the place to experience nightlife in Oman. Mutrah’s stunning mosques, local traditional souks and well-lit monuments make it a great place to relax and enjoy Oman’s nightlife atmosphere. The promenade runs along with fountains, famous restaurants and fishing ports. From here, you can head to the Mutrah souk, have traditional Arabic coffee at a cafe, or walk by the sea and experience the calmness.

15. Night Camps in Oman

Miles after miles of endless desert and dunes in Oman look stunning, especially after dawn. You can drive away towards the luxurious camps amidst the deserts in Oman. You can enjoy some quiet time with your partner and admire the sunset or spend the day dune-bashing with your kids, who will surely love this enthralling ride. After dawn, enjoy a delicious spread of Arabian delights and then lie down outside your tent and engage in sky grazing!

16. Enjoy the Sunset Cruise

The glistening waters of the Omani coastline, coupled with a magical sunset, is probably the best and the most relaxing way to end a tiring day in Muscat. The serenity of the atmosphere and the calm that settles in as the city slows down for the night after the sun sinks; under the shining moonlight is just a perfect sight to experience. In the 3 hours cruise ride, you can witness famous spots like Mutrah’s Corniche, the iconic Al Bustan Palace, a few villages, ports and much more. If you want to go the traditional way, instead of a cruise, you can opt for a ‘dhow’, which is an Arabian ship. So sit back, relax and enjoy!

Cost per person:
Adults - OMR 15
Children - OMR 7.5
Timings: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Tips If Experiencing Nightlife in Oman Solo or With Kids

1. Always stay alert- Being aware of your surroundings is crucial whenever you travel to a country. No matter how safe you feel about a place, you should look out for yourself.
2. Women travellers should dress appropriately- Being a predominantly Muslim country, Oman is quite conservative, in terms of how women wear. So avoid tight and short clothes.
3. Do not consume alcohol in a public place- Most conservative people in Oman, do not drink as per religious beliefs. So if you’re up for a drink, go to a bar.
4. Carry your documents- Often at night, police forces go on the streets to assure safety, and you could be asked for your identity documents. So make sure you have them.
5. Keep children indoors after 11:00 PM- Most cities, not just in Oman, but around the world, are unsafe for children after a specific time. In Oman, especially, make sure your kids are safe indoors after 11:00 PM.
6. Keep a list of emergency contacts saved on your phone- Unforeseeable events might stumble upon your way all of a sudden, especially when you are in a Middle Eastern country. So keep all local emergency contact numbers saved on your phone.