The Pavilion

The Pavilion is a seafood fine-dining restaurant at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, in the Al Bustan area south of central Muscat, Oman. It is among the higher-priced restaurants in the capital and is positioned as a special-occasion venue, with an elegant setting inside one of the country's best-known resorts. The kitchen focuses on seafood, drawing on the fish of the Gulf of Oman and presenting it in a refined style, with a few Omani touches. Signature dishes include grilled kingfish with a lemon butter emulsion, blackened hamour, a raw bar of Gulf shrimp and oysters, and lobster fettuccine. Hamour, a local grouper, is among the most prized fish in Omani cooking, and its appearance on the menu connects the restaurant to the region. Shuwa, the traditional slow-cooked spiced meat, also features, offering an Omani option for diners who prefer meat. The raw bar is a feature for those who enjoy shellfish. The restaurant is a licensed venue, so wine and other alcoholic drinks are available, which is notable in a country where licences are restricted mainly to hotels. The atmosphere is polished and quiet, with attentive service, and the dress code is smart casual to elegant; shorts and beachwear are best avoided. Prices are in the highest bracket at roughly OMR 30-60 per person, with lobster, the raw bar and wine pushing costs higher. Reservations are advised, particularly for dinner, and bookings are made through the hotel. Booking a few days ahead is sensible, and longer for weekends and holidays. A table with a view of the resort grounds, if available, adds to the experience, and visitors celebrating an occasion should mention it when booking. The location south of the city means most visitors travel by taxi or hotel transfer, and combining the meal with a stay or a daytime visit to the resort is common.