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Damascus Nightlife, Syria

Typical of any Muslim city, the city of Damascus has maintained a conservative stance when it comes to nightlife. The Syrian, although generally friendly people, is dedicated to their religious duty of upholding the Muslim traditions and cultures in any of its cities. That is why, nightclubbing is confined only to the four corners of the international hotels.

The more popular activities include sipping a cup of coffee or tea and eating out in a cozy restaurant. You can do this in most parts of the city. Despite the strict nature of the city, it has opened its doors to tourism and more recently has become more tolerant of these foreigners. One should be still somewhat careful when traveling to Syria.

The most popular drinks in any part of the city are the shay or tea and the ahwa or coffee. This tried and tested wonders have the uncanny ability to dissolve time while talking over trivial things.

The perfect place to head in the city is the An-Naufara or literally 'the fountain.' It is one coffee house in Old Damascus that is really hard to miss because it offers a breathtaking view of the Ummayad mosque. Likewise, one has the option to listen to a Hakawati or a traditional storyteller present at 7pm most nights.

In the District of Abu Rommeneh, several European coffee choices can also be found. For the more adventurous food enthusiasts, there are several possibilities in the various streets of Damascus. Just south of the old city, you can find the restaurant called Midan, known for serving the best Damascene cuisine. If you are not satisfied, you can try some other dishes including the falafel, the manakeesh, the camel kebab and of course the shawarma that can be found in various stalls all over the city. For the mid-range budget, one can head to the Pizza Pasta that serves tasty pasta and delicious pizza, antipasti, and alcohol. Another restaurant to visit is the Nadil where typical Arabic meat dishes are served in their most affordable prices. For the richer kind, Scoozi serves the best pizza in Damascus while their other dishes are as delectable too.

In Damascus, you feel like you are in an Arab city but never forget that Arabic food is also very tasty. Should you be adventurous enough, you will be taken to a sumptuous adventure you will never forget for the rest of your life. But be very careful.

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