Dates and spices
The souq's scents.
Zairon — CC BY 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY 4.0
Kuwait's oldest and best-loved market, a traditional souq in the heart of the capital dating back more than a century, with covered passages, lanes and squares, keeping the spirit of old Kuwait before oil, when it was a town of trade and pearl diving. The souq is divided into sections: the gold souq with its glittering shops, the dates, spices and seasonings market with its scents, perfume, incense and oud, fabrics and traditional dress such as dishdashas and abayas, and carpets, antiques and gifts. In its squares are popular restaurants serving grills, Kuwaiti machboos and fish, and cafés where locals sit over tea and Arabic coffee, and in the evening the souq takes on a special lively atmosphere, above all in winter and Ramadan. Entry is free and the souq opens daily; some shops close at midday and open from late afternoon into the night. Evening is the best time to visit, and bargaining is acceptable in many shops.
The souq's scents.
Perfume shops.
In local restaurants.
Central Kuwait City, near Safat Square
In the evening, when shops open and the squares fill, especially in winter and Ramadan.
