There are many restaurants in Baku. One of the most common local dishes is kebab, made of lamb, chicken, or fish. Coffee is not up to Western standards, and many Americans here drink tea. While Azerbaijan is nominally a Muslim country, vodka, brandy, champagne, and beer flow freely. Drinking tap water is not recommended.
Bottled water is generally available on the local market.
Beer and soft drinks are widely sold. There are several hotels in Baku, built and operated to western standards. The Hyatt Regency , Radisson , and Hotel Europe are the most commonly used. Temporary Entry Of Goods Personal items, tools of trade, and business samples may be imported with little problem. Businesspeople traveling with laptops must declare them at time of entry.