Local food is often strongly flavoured and spicy. The most common meats are lamb and chicken. Beef is rare and pork is proscribed under Islamic law. Mezzeh, the equivalent of h rs d'oeuvres, may include up to 40 dishes. Foreign cooking is on offer in larger towns and the whole range of international cuisine, including fast food, is available in the oil-producing Eastern Province and in Jeddah.
Restaurants have table service.
There are no bars. Arabic coffee and fruit drinks are popular alternatives. Alcohol-free beers and cocktails are served in hotel bars. Apart from restaurants and hotels there is no nightlife in the Western sense. These hours differ in various parts of the country.