The Wandering Quinn in Kuwait

I spent 2 days seeing Kuwait with my local friends and from it, I've got some good places to visit in Kuwait city, and further afield for you. Kuwait is often referred to as being a boring city or tourists and travellers and I would say that's because things are spread out and it's hard to get around. However in one day in Kuwait there are a few things to do in Kuwait City and ways to Kuwait. Start at the Scientific Centre and walk along the boardwalk to Marina Mall. Get lunch at Fareej Swalieh. Catch a cab or the bus to the Old Marina and do a round boat trip to see the city for 1KD. Take a cab or bus to the Kuwait Towers and go up them for Sunset. Take a cab to the Grand Mosque in Kuwait City and do a free guided tour on Thursday-Sundays at 5:00, 5:30, 6:00 & 6:30pm. Walk to Souq Al Mubarakiya and to Salat Square. End in Al Shaheed Park at night. There are also museums and of course lots of shopping malls in Kuwait too which will introduce you to the old and the modern Kuwaiti culture. The following day I headed along what is the longest bridge in the world to the desert for an evening of camping and dune buggies in the desert with my friends. This would be possible to do as a tourist but you would need a 4x4 and equipment.

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Always nice to hear from people sharing a positive experience here - LWDLIK

Another Morning in Souq Mubarakiya and SoMu

Bait Ahmed Cafe and Curiosity Shop - Great cake, tea, interesting items for sale and the best toilet. 

Bait Ahmed

Map showing approx location in Souq Mubarakiya of Bait Ahmed Cafe and green arrow shows SoMu.

12 Chutneys, SoMu - The cutest darn Indian restaurant you ever set eyes on, 

worth visiting just to take photos of it. Food is good too.

12 Chutneys, SoMu.

Interior of 12 Chutneys.

The timelessly elegant and serene Flower Latte Cafe next door to 12 Chutneys.

Flower Latte Cafe

The 'peaceful protest' artwork

And we really do.. A Haring inspired artwork says it all. Lots of lovely art work in SoMu.

Lunch time.

And what a yummy, well priced lunch it is too.
Just plonk yourself down at the restaurant that smells the most delicious. 

Previous Souk Mubarakya posts  [link] 1 [link] 2  [link] 3 [link] 4 and Caffeine, one of our fav coffee shops [link]. Or check the label for Souq Mubarakiya on the lower right side of the blog.

A lovely morning with my friend Michelle whom I have to thank for her great company and two or three photos that I stole from her. 

Souk Mubarakiya Was Very Happening Tonight

Review: Al-Shamam Restaurant (Souk Mubarakiya) By Blessed With Bread

Whether you live in a swanky neighborhood, by the quiet sea side apartment, or amid the clamor of old Kuwait, every side of this city has its own neighborhood joints serving Arabic cuisine, however Souk Mubarakiya has it different. Come night fall, in this densely populated locale you will find people collectively propelled toward the central souk area. Here you will find a sundry of restaurants, but you will recognize ‘The King’ by the seemingly endless lines crowding the sidewalk beside it. Though you don’t need a GPS, the restaurant is located in a rather unassuming section of this huge souk, that it’s quite easy to miss.

We got there at around 9 pm and for a moment thought we were in a theatre waiting in line for the first release of a Steven Spielberg movie. Rather than entering a restaurant, we found ourselves in an area surrounded by various kitchen booths. It was more like mass production units for bread, fish, meat etc. Central to these kitchens were benches lined up parallel to each other that housed hungry crowds impatiently waiting to pounce on a piece of anything edible. There is no time for small talk or community discussions, you are here to eat and bounce!

We had gone as a big group of friends (incl. women and children). Since this was a large group, it was prudent to place the order in kilos of the popular delicacies rather than plates. We ordered 4 plates of Rubyan (Shrimps) Kd 12, 1 Kg Shish taouk (Chicken) Kd 7.5, 2 Kg Kebab Kd 15, 3 Chicken Alafarin (Chicken on grill) Kd 7.5, 6 Hummus with pomegranates Kd 6, 2 Special House Salad with pomegranates Kd 6, 6 Green Salad Kd 6, 2Kg Kenafa with cheese Kd 8 and water Kd 1.6. Our total bill was Kd 70.

Most of these dishes are staple and served in almost every Arabic restaurant. While there are subtle inherent regional differences (Lebanese, Iraqi, Irani, Egyptian etc…), you can almost judge the restaurant based on these popular dishes. I think the highlight of any Arabic meal is their iconic bread which has a cult following. It should be soft, fluffy and served fresh, straight from the clay oven. While there are different types of bread in Persian cuisine, this Iranian restaurant served the ‘Taftoon’ variety. This is round, a bit thick and extremely soft. Its alluring aroma just fills the air and builds your appetite. They don’t wait for you to finish the bread in your basket but just keep topping it with fresh hot ones. The chicken can be a very unforgiving meat to cook, anything over its ideal temperature can render it dry The Shish taouk (chicken) comprises brochettes of Chicken cooked to perfection. They have that mild charred flavor, firm on theoutside with an extremely succulent and juicy inside. The flavors, though rich, are quite well balanced that you can actually enjoy the taste of the meat. The Kebabs are charbroiled juicy strips of seasoned meat, though a bit greasy, was tender and rich. It just melts in your mouth. 

The Shrimps were cooked in traditional tomato based gravy was delectable. The Chicken Alafarin (chicken on oven) was a deceptively simple dish. The seasoned chicken cooked on a grill with the skin-on had an intense charbroiled flavor. The skin had a slightly crisp texture leaving the flesh juicy, flavorful and tender. The special pomegranate salad was a fresh twist that added the much needed balance from the meat. It was colorful, light, cool and had that tanginess which we loved. We got the creamy hummus with pomegranates as well. Though it added a fraction more to the bill the sweetness from the pomegranates was worth every extra fil. The main course met all expectations and satisfied our voracious appetites. But we wouldn’t leave the place without the savor of something sweet, and what better than the popular Kunafa with cheese. This cheese pastry soaked in a sugar rich syrup was the perfect topping to our hearty Iranian meal. The only downside to the whole experience was that they stopped serving the Arabic tea with mint.

Now just some pointers especially if you are not familiar with the Arabic language. The special pomegranate salad was not something we had ordered, they had bought it along with the green salad. Like I said, it was yummy, but Kd 3 I think was a bit steep. Be sure to keep a tab of the stuff you order and make sure you check the bill. I’ve heard complaints where the quantity of certain items especially the sides have been tampered with. The service was extremely fast and friendly.

Souk Mubarakiya has earned its reputation as a bastion for traditional Arabic food. Surrounded by a legion of other restaurants, Al Shamam restaurant, I think is its best kept secret and I must say, it’s quite an experience. For those of searching for a traditional culinary experience like no other, look no further!

Ratings – Ambiance –  7/10, Service -7/10, Menu – 7/10, Food – 9/10, Consistency – 8/10, Value for Money – 8/10

Overall – If you ever come to Kuwait, you have to try out this place !

OVERALL

Ambiance - 6/10

Food - 9/10

Value for Money - 8.5/10

More great Restaurant reviews by Blessed with Bread website [link].

LWDLIK - I had lunch here today with a dear friend and was just about to post a review when I found this review which I found to be pretty fair, and better written than most of my reviews. We had 1KG Sbeity fish which is grilled open with a tomato, corriander, onion sauce topping, pomegranate salad, baba ghanoush, tahina sauce, rocket leaves, water, lemon and mint juice, and plenty of freshly baked Iranian bread. The bill came to  a very reasonable KD 11.200 we were only two but this could have easily satisfied three people. We passed on the free tea. The food was very good indeed.

8/10 for food and value. It is very, very basic with plastic table clothes, no loo and the odd moggy but in my opinion something that should not be missed. Authentic, cultural and fascinating. Do it, you will be pleasantly surprised. For a decent loo and air-conditioned tea and dessert afterwards try Bayt Ahmad's or Flower Latte. 

The Fruit Market, Souk Mubarakiya

An amazing selection of fruits, a few of which I've never seen before.

The Beautiful Colourful Trendy Part of Souk Al Mubarakiya or SoMu

Lovely photos by my buddy Michelle who has a really good eye for colour and content.

Map

Review: Caffeine, Ahmad Al Jaber Street, SoMu (Souk Mubarakiya)

I like to think of myself as a regular now. It's my favourite coffee shop in the lovely downtown Souk Mubarakiya (SoMu). The owner is usually there and very hands on, friendly and a coffee aficionado. 

The above salted caramel cappucino was perfect, not too sweet but a distinct, lovely caramel flavour with tiny moments of a contrasting saltiness - Heavenly.

We usually have brunch outside and I have to say that the poached eggs on spinach and sweet potato is TDF as is the labeneh with zaater and pomegranite syrup on sour dough. Nirvana on a plate and gorgeous spring weather; can it get much better? 

We were lucky enough to meet their new young talented chef, Maryam Al Jassar, who whilst busy studying law at KU works part-time as the ingenious chef. Her passion is food and she was gracious enough to come and chat with us awhile. A very impressive young lady who has a very bright and delicious future in front of her. Always wonderful to meet young Kuwaitis with such passion, determination and work ethics.

A cute, quirky, stylish interior.

Bravo! We love Caffeine it's an easy 10/10 

Map

   

Review: Bayt Ahmed, Souk Al Mubarakiya (Heritage Souk)

A nice leisurely wander around - after a hearty Arabic breakfast - in Souk Mubarakiya is always a fun, colourful, interesting time. A quick visit to Mubarak Al Kabeer Kiosk museum and then an introduction to the sweetest little coffee shop/artisan curio shop, called Bayt Ahmed. First class coffee and sweets and a wonderful loo (not always easy to find in the Souk) they even had Jo Malone hand soap. 

We loved the quirky, artisan atmosphere and shopping. It's an interestingly whimsical yet serene and female-friendly spot to sit and enjoy a great cup of coffee or mint tea.

Thank you ladies for your excellent company. 

Indoor/outdoor seating 

The menu; there's one is English too.

Part of our order

Super coffee

Eclectic selection of adorable chinaware

Fresh flowers, trinkets and cake.

Unusual, delightful one-off pieces.

A hodgepodge of curious items and old Kuwaiti memorabilia.

Love this. Without the a/c control of course.

Irresistible cake.

All photos were taken in Bayt Ahmed which is located in the city (Souk Al Mubarakiya) across the road from ABK bank.

Hope the map helps. Kim marks the spot. If you have ABK bank behind you and you are facing the Heritage Souk carpet shops and next to Evergreen Vegetarian restaurant you will find Bayt Ahmed behind the carpet shops.

A must visit if you're in the Souk. 10/10

Mubarak Al Kabeer Kiosk or Koshk Mubarak - A piece of Kuwaiti history

Perhaps the most popular ‘traditional’ market in Kuwait, Souq Al Mubarakiya is a national landmark and a must see destination for tourists as well as a regular stop for locals and residents. In recent years, a sort of revival has taken place with a growth in visitor numbers and an return of many shops and activities like festivals to the area. The opening of the Koshk Mubarak, a former office and diwan of Kuwait’s seventh ruler Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah, has added to the souq’s heritage and preservation of its past. Built in 1897, a year after Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah came to power, the Koshk Mubarak was a sort of government seat for the late ruler. In Kuwaiti dialect, a koshk (kiosk) is a square building with two floors. The ground floor consists of shops and the top floor has a diwan or council that can be accessed through an external staircase

Sheikh Mubarak was the first to build a koshk in Kuwait. The one now preserved in Souq Mubarakiya was the seat of Sheikh Mubarak, where he would meet the people of the country and listen to the problems of citizens and provide various kinds of assistance to them and solutions to their problems. The koshk was located in a lively area in the economic center of Kuwait, surrounded by a range of markets, including vegetable and fruit stands. After the Amir moved to Seif Palace, the koshk became the first court in Kuwait headed by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in 1928, and later served as the headquarters of the Sharia Court in 1934. The koshk’s ground floor had a pearl divers’ affairs office and the office of land registry. Then the koshk became the municipal administration, then a post office in 1942, and then the first branch of the public library of knowledge management in 1952.

New Avatar The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters acquired the koshk in 2010 and began renovations including restoration work on three sections of the twostorey building. On the ground floor is one of Kuwait’s oldest pharmacies - Abd Al-Elah Al-Qinaai Pharmacy - located in one of the corners of the koshk that opened in 1920. Restoration works also included the Sheikh Mubarak Council, which was used for public meetings to listen to the views, opinions and problems of citizens. A small museum was also established to provide information about the koshk and its evolution down the years.

On March 23, 2011, the renovated koshk was opened in the presence of HH the Amir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah. Souq Al-Mubarakiya is an old Kuwaiti market that sells all sorts of traditional clothes, accessories, kitchenware and other items. There are fruit stalls and fish and meat markets as well.

The majority shops are antique/vintage or just plain traditional. The architecture and decor of the place is modeled on a traditional souq, although it was renovated following the 1991 Iraqi occupation. It is located in Kuwait City near the Grand Mosque and the Kuwait Stock Exchange. Mubarakiya also includes a gold market, a Persian carpet market and the Souq Al- Hareem, a traditional souq run by women.

By Faten Omar, Kuwait Times