Bahrain has been at the crossroads of trade in the Gulf for centuries. First in gold and pearls, then when oil was discovered in 1932 and the economy suddenly escalated. Much of the landscape in the capital city, Manama, is now made up of dramatic buildings, such as the twin 50-storey towers of the Bahrain World Trade Center, the sleek glass-covered shopping mall known as The Avenues, which runs for almost a mile along the seafront Corniche, and the sky-piercing Bahrain Financial Harbour complex of high-rise housing banks and government offices.
But beyond the major business and economic elements, the city is also a magnet for tourists, welcoming visitors to a shopping paradise with excellent dining, arts and entertainment scenes. Many top chefs have given their names to restaurants in Manama but there’s plenty of street food to be found as well. Just explore the side streets around the souks and look for locals lining up for tables set up on the pavement.
