Fodor's Expert Review Al Hosni Omani Sweets

Tucked away in a suburb, this shop is the best place in Muscat to buy beautiful boxes, tagines, crystal dishes, and carved wooden bowls for the Omani halwa. The shop makes 10 different types of halwa—a mixture of sugar, ghee, and cornstarch—with flavors ranging from rose to saffron, but the true star is delicious, walnut-studded "special halwa." You can also get fantastic, tahini-based Turkish-style halwa, date cookies, and chocolate-covered halwa. The presentation of the confections, in gorgeously painted gift boxes and embellished briefcases, make them the best possible gift to bring to local hosts or to bring back home.