WHERE TO STAY

WHERE TO EAT

Brunei offers a vast variety of cuisine ranging from local home-cooked fare sold at the night stalls to fine international cuisines served in upmarket restaurants.

Bruneian cooking is often a miscegenation of the various cultures that have come and settled in the country since the beginning.

Hence, Bruneian food often tastes a little bit Chinese, a little bit Thai, and a little bit Indonesian. However, the local fare still retains the uniqueness and authenticity of its Malay origin. Bruneians have discerning taste buds and a vigorous appetite.

They know where to sample all the delightful cooking and to share it with friends and visitors from overseas.

Brunei has literally hundreds upon hundreds of cafes, bistros and eateries that serve top class cuisine at very reasonable prices.

Many have established themselves and enjoyed brisk business. Among the few that have been discovered and worthy of a visit are Aneka Rasa in Kiulap; Pondok Sari Wangi in Gadong,

Sengkurong, Bcrakas and The Centrepoint Food Court; Riasari Cafe in Complex Urairah in Kiulap; Restoran Teratak in Kiulap; Restoran Aminah Arif in Gadong, Kiulap and Batu Bersurat; Restoran Serikandi in Kuala Belait, Teo Poi Hoon Foodstall in Kiulap and Batu Bersurat; Hua Hua Restaurant in Bandar and Kiulap; Taurean Too Kopitiam in Batu Bersurat and Kiulap; Thiam Hock Restaurant in Gadong; Oslam Restaurant in Gadong; Gripps Cafe in Kiulap; Port View Seafood Restaurant in Bandar; Tenaga Tandoori Restaurant in Gadong; Tien Tien Restaurant in Kiulap and Gadong; Sawaddee House in Sengkurong; Mamih Restaurant in Kg Mata-Mata and Jalan Muara; D' Aprils in Kiulap; as well as the Orchid Room Restaurant, Buccaneer Steak House and Jolene Restaurant in Kuala Belait.

Not forgetting the many Royal Brunei Catering restaurants and cafe's such as The Airport Restaurant, Seasons, Poolside Restaurant, Amigo's Cafe, Piano Lounge Cafe, RBC Delicatessen and the Alfresco that offer a wide variety of both Western and local cuisines.

Other RBC outlets include the RBC Bread & Confectionery, RBC Express Fast Food and the Express Cafe and Cake Shop.

Local Fare

For a taste of authentic Malay delicacies, the night market hawker food stalls, a daily or weekly event found at several sites in and around Bandar Seri Begawan, offers a gastronomic treat for the taste buds.

The 'Pasar Malam' or night stalls has an assorted Malay cakes and biscuits, such as pulut panggang, kueh cincin, penyaram, kueh malaya and also dishes such as pais, which can be found in the fish or beef variety, grilled and barbecued in banana leaves. Satay of all sorts can be also found at the markets.

The `Tamu Pasar Besar Gadong' located next to the fish market in the capital opens around 3pm or 4pm every day and it is a cooked food and fresh vegetables market.

One can feast on a variety of hawker food such as fried rice, nasi lemak, nasi padang, pow, cakoi, curry puffs, satay, roti John (long hotdog of fried egg and minced meat), pais (barbequcd fish, prawn and beef), pulut panggang (barbequcd glutinous rice), kuih malaya (Asian-style waffles with peanuts) and kebabs.

Also served are banana fritters, yam fritters, prawn fritters, noodles - each done in a number of styles, hot dogs, burgers, roast chicken, barbequed fish and stuffed squids, chicken and chips, fish and chips and even Spaghetti Bolognaise.

Other stalls found in the capital are 'Tamu Sclera' located across the road from Terrace Hotel, 'Tamu Kianggeh' near the ferry stands and 'Pasar Borong Kilanas, a wholesale market along Tutong road.

'Tamu Tutong' in Tutong offers 'all-in-one' market of cooked food, fruits, vegetables and handicrafts are held every Thursday.

And there are the 'Tamu Bangar' in Temburong, 'Tamu Seria' in the Belait area that opens on Fridays from around 4pm till 11pm and `KB Tamu' which opens only over the weekends.

International Cuisine

Bruneians have acquired a taste for sushi and like in the recent years with the opening of many restaurants serving authentic Japanese cuisine in Kiulap, Kiarong and Gadong areas.

These Japanese restaurants are usually packed during lunch hours and over the weekends, which is a testimony to the delights that are served on the sushi trains.

These include Takara, Shiki and Excapade Sushi in Gadong, Mini Q Restaurant, Yakiniku & Sushi, Escapade Sushi and Misato in Kiulap. In Kiarong, there is Edo Mae.

Apart from Japanese food, Brunei also has fine restaurants serving Thai, Lebanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Northern Indian, Cantonese/Szechuan and Italian cuisine.

Arabic cuisine is served at Sugar n' Spice in Kiulap and at Kyros Kebab at The Mall while KNY Kitchen in Kiarong and the Thai Food Restaurant in Jerudong offer Thai fare.

For Italian food, one can go to Fratini's Pasta & Pizza, an established Italian/Western specialties eatery located at the ground floor of Bangunan Yayasan Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah and at Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong where patrons can dine al-fresco.

Fratini's serves some of the best Italian dishes found in the Sultanate, with authentic Italian recipes courtesy of their Italian Chef, who ensures that the ingredients used in the preparation of their dishes are up to the standard that has long been associated with its restaurants.

For those who are seeking to sample Indian cuisine, Lc Taj Restaurant in Kiulap and Tenaga restaurant in Gadong are two such alternatives where a slice of India can be found.

They are also the finest Indian eateries in the Sultanate each providing diners with an eating experience unique in their own way.

The sidewalk dining area at the Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong features three swanky restaurants/coffee bistros in a row. There is Fratini's, Coffeezone - a highly popular local coffee, cake and snack outlet and the internationally renowned-The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf In Kuala Belait, the Shahryza Cafe at the Riviera Hotel features western and Asian cuisine and is one of the more stylish dining outlets.

Major hotels found in and around the capital like Centrepoint Hotel, Riverview Hotel, Sheraton Utama Hotel, Terrace Hotel and the Empire Hotel have restaurants serving exotic and sumptuous Chinese cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner for all sorts of occasions.

The most popular are the Dynasty Restaurant, Centrepoint Hotel and The Empire Hotel's Li Gong Restaurant.

Most of the dining and catering establishments found in Brunei such as the RBC Outside Catering Corporate & Private Functions and the RBC Aircraft Catering Flight Kitchen offer catering services for functions and events.

Some of these catering establishments like the Muhibah Function Rooms provide venue alongside their catering services for any function and events.

Fast Food, Coffee And Ice Cream

Fast food can also be easily found in and around Bandar Seri Begawan as well as in Tutong, Kuala Belait, Seria and Muara with local fast food joints such as Ideal Chicken, AyamKu Restaurant, Express Fast Food and Tasconi's Pizza joined by the likes of International names like McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, Jollibee, Sugar Bun, for those who're looking for a quick bite to eat. --Courtesy of Brunei Year Book

WHERE TO GO

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. One of Brunei landmark. Located at the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan. Built and completed in1958. Was built by the 28th sultan of Brunei, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien.



Jerudong Park Playground
A popular spot for locals as well as tourists, the 57-hectare Jerudong Park Playground is a Disneyland-style theme park with rides to suit all members of the family. Jerudong Park Playground is nightly wonderland of fantasy rides and amusements.


Kampong Ayer
Kampong Ayer, or the Water Village (Malay: Kampong Ayer) is an area of Brunei's capital city Bandar Seri Begawan that is situated Brunei Bay. 39,000 people live in the Water Village.


Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
Considered as one of the grandest monuments to Islam in the whole region, the magnificent Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is the brainchild of His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah and Yang Dipertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam.


Istana Nurul Iman
The Istana Nurul Iman is the official of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. The palace is located on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills on the banks of the Brunei River directly south of Brunei's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, no more than a few miles outside the city center.