Country Information

Traditional Algerian food shows the historic influences of Berber, Arab, Turkish, and French tastes. It can be mild or very spicy and many flavourings are used. Algiers and popular coastal towns have a fair selection of good restaurants, serving mainly French and Italian-style food, though even classic dishes will have an unmistakable Algerian quality. Fish dishes are exceptionally good.

Things to know: The sale of alcohol is not encouraged. Alcohol is only available in more expensive restaurants and hotels. There are no licensing hours and hotel bars tend to stay open for as long as there is custom. Algeria produces some good wines but very few of them seem to be served in the country itself. The major hotels may have a reasonable cellar of European wines.

National specialities:
• Stalls sell brochettes (kebabs) in French bread and covered in a spicy sauce.
• Couscous, a semolina-like pasta made from cracked wheat, is a staple food in Algeria and throughout North Africa.
• Chickpea-cakes make a cheap and tasty accompaniment for food.
• Stews like shakshuka, with vegetables, and tajine, with lamb or chicken, are popular everyday dishes.
• The traditional diet of desert nomads is based on couscous and the meat of the sheep or goats they herd. When travelling, desert people carry pressed dates or figs, and hard cheese, which keeps for a long time.

National drinks:
• As in much of North Africa and the Middle East, refreshing, golden-coloured mint tea and strong, sweet coffee (sometimes called Turkish coffee) are drunk wherever people gather to talk and relax, a legacy of French rule.
• If available, try Medea, Mansourah and Mascara red wines and Medea, Mascara and Lismara rosés.

Tipping: 10% is usual.

The main towns offer reasonable entertainment facilities, including hotel restaurants, nightclubs, folk dancing and traditional music. In Algiers and Oran, some cinemas show English and French films.

Possible souvenirs include leatherware, rugs, copper and brassware, local dresses and jewellery. Berber carpets are beautifully decorated, and from the Sahara comes finely dyed basketwork and primitive-style pottery. Bargaining is customary in street markets and smaller shops. The rue Didouche Mourad is the best shopping street in Algiers. There are two state-run craft centres with fixed prices. One is located at Algiers airport.

Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1400-1900. Some shops open on Fridays.