Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Drinking
The sale and public consumption of alcohol is officially banned in Brunei, but locals and
expats may know of places (often Chinese restaurants) that discreetly serve beer to regu-
lars, or establishments that let you bring your own.
Locals are fond of
air batu campur
('ice mix'), usually called ABC, which brings to-
gether ice, little green noodles, grass jelly, sago pearls and red beans.
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
(Mayapuri Bldg, 36 Jln Sultan; 8am-midnight Sun-Wed, to 1.30am Thu-Sat; )
The
hangout of choice for folks who need to bang out some work on their laptops or just relax
in air-conditioned frigidity. Serves hot and 'ice blended' beverages, hearty breakfasts,
pastries (muffins, cakes, scones), gourmet sandwiches (B$6 to B$8) and pasta (B$4.80 to
B$7.50).
CAFE
De Royalle Café
(Mayapuri Bldg, 38 Jln Sultan; 24hr; )
Organised into two mini living rooms plus
sidewalk tables, this always-open establishment has a supply of perusable English-lan-
guage newspapers and serves up pastries, sandwiches (B$4 to B$11 - lox is the priciest)
and, of course, fresh-brewed coffee. A fine place for a relaxed rendezvous with friends.
CAFE
Entertainment
Locals often head to Gadong for a night out, which in Brunei usually amounts to nothing
more than dinner and perhaps a movie. Based on what you hear, you might conclude that
the area is a seething nightlife zone or at least a fine collection of smart restaurants. Un-
fortunately, it's neither - just some air-con shopping malls and commercial streets.
Shopping
Shopping is Brunei's national sport. Locals bop through the shopping malls scouting out
the best deals while bemoaning the fact that their micro-nation doesn't have as much vari-
ety as Singapore.
The country's only traffic jam occurs nightly in Gadong, about 3km northwest of the
centre. The area features several air-conditioned bastions of commerce, including two
huge malls, Centrepoint and The Mall.
