The choice is limited. Most food is boiled, stewed or roasted over wood fire. Meals in Bujumbura’s hotels are reasonable, but expensive and of fairly average quality. The French, Greek and Asian restaurants in the town are good. There are few restaurants outside the capital and Gitega.
National specialities:
• All beans are in plentiful supply, particularly red kidney beans.
• Rice is served with nearly everything.
• Other staple ingredients include plantains, sweet potatoes, cassava, peas and maize.
• Fish is more common than meats.
• People snack on fruit, cane sugar and groundnuts.
• Spicy carrots are a side dish of carrots mixed with mustard seeds and chilli peppers.
National drinks:
• Urwarwa is a homemade banana wine drunk during celebrations.
• Primus beer is produced in Burundi, as is impeke, a home-brewed beer made from sorghum, and often drunk through straws.
Tipping: As a rule, no service charge is levied automatically; 10 per cent is the recommended tip for good service.

There are several nightclubs, restaurants and bars in Bujumbura.

Local crafts, particularly basketwork, make excellent buys. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1500; Sat 0830-1230.