Karachi

Karachi is the the commercial capital of Pakistan. It is home to most of the country's Bank head offices and has a very active and dynamic feel in the air. Its also very very busy - not quite Bombay or Cairo but busy enough! The city has plenty of restaurants and places to go and shopping is very easy with plenty of both bazaar style and modern style malls to be found. I personally found the Park Towers in Clifton a nice shopping centre with a modern edge to it and has good restaurants in the nearby Defence area. For a more bazaar experience, notably with CD/Electronics I would suggest Rainbow Centre.

Do visit Pakistan, it will blow away any conceptions you may have over the country from reading the western press and I, for one, have really enjoyed my visits there.

Traditional

Lal Qila, Shah Re-Faisl (10/A MACHS, Shahrah e Faisal, Karachi 75350, T: 452 9493). This is the place the go if you are in Karachi. Its a really great place but make sure you call in advance and book!!! At least a few days early if you can! Basically, this is a buffet restaurant serving lots of Mogul, Pakistani, Asian and a bit of european cuisine. Obviously the Mogul and Pakistani dishes are the best and make sure you leave room for the Khulfi desert (its specially good here). The place is designed like a Mogul palace with Pakistani and and Muslim influences and its a great place to try. Don't miss this place and make sure you visit. #1 (last upd: Dec 2004)
BBQ Tonight, Karachi (T: <missing>). If you are after grills, more grills and some kebabs - this is the place to be. Its a great place, lots of indoor (i.e. air-conditioned) or outdoor seating and amazing dishes. Word of caution, they do not accept any cards whatsoever - its a cash only place. (last upd: Dec 2004)
Nawab, Mall Square, Zamzama Boulevard, DHA 5, Karachi (T: +92 21 586 2090). This is a great restaurant that also serves Mogul cuisine. The restaurant is far more modern that the open air Lal Qila and offers a sound place for quiet meetings. The restaurant is a franchise from the same Nawab restaurant in Dubai (last upd: March 2005)
The Pakistani, Sheraton Hotel, Club Road, P.O. Box 3918 Karachi 75500 Pakistan. This is a full on Pakistani restaurant with the grill and baking areas in full view behind a glass partition. The food is excellent in my opinion however I am advised that there is better in town (so yet more places for me to discover). Another nice touch here is the live traditional music and dancing they put on every night. On costs, this is a very expensive restaurant - especially by local standards - but still worth it if you are staying at the Sheraton and don't want to hit the town (and the heat by going out). (last upd: March 2005)
MELA, Shah Re-Faisl (untested)

Modern

Cafe Zouk, Plot #27/C, Khayaban-E-Shamsher, Phase V, DHA, Karachi (T: +92 21 585 6491; F: +92 21 585 6815). Very modern restaurant, very much an upmarket younger crowd and a menu/atmosphere to match. They server an international variety of food most of which comes with a little 'Zouk' twist to make it more spicy. Almost every type of disk served from pastas to rice to steaks. (last upd: July 2004)
Copper Kettle Cafe, Mall Square, Zamzama 1, Phase V, DHA, Karachi (T: +92 21 587 8886, 583 8659; F: +92 21 587 8887; email: ckettlepk@yahoo.com). Another great international cuisine with a unique menu style (puns everywhere around the menu which changes every now and then). A full mix of different foods with "Friendwiches" and steaks and rice dishes all the way t burgers. Their fries are a particular specialty which were excellent. (last upd: July 2004)
Arizona Grill, Zamzama, Phase V, DHA, Karachi. If you want Grill steaks, this is as good a place to be as any. Very lively atmosphere and great fun. Menu offers alternatives to steaks too if you're that way inclined. (last upd: Feb 2004)

Others

Pompei, Shapes Health Club, Compound Old Railway Club, 139 McNiel Road, Cantt, Karachi (T: +92 21 521 4684 / 521 9657, C: +92 345 2056410). Excellent Italian restaurant set in a nice old school club. (last upd: Nov 2011)
Limoncello, 14-C Lane 7, Zamzama, D.H.A. Phase 5 (T: 021 536 0945; Email). This is an excellent, cosy Italian restaurant. Don't forget to think 'off the menu' if you feel like it. Umar Sheikh (the chef and owner) would relish the opportunity to delight you. Highly recommended.(last upd: Jan 2005)
Kabab-ji Lebanese Restaurant, Sheraton Hotel, Club Road, P.O. Box 3918 Karachi 75500 Pakistan. A little disappointing to be fair. The service was good but the food let down by the quality of the ingredients and portion sizes.

Hotels

Marriott Hotel, 9 Abdullah Haroon Road Karachi (T: +92 21 568 0111; F: +92 21 5680981). This is by far my preferred hotel in Karachi. It has wireless internet access from most of the public areas and broadband access in the room and serves up a good range of restaurants for all price levels. It also does not deny Marriott Rewards like the Sheraton does. In my opinion, the best place to stay in Karachi. Private lounge is also available however no printer is available in the room. (last upd: Dec 2004)
Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Club Road, P.O. Box 3918 Karachi 75500 Pakistan, (Tel: +92 21 568 1021; Fax: +92 21 568 2875). This is probably one of the best hotels in town. The standard rooms are quite nice, large and comfortable. The Smart rooms add the benefit of a fax/laser/copier in the room as well as a lounge where you can hold meetings in a more discreet and comfortable area with clients. Internet Access has now finally arrived but at a cost which given the room rates and the fact that it is free in the Marriott is rather unacceptable. This is a great hotel but it is let down by the corporate snootiness and swinging fees like Internet Access. (last upd: March 2005)

Lahore

Lahore is the the cultural capital of Pakistan and was home to the Pakistani film industry. The pace of life here is much more laid back than Karachi and you will find the streets and people generally much more chilled out.

Traditional

Cuckoos, (everyone knows where it is... just tell them the name). This is a very interesting restaurant with a good views and OK food. The best part of it is really the story behind the place and more interestingly the man behind it all. He is an artist of many talents and the restaurant also serves as his gallery. The story is apparently that his mother worked in the entertainment business starting in movies and then on to the more redlight areas after the lahore film industry started dying. The son went on to open the restaurant which he named after his mother. Word of warning to you tho - be ready to climb up quite a lot of stairs to get to the restaurant part of the house but the views over the adjacent mosque are quite lovely. (last upd: Dec 2004)
Marco Polo restaurant, Pearl Continental. Very decent hotel buffet with a good selection and choice.

Modern

Others

Hotels

Pearl Continental, I haven't stayed here yet but it looks like the best place in Lahore to stay.