Being surrounded by interesting cultures and the influx of ex-pats in Riyadh, this capital city of Saudi Arabia offers a rich mix of local and international cuisine restaurants.
You get to explore fusion dishes, several versions of a particular dish, and of course, Saudi food. How cool is that?
Due to restrictions on alcohol, the hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia focuses on adding mouth-watering food to its restaurants.
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Riyadh is no exception to the rule, and thanks to the various diplomats around the world living here, the city is abuzz with restaurants of all kinds.
Here’s our pick of some of the best restaurants that you cannot afford to miss in Riyadh –
The Globe Restaurant: Eating and globetrotting experience
What do you prefer? Food with great ambiance or just good food? Either way, The Globe offers a stunning view of the city of Riyadh and lip-smacking dishes prepared with love by their chef.
Located on top of the Al Faisaliah Tower, The Globe is a transparent glass restaurant suspended 240 meters up in the air, well sort of. It offers an array of Arabic and European cuisine.
If you are at this restaurant in the afternoon, they will serve you in the unique tea set served against the backdrop of the city’s skyline.
Menu: Check out their full menu here
Exact address: The Globe, King Fahd Branch Road, Al Olaya, Al Faisaliah Tower, The Geodesic Orb, Riyadh
Lusin Restaurant
Named after the Armenian word ‘Lusin’ meaning ‘moon’, Lusin is a warm and intimate restaurant with such a welcoming vibe.
This feel is possibly owed to its soft golden lighting and interior with a natural bent. Oh here’s a little fun fact about it: there are stone slabs all over Lusin, with inscriptions of Armenian poetry.
Your trip to the Aremnian ambiance becomes complete with an instrument called duduk that’s played the whole time you are there.
Of course there’s Armenian food along with several other types of cuisine. We have loved their assortment of meats and hot and cold mezze.
Menu: Check out Lusin’s Centria Mall’s menu.
Exact address: Lusin 2/F, Centria Mall, 210 Olaya Street, Riyadh. Though it is located at 4 different places.
Yokari Restaurant
For those who believe that good food is an investment in gaining an excellent world experience, Yokari is your haven. Yokari, as the name sounds, is a Japanese restaurant that serves gourmet-style cuisine from Japan.
But hey, Japanese cuisine does not mean only Sushi. In fact, Yokari has always stayed away from the usual cliches.
However, Yokari allows guests to ask the waiters about the exact specifications about the Japanese dishes, and the waiters don’t disappoint. In fact, waiters here are quite knowledgeable.
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You do get a piece of Japan here with its subtle decor, small tables kept in close proximity.
Menu: Experience this restaurant virtually and see their menu.
Exact address: 2/F, Centria Mall, 210 Olaya Street, Riyadh
Najd Village Restaurant
It’s impossible to talk about Riyadh food and restaurants without mentioning one of the most authentic local go-to places in Saudi Arabia: Najd Village.
This place is unrivaled when it comes to serving Saudi food in a setting that’s no less cultural.
The decor of Najd Village is Arabic style with bamboo roofs, ancient style shelves with golden lamps, and Moroccan carpets.
It’s a heritage building that can host around 1,000 people with a wide variety of cuisines for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
The menu offers some local dishes such as matazeez (lamp dumplings in tomato sauce); mogalgal (a peppery lamb dish) apart from several other types of cuisines.
Just like The Globe, it’s best to book the table in advance. Najd Village has been listed at Top 10 things to do in Riyadh as well, so you may want to check it out.
Menu: This is how their menu looks like.
Exact address: Najd Village, Takhassusi Street, Al Olaya, Riyadh
Hualan Restaurant
It is definitely due to the Chinese food that no restaurant list of any city in the world is complete without at least one Chinese restaurant.
So welcome to Hualan – the most authentic place to not only get your usual dishes but a lot of new ones you haven’t tried yet.
Hualan is known for creating innovative dishes by combining textures, flavors, and spices of Asian cooking. This is why Saudi folks adore Hualan.
Take some examples. Ever heard of prawns in pumpkin sauce or jasmine-tea-smoked beef ribs? Yeap, they have those and take our word for it: they are delish.
They also offer a comprehensive collection of bespoke Jing-tea and fruit smoothies with Asian ingredients.
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Lets now talk about the decor: to an onlooker, it feels like simple geometric patterns on a terrace overlooking Riyadh’s skyline. However, the place vibes with energy.
Menu: Get a tour of Hualan and check out their menu.
Exact address: Hualan, 2/F, Centria Mall, 210 Olaya Street, Riyadh
