Meraki Riyadh is bringing Greece to Saudi Arabia

Since 2017, Meraki in Fitzrovia has been one of London’s most popular Greek restaurants. In September 2021, it opened in Riyadh’s soon to open Mandarin Oriental Riyadh in the Al Faisaliah area with a goal to become one of the most popular restaurants in Saudi Arabia.

We caught up with Hugo Goncalves, the general manager of the Greek hot spot to chat about how things have been going for the new restaurant. He said: “With Meraki, there was always a lot of interest from Saudis that visited the branch in London and after a very successful pop up in 2019, we decided to move forward with a branch in Riyadh.”

The interiors of the new branch in Saudi Arabia has successfully replicated the vibe of the original, and with many visitors from KSA to England’s capital, the owners are hoping there’s a ready-made audience waiting for them. “The founders always intended to expand internationally, and Riyadh presented itself as a great entry point to the Middle East,” he added.

The menu at Meraki Riyadh is made up of Mediterranean sharing plates. On the preferences at the restaurant, Goncalves said: “Saudi diners tend to order what they know, pasta, salads, steak and other familiar items. We at Meraki Riyadh noticed a pull towards seafood; grilled fish and shellfish tend to be very popular.

The venue’s interiors pay homage to Greece, with its olive trees, natural wood and greenery dispersed around the space, enhancing the warm and sophisticated Mediterranean style.

Similar to London, the design aesthetic combined with the restaurants vibrant and upbeat sound makes it a lively spot for stylish professionals both Saudi and international.

Read more on sister title Caterer Middle East