Get ready to sip on the best coffee in Riyadh. It’s no secret that Riyadh loves its coffee, as is evidenced by the sprawling café scene, with new specialty coffee shops springing up around the city seemingly every day. Whether it’s a refreshing iced Americano, an espresso made with single-origin beans or a creamy Spanish latte, the Saudi capital and its baristas are brewing up the best. The Time Out Riyadh Restaurants Awards 2022, in association with PepsiCo, is shouting about them all through every great gulp.
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Take a sip out of the best coffee in Riyadh 2022:
WINNER
½ Million
There’s no shortage of superb coffee places in the Spanish-latte-loving Saudi capital. With cafés around every corner and more popping up at a staggering rate, it says something when the city’s caffeinated residents return to a venue again and again. That why 1/2 Million is the winner of the Best Coffee in Riyadh category at the Time Out Riyadh Restaurant Awards 2022.
You could even say there are about ½ Million reasons why this spot is the regular coffee shop of choice for many coffee connoisseurs. It’s a home-grown brand that has expanded and expanded. It might be the coffee that brings people in, but the iced mocktails, sweets and ice cream are as considered as the caffeine choices.
Various locations, including Al Olaya. instagram.com/halfmillion_sa.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Camel Step
Step right up to one of the best Riyadh coffee shops. If it’s speciality coffee you’re after (and we know that it is) this coffee shop takes its coffee brews very seriously indeed. Hot or cold, sweetened or not, the baristas at Camel Step know their stuff and know that freshly roasted beans make the difference. What can we say? Step in and try the best coffee in Riyadh yourself. The dedication to roasting and sourcing is practically evident in each sp.
At Taawun, camelstep.com (092 000 0689).
Five Elephants
For a top Riyadh speciality coffee shop, Five Elephants is where to go morning, afternoon or night. Thankfully, the stylish speciality coffee house is open at all hours so coffee fans can get their caffeinated drink of choice whenever they need to refuel, whether that is with a simple specialist cuppa, bold flavoured hot beverage or refreshing mojito. Food options are as strong as the V60. So, take a bite as you sip some of the best coffee in Riyadh.
Alyasmin, mkan.me/five-elephants (055 560 1970).
SHORTLISTED
Cacti
Fancy a flat white at 2am? Then you’ve come to the right place, as this quirky neighbourhood coffee shop is one of the top Riyadh cafés that’s open 24 hours a day. Popular with both locals and tourists, the place is awash with cacti (are you surprised?), modern art and potted plants that make it perfect for the ‘gram, while baristas churn out caffeine-laden cups that are up there with some of the best coffee in Riyadh.
Al Olaya, instagram.com/cacti_sa (055 027 7793).
Draft Café
Part café, part concept store, Draft’s pastel-hued venue serves up both an industrial vibe and an impressive array of specialty coffee. A haven for freelancers and creatives, it’s a calming space in which to work, with a particular highlight being the cream caramel frappé with a Lotus cheesecake. There’s also a huge variation of hot and cold espressos, brews, frappes and iced teas, plus sandwiches and salads for when those hunger pangs drop. The As Sulimaniyah spot has some of the best coffee in Riyadh along with top café food.
As Sulimaniyah, draftthoughts.com (011 211 1873).
Pandemic Coffee
Staff at this quirky joint serve up an array of savoury and sweet treats alongside crafted brews in hazmat suits at this coffee house with a difference – in a nod to the world crisis that it’s named after. And things get even more interesting from there at the best coffee shop in Riyadh.
Pandemic Coffee is also decorated with everything from deer, plants and mannequins in lab masks to a huge cherry blossom growing out of a bronze hand plus a throne made from swords that will take you on a crazy caffeinated trip in the best of ways. Be sure to try the iced pistachio latte and the saffron iced latte – you won’t be disappointed.
Prince Turki Al Awwal Road, instagram.com/pandemiccoffee (011 433 3433).
Sombrero
If you’ve always wanted your coffee served to you by a person in a sombrero then look no further – all baristas at this quirky joint wear giant ones and a smile on their face as they serve an array of drinks and brews with plenty of milk options including almond, soy and lacto-free. Feeling peckish? Its zaatar doughnuts and filling sandwiches are a must at lunchtime, as are its delectable desserts. This is a place with the best coffee in Riyadh and plenty of personality.
As Sulimaniyah, instagram.com/sombrero_ksa (050 295 0376).
Some Coffee Bar
A credit to the Al Muruj neighbourhood with its clean, minimal interiors complete with a chic white piano, Some Coffee Bar is one of Riyadh’s newest kids on the block. Its white interiors are accentuated by green cushions, cacti and black tables, while there’s also a number of books spread around the place for those looking to take their time to really savour their coffee. We can’t think of a better way to while away an afternoon… or evening.
Al Muruj, instagram.com/somecoffee.sa.
SOUL CAFÉ
A cosy spot for top quality brews, Soul Café serves up coffees that are as serious as the aesthetic is cool. Go classic with a flat white or espresso, alternatively opt for the iced pistachio latte which is both smooth and strong. People also rave about its ice cream too, which they say is the best in Saudi, so it would only be wise to sample if for yourself. Be sure to snap a pic before you leave.
River Walk, instagram.com/soulcafeksa.
SPOUT
This sleek, high-end specialty coffee shop is always packed each morning – a testament to the fine drinks that its talented baristas whip up on the reg. A gem in the city’s caffeinated crown, close your eyes and you could be in New York as you sip a refreshing cold brew or a perfect espresso – this hotspot really is so cool – as is its popular mango ice cream. The best coffee in Riyadh and incredible ice cream. What could be better?
Al Mohammadiyyah, instagram.com/spout.sa (050 746 5246).
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