Riyadh is full of fine dining restaurants which tick all the boxes – elegant wood-panelled dining rooms, intricate glass chandeliers and, crucially, food that’s just plain good.
From the freshest ingredients to the latest culinary techniques, the city’s chefs are ushering in a new era of dining served up by waiters wearing white gloves and wielding complimentary bread baskets.
For those times when casual dining just won’t cut it, here are Riyadh’s best fine dining restaurants. Pull on your best threads, glam up and get ready to splurge.
Al Orjouan
It’s not often that a buffet counts as fine dining, but the Ritz-Carlton’s Al Orjouan is on another level of culinary creativeness. The opulent restaurant offers a lavish spread of Middle Eastern and international dishes, with interactive cooking stations serving up kebab meat and freshly made pasta plates supplemented by self-serve stations galore. Expect lashings of luxury, with tiered stands of seafood, chocolate fountains and artfully presented displays of sweet and savoury at the centre of the action.
Open daily 6.30am-11am, Sun-Tue 6.30pm-midnight. Friday brunch 12.30pm-5pm. SAR325 (adults), SAR145 (kids aged 6-12), free (kids under six). Ritz-Carlton Hotel Riyadh, AlHada Area, Mekkah Road, ritzcarlton.com (011 802 8333).
Billionaire
Billionaire is full of the city’s trend-setters, with its expensively decorated and high-ceilinged dining space featuring as the background for many an Instagram shot. Dinner here is accompanied by a live cabaret featuring singers and dancers as part of a thrilling spectacle led by production director Montserrat Moré, who has previously collaborated with the likes of Cirque du Soleil and Ibiza’s Pacha. Looking down the Italian–Asian fusion menu, the perfectly seasoned portions of pasta are pricey but huge, and the standards are top-notch. It’s extravagant, it’s a bit of fun, and it’s a spectacle well worthy of a night out.
Open Tue-Sat 7pm-12.30am, Sun 7pm-midnight, Mon 7pm-12.30am. Dabab St. Sulaimaniya, billionairesociety.com (9200 11916).
Cipriani
Wood-panelled, decked out with glass chandeliers and with a touch of high gloss, Cipriani draws on the elegance of traditional Italian dining rooms and stays true to its roots from 1931, when the original branch opened as Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy. The menu here includes plenty of timeless classics such as refreshing burrata salads and baked pasta dishes plus – if you’re really not sure what to order – Margherita pizza. Finish it all up with a miniature dessert selection and a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Open daily 1pm-12.30am. Prince Turki Ibn Abdulaziz Al Awwal Rd, cipriani.com (011 277 6700).
Il Baretto
With its elegant, piano-laden dining and carefully crafted menu of Italian classics, Il Baretto in King Abdullah Financial District is a top spot for a glamorous evening out. The dining room will transport you to the heart of New York’s Little Italy with its muted colour scheme, rich wooden flooring and dim lighting from the high ceilings. On the food side, stellar starters include the beetroot e caprino salad (marinated with caramelised pecan nuts), while pastas like cacio e pepe risotto elevated with curls of celery make up the majority of main courses. The crowd here is trendy and well-dressed, so get suited and booted before taking your seat.
Open Mon 12.30pm-3.30pm and 7pm-10.30pm, Tue, Wed and Sun 12.30pm-3.30pm and 7pm-11.30pm, Thu-Sat 1pm-4pm and 7pm-11.30pm. 5.08, King Abdullah Financial District, ilbaretto.sa (92 001 2508).
LPM
It’s a hit in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Miami, Hong Kong and London, and now it’s a hit here in Riyadh too. LPM sticks closely to traditional French-style service – it’s sharing salads and meat platters from the hors d’oeuvres menu first, followed by rich and delicious pasta plats principaux. Beyond the exceptional but simple gnocchi with cherry tomato and homemade pappardelle with veal ragout, the side dishes at LPM are a great way to sample a wide variety of the kitchen’s cooking without committing to a single dish. Truly exceptionnel.
Open Sun-Thu 12.30pm-3.30pm and 6.30pm-11pm, Fri and Sat 1pm-4pm and 6.30pm-11pm. Al Faisaliah Hotel, Al Moatasem Street, Olaya, Riyadh, lpmrestaurants.com (9200 11794).
Le Maschou
In the centre of Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, Le Maschou’s unique brick-lined exteriors – and curved dining room – mark it out from the city’s other French restaurants. The kitchen specialises in traditional cuisine cooked over a wooden fire (think grilled steaks, rich sauces and chunky frites), and the candle-lit atmosphere in the intimate dining room makes it the perfect spot for a romantic night out. Save this one for a truly special occasion.
Open Sun-Thu 4.30pm-1am, Fri and Sat 3.30pm-1am. Tayma St, Al Safarat, lemaschou.sa (9200 13005).
Lusin
One of Riyadh’s most popular fine dining spots, Lusin takes Armenian cuisine to the next level. Four branches across the city serve up authentic dishes ranging from the hearty and super-traditional borsch soup (beetroot, minced meat and halloumi cheese with Armenian spices) to stuffed baby yalanji eggplant and red pilaf rice doused in truffle oil. Armenia sits between Georgia and Turkey, so flavours take inspiration from both Europe, central Asia and the Arabic world. For dessert, expect twists on familiar dishes like um ali and maamoul, which here is served with traditional Armenian cheese.
Open Sat-Wed noon-midnight, Thu noon-12.30am, Fri 12.30pm-12.30am. Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz, Centria Mall, Olaya Street, lusinrestaurant.com (9200 02690).
Mamo Michelangelo
While Mamo Michelango is a fairly new addition to the city, the Italian restaurant’s vintage-style dining room with its curved archways and rustic brick walls feels like it has been here for decades. Portions are generous and served sharing-style, starting off with smaller antipasti dishes like parmesan-fried chickpeas with a sun-dried tomato dip and baby artichoke salads before moving on to the real starts of the show – the signature pastas. Truffle-lovers can pick from spaghettis, raviolinis and risotto, while the bucatini alla matriciana highlights the simplicity of Italian cooking by pairing beef with a simple cherry tomato sauce which lets the meaty flavours sing.
Open daily 12.30pm-11.30pm. Al Moatasem Street, Olaya, Riyadh, mamo-michelangelo.com (9200 00874).
Meraki
Tucked under the famous pyramid-shaped Al Faisaliah hotel in the centre of the Olaya dining district, Meraki transports diners to Greece using ingredients shipped in from the Mediterranean. Busy and atmospheric with a dimly lit, split-level dining room the restaurant’s sharing plates concept lends itself well to large groups, The trademark dips offer an inventive twist, with a swirl of cucumber emulsion running through the tzatziki rather than traditional chopped-up chunks, and the htipiti’s gentle kick of spice is much more welcome than the traditionally fiery version served in many eateries. But the true standout is the beef fillet kebab, with a glaze full of Greek flavours such as lemon, olive oil and oregano.
Open Sun-Tue 1pm-3.30pm and 7pm-midnight, Wed-Sat 1pm-3.30pm and 7pm-12.30am. Al Faisaliah Hotel, Al Moatasem Street, Olaya, Riyadh, meraki-restaurant.com (9200 01050).
Myazu
This Japanese restaurant vows to treat diners like “esteemed guests”, and having scoffed down more than a few plates of Myazu’s contemporary Japanese cuisine we can confirm that this promise holds true. The moody, boutique-style dining room – covered on one side with gold hanging art – presents dishes on beautiful plates made of stone, with favourites among the Saudi crowd including the salmon tataki with watermelon shisho salsa and wagyu beef nabe (tenderloin dumplings with seasonal vegetables and black pepper sauce). The dessert menu is more than worthy of a mention, with a “chef’s platter” combining miniature versions of almost all the sweets on offer for those who really can’t make their minds up.
Open daily 12.30pm-12.30am. Musad Bin Jalawi, As Sulimaniyah, myazu.com (9200 09686).
Nusr-Et
Taking up residence in a suitably imposing building at the edge of U Walk, Nusr-Et is one of the newest additions to Riyadh’s restaurant scene but has already used up enough gold leaf to line the interiors of a palatial residence. The familiar Salt Bae routine of sprinkling salt on pricey chunks of meat before seductively carving them up is on full display, although by henchmen trained in the steak-slicing arts rather than the bespectacled man himself (he flits between dozens of branches across the globe, so if you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse). It’s outrageously expensive, over-the-top and kitsch – but that’s why we love it.
Open daily noon-1.30am. Prince Turki Ibn Abdulaziz Al Awwal Rd, U Walk, nusr-et.com.tr (011 494 5120).
Okku
The enormous menu at Okku spans large plates, small plates, gyoza, nigiri, sashimi and sushi plus an array of desserts, salads and ice creams that offer more than enough to get your chopsticks into – even if you’re not a fan of traditional Japanese cuisine. Diners venturing in to this dark and moody Olaya eatery are welcomed with a stunning display of Samurai statues and walls adorned with artworks which rise high into the cavernous interiors. During the afternoons, Okku is popular with the business crowd stopping in for a quick afternoon bite – the set Tezukuri lunchbox menu from 1pm-6pm is the ideal introduction to the restaurant’s authentic flavours.
Open daily 1pm-1am. Tahlia Street, Olaya, okkuriyadh.sa (011 442 2929).
Roka
After successfully serving up plates of clean-cut sushi, sizzling grills and creative desserts to diners across the globe, ROKA has pincered together its best chefs, mixologists and waiters and brought them all the way to Riyadh. Start with the light and refreshing avocado, asparagus and cucumber roll, which packs delicate layers of vegetables into a compact centre. Elsewhere, baby spinach with umami-filled sesame dressing impresses, as does the baked potato with cream cheese and chive – mashed tableside. ROKA is exceptional – from the dark and moody dining room to the expert execution of even the simplest of dishes.
Open Sun-Wed 1pm-4.30pm and 6.30pm-midnight, Thu-Sat 1pm-12.30am. Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz, As Sulimaniyah, rokarestaurant.com (9200 12327).
San Carlo Cicchetti
Cicchetti are small plates or side dishes, usually served up sharing-style to diners who want to make a meal of it (although indulging alone is more than welcome). Boasting of an Italian director, Italian chairman and Italian chefs, San Carlo has brought its warm, atmospheric dining room from the UK to the heart of Riyadh where fresh Milanese ingredients are carved up into creamy mushroom croquettes, arancini rice balls and hearty plates of pasta (the homemade ricotta ravioli filled with fresh burratta is a hit). Finish up with a super-strong espresso to wash down all those snacks and you’re all set.
Open daily 1pm-1am. Prince Abdulaziz Ibn Musaid Ibn Jalawi St, As Sulimaniyah, sancarlocicchetti.sa (9200 10679).
Suhail
This elegant Saudi spot aims to combine traditional dishes with a refined aesthetic at a surprisingly trendy dining complex hidden away just off the Northern Ring Road. Overseen by the same team behind neighbouring Lusin – a firm favourite among the city’s diners – the menu at Suhail offers plenty of contemporary twists alongside more familiar flavours. Indoors, a labyrinth of curved wooden walls evokes the rugged landscapes of Saudi’s historic AlUla region, with intimate coves creating private corners alongside a much larger main dining room.
Open Sat-Wed 12.30pm-midnight, Thu 12.30pm-11pm, Fri 12.30pm-1am. Northern Ring Rd, An Nakheel, Riyadh, 11564, suhailrestaurant.com (9200 02690).
The Globe
At The Globe, the whole of central Riyadh can see you – and you can see them (for miles around on a clear night). Encased in the famous giant glass orb which hangs suspended from the iconic Al Faisaliah Tower, it doesn’t get more luxurious than this. The restaurant takes up three stories ,with its dramatic cityscape views serving as the ideal backdrop for waiters to whisk out European tasting selections, artfully prepared main courses and (if you visit between 3pm and 6pm on weekends) traditional afternoon tea served on a tiered cake stand. Proper glam.
Open Sun-Thu 7pm-11.30pm, Fri and Sat 3pm-6pm and 8pm-11.30pm. King Fahd Branch Rd, Al Faisaliah Tower, mandarinoriental.com (011 273 2222).
Walton St. Scalini
Every Italian restaurant promises pasta “just like mamma used to make”, but Walton St. Scalini is the real deal. The kitchen is still firing up the same recipes from 1988 used by chefs in the London branch, and you can expect rich, home-style dishes like deep-fried mozzarella and canestrini alla nettuno (that’s puff pastry with lobster, scampi and prawns in a creamy sauce). With a charmingly old-world dining room, the walls are adorned with vintage black-and-white pictures of guests at the London branch in years gone by – but the real treat is the stunning outdoor terrace with its hanging baskets of colourful flora and lush greenery.
Open daily 1pm-midnight. Signature Center, Hateen District, Prince Turki Ibn Abdulaziz Al Awwal Rd, scalini-riyadh.com (011 477 7753).
Yauatcha
Located in Riyadh’s uber-luxury Mode Mall, Yauatcha serves up a menu full of gourmet dim sum (think venison puffs and smoked duck siu mai) amid light and airy interiors lined with cherry blossom trees. There are dozens of dumplings to choose from combining unique flavours and textures that you won’t find on the menu at most Chinese restaurants, so prepare to go all-in. For those who just can’t get enough of those chopsticks, The Yum Cha Brunch on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6pm offers up an unlimited selection of favourites for SAR250.
Open daily noon-11.30pm. Mode Mall, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Rd, Olaya, yauatcha.sa (9200 06555).
