It’s a new week, which means it’s a chance to try some brand-new activities. In a city bursting with cool things to do, you are spoilt for choice. With Riyadh Season kicking off last week, more events than usual will be fighting for your attention. But don’t panic, we are here to help you select the best things to do in Riyadh. Whether it’s a new restaurant or a new film, here’s our list of the 12 most exciting things to do in Riyadh this week.
Cycle through Nadha Park
As the weather gets a little cooler, it means you can enjoy a little more outdoors. On the street opposite the gorgeous Nahda Park is the bike store, SPiN, where you can rent bikes by the hour and go on a wonderful ride through one of the biggest parks in Riyadh. Nahda has gorgeous views and incredible architecture. SPiN was one of the first official bike rental shops in the capital and offers stylish rides, plus group rides every Monday from 8pm-10pm from Diriyah.
From SAR60 per hour. Open daily 6pm-1pm. Alnahdha St, Jarir, instagram.com/spin.sa
(559 731 117).
Dig into some vegan cuisine at Prince Khaled’s new restaurant
Prince Khaled, also known as the Vegan Prince, has teamed up with Matthew Kenny to create a plant-based dining experience. The celebrated chef has used locally sourced Saudi ingredients to create items that include sesame mandarin and cauliflower. Book your table and know that you’re taking part in a one-off experience.
Open daily 6pm-2am. To December 8. Al Murabaa, Center Point, 2239 King Fahd Rd, Al Olaya, Arabia, fourseasons.com/riyadh/dining/restaurants/matthew_kenney (011 211 5000).
Embrace the eccentricity at the recently opened Mad Hatter’s Lounge
How often do you come across a themed lounge that goes all out? At Mad Hatter’s Lounge, you are encouraged to tumble down the rabbit hole and embrace the madness. The menu is full of Alice in Wonderland-inspired creations, both savoury and sweet . The road sliders as well as the chimney cake are both crowd-pleasers. The décor is pretty mad, too.
Open daily 2pm-5pm. Abi Baker Alssidiq Road, instagram.com/madhatter.sa (054 467 4253).
Feel like a kid and sip on Slushy’s
This recently opened branch serves all sorts of Slushy’s, from watermelon and kiwi, to pink lemonade and pina colada. There are different shapes and sizes, so you can personalise your own iced drink. Get slurping at this family-friendly spot.
Open Sat-Thu 11.30am-1am, Fri 1.30pm-1am. 3160 Al Hussain Ibn Ali, At Taawun. (011 293 3888).
Give your day an upgrade at the Rush gaming festival
Calling all gamers. This one’s for you. The kingdom welcomes gamers from all over to battle it out across different games. Games include Tekken 7, Peggy, Overwatch, FIFA 2022, Call of Duty and many more.
From SAR50. To Oct 26. 4pm. Riyadh Front, tickets.riyadhseason.sa
Go on an animal adventure with Riyadh Safari
Riyadh Season is the festival that keeps on giving. At Riyadh Safari, which is part of the festival, the animals on display have been bought from abroad and their natural environments have been recreated in the desert so that you can view a little piece of Africa in Saudi.
From October 26. tickets.riyadhseason.sa
Head over to 90Grinder café for Squid Game-inspired merch
Squid Game is one of the most-talked-about shows in town. Ever since it made its debut on Netflix in Saudi, even venues have cottoned onto the craze. The speciality coffee shop, 90Grinder is giving away freebies like cups, cup sleeves, photos and so much more until the merch runs out.
Giveaway: Open daily 10am-4pm. Café : Open Sun-Thu 7am-midnight, Fri & Sat 4pm-midnight. Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Road, Granada, instagram.com/g90cafe (056 162 8928).
Lift off on a micro flight at Thumamah
While travelling is still up and down to ever-changing restrictions, Thumamah offers you a wonderful alternative. Get a bird’s eye view of Riyadh’s beautiful desert landscape with three different planes of your choice. You can choose between paramotoring, a gyrocopter and a trike parachuting plane. Participants must be aged 12 and above.
From SAR 250. backpack.sa/p/Saudidzen/gi392j (0593 07 47 31).
Pay a visit to The Zone
As we saw goodbye to baking hot summer days and nights, outdoor restaurants are currently all the rage. Enjoy some more rays at one of the best outdoor eating spots, The Zone. Take your pick of cool spots, from grabbing a coffee at Spout café or trying Lebanese cuisine at Em Sherif. The options are endless.
Open daily 6am-2am. At Takhassusi St, Al Mohammadiyyah.
Spend a day (or night) out at Winter Wonderland
It’s official: Riyadh Season is back and Winter Wonderland is opening this week. The much-loved amusement park is bringing back the fun, but is also 40% bigger than last time. There will be more than a hundred games for people of all ages to enjoy. There’ll be cute chalet shops, traditional fairground rides and 51 games exclusive to adults, which include the scary sky loop.
From October 26. riyadhseason.sa
Take a tour in your own sweet time of the city
Riyadh is a city extremely rich in culture and history, but it can be overwhelming (whether you’re a local or a newbie) navigating this whopper city. That’s where this tour comes in, they say seeing is believing so grab your headphones and get yourself face-to-face in the presence of greatness. With these GPS My City, you’ll visit more unusual sights like Riyadh Water Tower alongside iconic ones like Masmak Fort. The tour is three hours along and covers 3.8 miles, so get those comfy trainers out.
Free. gpsmycity.com/tours/riyadh-introduction-walking-tour-6297.html
Watch the new stylish thriller, Last Night in Soho
If you’re after a more tense movie this Halloween, Edgar Wright’s rabbit-hole of a psychological thriller may be for you. The story follows the new-to-London fashion student Eloise. Set in 1960s London, it stars swinging and Matt Smith as a smooth-talking and offers some intense twists and turns. Read our review here.
Out October 28.
