10 exciting new restaurants opening in Riyadh in 2022
Those familiar with Dubai’s fine dining scene will recognise a lot of these names…
Riyadh’s dining scene just keeps getting better. This year alone, we’ve welcomed arrivals such as renowned Peruvian hotspot, Coya; Dubai-born Indian restaurant Mohalla; and a new bao concept, BB’s, which also hails from Dubai.
But there’s plenty more to come. Read on to discover the new restaurants still to open in Riyadh in 2022.
Flamingo Room by tashas
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Combining elegance and sophistication with a playful personality, evident by way of bronze meerkats and monkeys throughout, Flamingo Room by tashas is a testament to Africa’s refined side. Founded by restauranteur Natasha Sideris, the Dubai restaurant is one of the most glamorous restaurants in the city – found at the lagoon side in Jumeirah Al Naseem. In Saudi Arabia, the same chic interiors can be expected at the Bujairi Terrace restaurant.
flamingoroombytashas.com
Gaia
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Already a firm favourite on Dubai’s fine dining circuit, Gaia’s global expansion plans include restaurants in Doha, London and Riyadh in 2022. The upscale Greek restaurant with its pretty interiors, coastal Aegean vibes and delicious menu masterminded by chef Izu Ani is still yet to announce exactly where in the Saudi capital it will open, so stay tuned.
gaia-restaurants.com
Hakkasan
Bujairi Terrace is a name culinary connoisseurs in Saudi Arabia will soon be familiar with – the dining hub that forms part of the Diriyah masterplan will see a collection of 18 restaurants open early in 2022. Among the fine-dining names to know about at the stunning 15,000 square-metre project in the historic city is Hakkasan, the modern Chinese restaurant that already has 3 Middle East locations: in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
hakkasan.com
La Cantine du Faubourg
Rikas Hospitality – the group behind La Cantine, Lana Lusa, Twiggy, Mimi Kakushi and several other award-winning restaurants in Dubai – will bring six of their acclaimed dining experiences to Saudi Arabia in 2022. Among them, their signature restaurant La Cantine du Faubourg, described as a Parisian rendezvous of art, music and food, and the embodiment of the chic French lifestyle, which has been entertaining diners in Dubai since 2015.
lacantine.ae
La Serre
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In Dubai, La Serre is a popular French restaurant and Boulangerie with many What’s On awards accolades. Now the brand is headed for the Kingdom and is set to open this winter. The 500-seater restaurant will feature indoor and outdoor terrace seating, incorporating its popular Boulangerie, viennoiserie and pastries, as well as its finer bistro elements.
@laserredubai
Mimi Kakushi
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Another Rikas Hospitality concept making its way from Dubai to Saudi Arabia is Mimi Kakushi, an upscale Japanese restaurant that made an instant impact on the Dubai dining scene when it opened earlier this year in the Four Seasons Restaurant Village. Transporting guests to the glamorous world of 1920s Osaka, Mimi Kakushi’s glamorous interiors offer an east-meets-west aesthetic, with bold artwork and cosy corners.
mimikakushi.ae
Sushisamba
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An important landmark of Riyadh, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) is one of the Kingdom’s most ambitious and distinguished projects. Among the retail, hotel and restaurant plans for the development are a slew of new restaurants, including global concept, SushiSamba. With outlets already in Miami, Las Vegas, London, Amsterdam and its most recent opening in Dubai, the restaurant blends Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian cuisines. Dishes on the menus in other cities include wagyu gyoza, samba salad, vegetable tempura, crispy lobster taquitos, tiradito, robata grills, and of course, plenty of sushi.
@sushisamba
Tatel
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First established in Madrid but with locations now in Ibiza and Beverly Hills, Tatel is the brainchild of Tennis ace Rafael Nadal and a duo of co-founders, and is self-described as embodying the “welcoming and playful spirit that characterises Spanish restaurants, with a carefully selected gastronomic offer based on traditional products and recipes. One of a number of upscale restaurants debuting early next year at Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace, a glance at Tatel Madrid’s menu showcases an array of starters such as Tatel’s truffle Spanish omelette, grilled octopus and prawn and jalapeno ceviche, plus mains like red tuna loin and dry-aged steak.
tatelrestaurants.com
Zuma Riyadh
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Following on from the arrival of sister restaurant Roka in 2021, Zuma will open a permanent restaurant in Riyadh in 2022. Joining Rainer Becker’s Zuma empire of 17 restaurants around the globe, Zuma Riyadh’s as of yet undisclosed location will serve up signature dishes such as marinated black cod, sliced yellowtail and robata skewers.
zumarestaurant.com
Images: Instagram