10 amazing things to do in Riyadh this weekend: Aug 11 to 13
Happy weekend…
Looking for ways to spend the weekend in Riyadh? You’re in the right place. If you’re planning a Friday Brunch experience, why not check out La Brasserie at Al Faisaliah Hotel? Alternatively, there are fitness classes, concerts, and the latest movie to catch in the cinema.
Here are ten amazing things to do in Riyadh this weekend.
Thursday August 11
1. Sweat it out while having fun
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If you’re looking for a fun workout that gets you excited and pumped up, Zumba is your answer. Shake all your worries off at Saray Spa by losing yourself in the music while getting your body in shape at the ultimate dance fitness party.
Zumba Indoor Fitness Class, Aug 11, 18 & 25, 7.30pm, Saray Spa, Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Hotel, Abdullah Al Sahmi Street, Diplomatic Quarter. Tel: 055 085 9933. @sarayspariyadh
2. Attend the Gamers8 concert
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Topping the bill in week five of the Gamers8 concert are local DJ Cosmicat, Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram and Marshmello. The night also features top performances from Egyptian rapper Marwan Pablo.
Gamers8, NXT LVL Arena, Boulevard Riyadh City, 8pm to 1am. Book your tickets here. The price starts from SAR200. @gamers8_en
3. Kickstart your summer of wellness in AlUla
How does jumping on a plane and flying into AlUla for the weekend sound to you? The good news is that Habitas AlUla invites guests to embrace the summer heat with their new three-day wellness programmes. The eco-hotel collaborates with renowned health practitioners to develop packages including power yoga and HIIT fitness training, sunrise trail hikes and sound healing meditation under the stars. Taking place weekly from Thursday to Sunday, the programmes also allow time to visit local sites, such as Hegra, the first Unesco world heritage site in Saudi Arabia, and the Old Town. Alternatively, guests can stay put and relax at the resort’s infinity pool. The Summer Wellness Workshop includes a three-night villa stay at Habitas AlUla, taxes, daily meals at Tama restaurant, an exclusive three-day wellness program and a sunrise-guided canyon hike experience.
Habitas AlUla Summer Wellness Workshop, every Thurs to Sun, until Sept 30. Book your stay here. SAR 3,600 per person or SAR4,500 per couple. @habitasalula
4. Savour the finest culinary and musical worlds at NOFA
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Gather with your loved ones and enjoy dinner at Nofa Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Resort. Every weekend in August, the stunning property adds to its atmosphere with live music performances. Tuck into an international spread featuring grilled meats, seafood, and decadent desserts. Even more brilliant is that you don’t have to be a hotel guest to attend the live music nights.
Live Music Performance, every Thurs & Fri throughout the month of August, 8pm to midnight, Nofa Resort Riyadh, a Radisson Collection Hotel, Riyadh Makkah Highway, Exit 857, Riyadh, 66223. There’s a minimum charge of SAR250 per person. Tel: 011 521 2300 / 058 289 5714. @radissoncollectionriyadh
Friday August 12
5. Enjoy Friday brunch at La Brasserie
A leisurely brunch is one of the joys of the weekend. At La Brasserie, guests are treated to a varied menu ranging from scrumptious quick bites for appetisers to filling main courses and desserts. There’s an impressive array of live cooking stations on offer, too.
La Brasserie, Friday Brunch, 12.30pm to 4.30pm, Al Faisaliah Hotel, King Fahd Rd, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12212. SAR397 per person. Tel: 011 273 2005. @labrasserieruh
6. Strawberry picking at a local farm
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What’s better than eating red, juicy strawberries? Picking them yourself. At Hanging Strawberry Gardens, you get to hand-select what you bring home while making memories and enjoying a one-of-a-kind experience.
Hanging Strawberry Gardens, Al Amariah, Riyadh 13726, Fri 7am to 10.30am & 1.30pm to sunset. SAR30 for each box of strawberries. Tel: 053 791 3881. @hanging_strawberry_gardens
7. Catch Idris Elba’s latest film
Idris Elba stars in “Beast”, a pulse-pounding new thriller about a father and his two teenage daughters who find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the savannah has but one apex predator. Elba plays Dr Nate Daniels, a recently widowed husband. He returns to South Africa, where he first met his wife, on a long-planned trip with their daughters to a game reserve managed by Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley), an old family friend and wildlife biologist. But what begins as a journey of healing jolts into a fearsome fight for survival when a lion, a survivor of blood-thirsty poachers who now sees all humans as the enemy, begins stalking them.
Beast, Drama/ Adventure/ Horror, Rating PG15, 1h 33min. Book your tickets here.
Saturday August 13
8. Experience the magic of therapeutic yoga
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Want to improve your posture and have a clear mind, energy, and vitality? This therapeutic yoga class is a fusion of the most effective yoga postures, corrective exercises, mobility and flexibility drills, and myofascial release techniques to leave you feeling more open and comfortable in your own body and mind.
Therapeutic Yoga Classes, every Sat 11.30am to 12.45pm, Enchanted Art Centre, Al-Thumamah Valley St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12214. Book your session here. SAR125 per class. Ladies only. @light_and_wellness
9. Have a bouncing good time at GO trampoline park
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Looking for kid-friendly activities this weekend? GO family entertainment centre has reopened at Sahara Mall. This indoor playground boasts Goal! indoor football field, bowling club, arcade games, and a soft play area. If you’ve got energetic kids, let them leap and soar across the various trampoline zones.
GO Non-Stop Fun, Sahara Mall, King Abdulaziz Road and King Abdallah Road Intersection, Riyadh 12272, Sat to Wed 3pm to 11pm, Thurs & Fri 3pm to midnight. Tel: 055 123 1518. @go4fun.ksa
10. Grab a table at the newest Japanese restaurant in town
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The beautiful Sumosan, with its sleek interior and buzzy dining space, is the latest addition to Riyadh’s Japanese dining scene. The menu is centred around high-quality sushi, sashimi, and an innovative Japanese cuisine menu. So come hungry – the thinly sliced sashimi served with a touch of citrus dressing, tuna and truffle rolls, and salmon rice pizza are some of the must-order dishes.
Sumosan Riyadh, Laysen Valley, Umm Al Hamam Al Gharbi, Building 25, Riyadh 12329, Mon to Sat 6.30pm to 12.30am. Tel: 9200 21225. @sumosan.riyadh
Images: Instagram / Provided