Saudi National Day food guide 2022: Best restaurants to celebrate in Riyadh
Celebrate Saudi Arabia’s 92nd birthday with fantastic feasts at the best restaurants…
Just right around the corner on Friday September 23 is Saudi Arabia’s 92nd birthday. And like every year, a host of restaurants will celebrate the occasion in style with limited-time menus and unique dishes. From a set menu inspired by the colours of the Saudi Arabia flag to a hearty brunch, take advantage of these attractive dining promotions in the most stylish settings.
Here, we present some of the best places in Riyadh for you to enjoy National Day deals on delicious culinary offerings with your loved ones.
A.O.K Kitchen
A.O.K Kitchen celebrates its first Saudi National Day with two delicious new limited-edition creations: a refreshing pomegranate-based Al Dar drink served with a beautiful gold leaf garnish, and the Baba Sponge cake made up of cardamon, cinnamon, coffee and rose water. Yum.
A.O.K Kitchen, KAFD, Riyadh 13519, daily 7am to 10.30pm. The exclusive menu items are available until Sept 25. Tel: 9200 25304. @aokkitchensaudi
Azure
View this post on Instagram
Spanish restaurant Azure celebrates National Day with a “One Thousand and One Nights” theme, where you can indulge in a set menu of Spanish-Saudi fusion cuisine. On offer is an array of tapas, delicious paella, and the restaurant’s special sangria.
Azure Spanish Restaurant, One Thousand and One Nights, Sept 23, 6.30pm to 10.30pm, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 11433. The set menu is priced at SAR192 per person. Tel: 053 341 1234. @azureriyadh
Café Bateel
View this post on Instagram
To celebrate the special occasion, Café Bateel has created dishes that meld traditional flavours with Mediterranean zest. The exclusive National Day Specials include a nutritious salad, premium desserts, and a selection of beverages specially crafted using only the finest ingredients. So, tuck into the Beef Brochette Salad, featuring perfectly grilled tenderloin skewers served with fresh radicchio, spinach, red peppers, quinoa, and avocado, dressed in a pink peppercorn, pomegranate and zaatar vinaigrette. This year, the restaurant has also curated an assortment of decadent sweets that will satisfy even the most discerning dessert connoisseurs. Guests can indulge in the L’or Noir Vanilla Gateaux, a handcrafted cake with a fine sea salt vanilla base layered with Madagascar vanilla biscuit and topped with creamy vanilla ganache, as well as the delicate Pistachio & Cherry Panna Cotta. Choice of beverages includes the Coco Lavender Latté, an aromatic and flavourful latté made with coconut milk, and the refreshing Sparkling Cucumber, a mix of soda, lemon, fresh cucumber, thyme, and mint.
Café Bateel’s National Day Specials, Available throughout September. Various locations. @cafe.bateel
Elements
Pop into Elements restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh and treat your family and friends to traditional dining experiences specially curated by the culinary team. From an all-day Friday brunch featuring the Kingdom’s culinary classics to themed dinners with favourites such as jareesh, lamb kubeba, vegetable goursan, menazalah, dates kunafa and kleija, enjoy a variety of creations brimming with flavours of well-loved Saudi dishes that will satisfy every palate.
Elements, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre, 2239 King Fahd Rd, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12264, Friday Brunch, Sept 23, 1pm to midnight & Themed Dinners Sept 21, 22 & 24, 7pm to midnight. For bookings, please call 011 211 5212. @fsriyadh
Il Baretto
Il Baretto introduces two limited-edition menu items – a dessert and a drink – exclusively available until September 25. Lime tarte, vanilla cremoso, dates compote, apricot sorbet and salty crystal sugar come together to create an artistic dessert, symbolising Saudi crafts patterns. Meanwhile, the complex, richly spiced drink brings together the traditional Ma’mool biscuit, made by a shrub of apricot jam and rosemary, mixed with dates and zero-proof gin, topped with homemade fig tartine and jam date puree.
Il Baretto, KAFD, Riyadh 13521, Sun to Wed 12.30pm to 4pm & 7pm to midnight, Thurs to Sat 1pm to 4.30pm & 7pm to midnight. The exclusive menu items are available until Sept 25. @ilbarettosa
Joud Lounge
In the mood for sweets all National Holiday long? Joud Lounge at Al Faisaliah Hotel welcomes you to their National Day Green Chocolate Experience featuring – yes, and you’d have guessed it right – green chocolates. But that’s not all. You can also try the Saudi afternoon tea, which comes with tiers of sweet and savoury food influenced by local flavours.
Joud Lounge, Al Faisaliah Hotel, Green Chocolate Experience, Fri Sept 23, 11am to 4pm & Saudi Afternoon Tea, Fri Sept 23, 2pm to 6pm, SAR178 per person. @alfaisaliahhotel
La Brasserie
View this post on Instagram
Celebrate the flavours of Saudi Arabia this National Day with La Brasserie’s local cuisine buffet spread. Available for both brunch and dinner, indulge in the kitchen’s masterful adaptation of all our well-loved favourites.
La Brasserie, Al Faisaliah Hotel, Saudi National Day Brunch, Fri Sept 23, 12.30pm to 4.30pm, SAR397 for adults, SAR205 for children ages six to 12 years, and free for six years and below & Special Saudi Dinner (Buffet), Fri Sept 23, 7pm to midnight (live music starts from 8pm), SAR275 for adults, SAR150 for children and free for six years and below. @alfaisaliahhotel
Nofa Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Resort
View this post on Instagram
Manage to book a luxe stay at Nofa Riyadh over the long weekend? This gorgeous safari resort just outside of Riyadh goes wild celebrating the country’s birthday this year, offering everything from culinary specials to staycations and fun activities. Feast on the spread of international buffet with a large section dedicated to Saudi cuisine, or choose a more intimate setting at the Butcher’s Den speciality meat restaurant. For sushi lovers, head to Aji Lounge for an extensive selection of Japanese favourites. Meanwhile, there will be live music performances while your little ones run off to the entertainment centre and participate in various activities such as mini golf, pedal boat, jumping castle and bowling.
Nofa Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Resort, Exit 857, Riyadh Makkah Highway. Tel: 011 521 2300 / 058 289 5714. The National Day programme on Fri Sept 23 starts from 1pm to midnight. @radissoncollectionriyadh
ROKA
Contemporary robatayaki restaurant, Roka Riyadh, celebrates Saudi’s 92nd National Day with a special dessert and mocktail. The mouth-watering matcha and coconut mochi, as well as the refreshing Okoku drink, have been created in the colours of the Saudi Arabian flag and will be available until September 25.
ROKA Riyadh, 5140 Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12243, Sun to Wed 1pm to 4.30pm & 6.30pm to midnight, Thurs to Sat 1pm to 12.30am. The Saudi National Day specials are available until Sept 25. @rokariyadhofficial
Seven Restaurant
Seven Restaurant in Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Northern Ring Road Hotel offers a dinner buffet that includes Arabic cuisine and dishes from around the world – from endless salad options and lip-smacking main courses to decadent desserts. So, book a table, take in the sweeping views of the Riyadh city skyline from the restaurant’s terrace, and enjoy a sumptuous feast. Running only on September 23 and 24, the dinner buffet is priced at SAR192 per person.
Dinner Buffet, Seven Restaurant, Sept 23 & 24, SAR192 per person, Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Northern Ring Road, Al Murooj District, Olaya Street, Riyadh 11491. Tel: 011 521 0000. @courtyardriyadhnorthernring
The Globe
View this post on Instagram
Known as one of Riyadh’s Instagrammable backdrops, set against the glorious unobstructed panorama of the city, The Globe is ringing in Saudi’s birthday in style with loads of delights and live music to party the night away. For one night only on September 23, guests can saunter up to the restaurant to tuck into their Saudi fusion five-course set menu. But if you love a good afternoon tea, The Globe will also be serving up a special Saudi High Tea on September 23 and 24 with free-flow tea. So, whether you savour the bites or groove to the music more that evening, it’s a guaranteed vibe at The Globe this National Day.
Special Saudi High Tea, 3pm to 6pm, Fri 2Sept 23 (with live music from 8pm to 11pm) & Sat Sept 24. SAR225 for adults, SAR115 for children aged four to 12 years & free for four years and below. Saudi Fusion Five-Course Set Menu, Fri Sept 23, 8pm to midnight (last order at 11.30pm). The set menu starts from SAR316 per person. Live music starts from 8pm to 11pm. @alfaisaliahhotel
Wister
View this post on Instagram
To satisfy those burger cravings with your loved ones, go for Wister’s National Day bundle, a hearty meal which feeds up to four pax. For just SAR92, you’ll get four chicken burgers and six pieces of crispy chicken strips alongside its finger-licking cheddar sauce.
Wister, two locations, including Abi Bakr As Siddiq Rd, An Nada, Riyadh 13317, daily 1pm to 2am. The National Day offer is valid until Sept 26 and is not applicable for delivery. @wister_sa
Yauatcha
View this post on Instagram
Serving up quality dim sum, fans of Chinese cuisine will definitely not want to miss out on Yauatcha’s National Day set menu, with dishes styled up to pay homage to the colours of the Saudi Arabia flag. From now till September 30, the SAR250-per-person menu features an asparagus lobster soup, a dim sum platter comprising har gao, mushroom dumpling and chicken curry puff, your choice of a main dish (crispy seabass, Szechuan peppercorn chicken, or sauteed broccoli with wild mushroom) served with edamame fried rice, as well as a vanilla and pistachio spiced cake for dessert. Plus, if you dine on September 23, resident DJ Havar will be there to spin some cool beats – a great way to celebrate Saudi National Day.
Yauatcha, Mode Mall, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Rd, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12212, daily noon to midnight. @yauatchariyadh
56th Avenue Diner
View this post on Instagram
For only SAR92+, you’ll get a special National Day burger, complemented with fries, a green milkshake and kunafa to round off your meal. The offer is valid only from September 22 to 24.
56th Avenue Diner, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 11433, Sun to Thurs 6.30am to 11pm, Fri & Sat 6.30am to 11.30pm. Tel: 053 341 1234. @56thavenuediner
Images: Provided / Instagram