12 brilliant things to do in Riyadh this weekend: November 3 to 5
Your weekend plans sorted…
Pack your first weekend of November with exciting events, experiential dining, and enthralling exhibitions and festivals. So, gear up and grab your crew because we’ve tracked down 12 brilliant things to do in Riyadh.
Thursday November 3
1. Sweat your stresses away at Al Faisaliah’s brilliant hammams
Inside the Al Faisaliah Hotel, Al Faisaliah Spa is a beautiful place to relax and sweat away any of your daily stresses. Circuit your way around the steam room, hydrotherapy whirlpool, and warm hammam slab, as well as a couple of treatment rooms and a stunning relaxation area. Massages, body treatments, facials – you will leave a totally different person and feel like you’re floating on a cloud (until you get outside and are reminded you’re in Riyadh by all the traffic and cars).
Al Faisaliah Spa, Spa: Daily 7am to 11pm, Treatment: Daily 10am to 9:30pm, Al Faisaliah Hotel, King Fahd Rd, Al Olaya, Riyadh 12212. Tel: 011 273 3000. @alfaisaliahhotel
2. Attend a boutique electronic music festival
View this post on Instagram
Who’s ready to party at Freaks of Araveia in Diriyah? The two-day electronic music festival, organised by Saudi creative agency Disrupt, will feature exhibitions from local artists and designers, pop-up stores selling merchandise, food trucks and many more. With three stages, the festival presents Europe’s rising stars, including Seth Hills, Mesto, Kaaze, and Toby Romeo, performing alongside local artists like Dish Dash, Cosmicat, Sound of Yaz, RDJ, Rash and Igniter.
Freaks of Nature, Nov 3 & 4, 5pm to 3am, Diriyah, Riyadh. Book your tickets here. The ticket price starts from SAR550. @werfreaksofnature
3. Celebrate World Vegan Month at Open restaurant
View this post on Instagram
Look forward to some exciting new dishes to try at Open Restaurant. The culinary team at DoubleTree by Hilton Riyadh has created a special vegan breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu available throughout November to commemorate World Vegan Month. Diners can expect plenty of delicious and nutritious plant-based dishes from around the world.
World Vegan Month, until Nov 30, Open Restaurant, DoubleTree by Hilton Riyadh – Al Muroj Business Gate, 2653 Northern Ring Rd, Al Muruj, Riyadh 12283. Tel: 011 528 5100. @doubletreebyhilton_riyadh
4. Be dazzled by Riyadh’s night-time ‘gallery without walls’
View this post on Instagram
The annual festival of light and art, Noor Riyadh, is back. Taking place across 40 locations in nine different zones, you’ll find over 190 artworks illuminating the capital with immersive site-specific installations, monumental public artworks, ephemeral sculptures, art trails, virtual reality, building projections and drone shows. Definitely an exciting way to navigate Riyadh, both by day and by night, if you were to ask us.
Noor Riyadh Festival 2022, Nov 3 to 19, 6pm to 1am. Get your tickets here. The price for each zone and experience varies and starts from SAR50 per person. @noorriyadhfestival
Friday November 4
5. Freshly baked treats to satisfy your craving
View this post on Instagram
Nothing can come between us and our baguettes, buns, croissants, pastries and all that jazz. One of our favourites for croissants, TF Bakery is popular for a good reason. This cosy space is only open on Fridays and Saturdays, but its menu is ever-changing, so you’ll always get a pleasant surprise every time you step in.
TF Bakery, Al Oumra, 7209, Riyadh 13521, Fri 1pm to 5pm & Sat 11am to 3pm. @tf.bakery
6. Experience the Saudi Games atmosphere at a fan village
View this post on Instagram
The Supreme Organising Committee of Saudi Games 2022 wants fans to enjoy more than the games at the event’s first edition. And the Fan Village, located in Nakheel Mal,l has helped make that happen. There are seven purpose-built zones for fans to check out. Zone 1 will host a beach volleyball for men and women; Zone 2 is the sponsors’ area, providing educational courses and informational videos, while Zone 3 comprises a huge wall-climbing area and a kids’ events area. In addition, zone 4 at the Saudi Games 2022 Fan Village will have four screens showcasing all the tournaments from the different locations and a separate DJ deck, while Zone 5 will host the 3×3 beach volleyball match. Meanwhile, Zone 6 features food and beverage offerings, and Zone 7 is where you’ll catch live performances, entertainment, and interactive sports. So, see you there?
Saudi Games 2022, until Nov 7, Al Nakheel Mall. Book your free tickets here. @saudigames2022
7. Enjoy the activities at Al Suwaidi Park
View this post on Instagram
As part of Riyadh Season 2022, Al Suwaidi Park zone hosts a weekly festival that reflects the cultures of seven diverse countries, including India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Philippines. The celebrations aim to expose visitors to different cultures and heritage through an interactive lens. There are booths selling artisanal products, folklore dances and concerts at the park theatre, an adventure sub-zone offering a variety of games, and a carnival zone for children’s activities, such as cycling and drawing.
Al Suwaidi Park, until Dec 5, daily 4pm to midnight. Book your tickets here. @riyadhseason
8. Experience rooftop dining at KAFD
View this post on Instagram
KAFD is hosting its inaugural ‘Level 23’, a dinner club celebrating food and fine dining by bringing diners together to unwind in a chic and opulent setting. The ‘Level 23’ dinner club is part of a series of events taking place every weekend over the next few months at KAFD. On Friday November 4, Chef Jesse Blake – previously the Executive Chef behind the Michelin Green Star restaurant Lowe in Dubai – takes diners in a night of deliciously inventive dishes focusing on sustainable ingredients and local produce. The KAFD rooftop venue will also be transformed into a specially created garden filled with art installations, plus music by Saudi DJ Taw Taw.
‘Level 23’ KAFD Dinner Club, Nov 4, 7.30pm to 11pm, KAFD Area 4, Level 23. Make your reservations here. SAR1,000 per person. @kafd
Saturday November 5
9. Move your yoga practice into the pool
View this post on Instagram
If you’re a fan of yoga or like water exercises, you might enjoy aqua yoga. This fitness class uses the buoyancy of the water to help ease joint pain. You don’t have to be an expert swimmer to do this practice. You might be surprised by what you can learn and discover when you take this kind of yoga to the waters. So, plunge into the pool and prepare for your aqua yoga class.
Aqua Yoga Class (Ladies only), Every Sat, Mon & Thurs 10.30am to 11.30am, Fri 4.30pm to 5.30pm, We Balance, Othman Bin Affan Road, Al Izdhar, Riyadh 12485. Tel: 058 324 1330. @yogabymashael
10. Join the DQ Catwalk
View this post on Instagram
Wildlife lovers will take to the streets around the world and in Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi-led non-profit Catmosphere Foundation holds its second “Catwalk”. The aim is to raise awareness about the importance of conserving the seven big cats – tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, pumas, cheetahs and snow leopards – with a focus on Arabian leopards. And for folks in Riyadh, you can do your part by participating in the DQ Catwalk on Saturday. In addition to animal-loving adults participating, there will also be a kids’ zone for children to show their support.
DQ Catwalk, Nov 5, 4.30pm to 5.30pm, Al Kindi Plaza, Diplomatic Quarter. Register here. @catmospherenow
11. Prepare for a historic night of wrestling
View this post on Instagram
The fourth edition of WWE Crown Jewel goes ahead this Saturday with Roman Reigns against Logan Paul. Reigns will be determined to halt Paul in the ring, alongside a host of other stars – featuring Bianca Belair, Braun Strowman, and Brock Lesnar, amongst others – gearing up for a big night of enticing match-ups.
WWE Crown Jewel 2022, Nov 5, 4.30pm to midnight, Mrsool Park, Riyadh Season Fan Festival Zone, Riyadh. Book your tickets here. The ticket price starts from SAR50. @riyadhseason
12. Check out the Noor Riyadh art exhibition
View this post on Instagram
Another highlight of the Noor Riyadh festival is its accompanying exhibition entitled “From Spark to Spirit”, co-curated by Neville Wakefield and Gaida AlMogren. The three-month art exhibition at JAX district traces the role light plays in shaping our relationship with a world in which light itself has become a signal of change, exploring themes such as the “Technologies of Light”, “Architectonics of Light”, and “Consciousness of Light”. So, don’t miss the Noor Exhibition, whether you’re an art enthusiast or just looking for somewhere fun to hang out with your loved ones.
“From Spark to Spirit Noor Riyadh Art Exhibition, Nov 3, 2022, to Feb 4, 2023, 11am to 1am, JAX 03, JAX District. @noorriyadhfestival
Images: Provided / Social