18 seriously cool places to have breakfast in Riyadh
We’ve included a few of our recommendations on what to order…
If you’ve just woken up and found yourself standing in the middle of your kitchen with nothing in the cabinets, well, it’s time to head down to one of the many many Riyadh breakfast places that will give early risers a good head start.
Be it traditional breakfasts or the likes of waffles and pancakes you’re after, Riyadh for sure has you covered. Dig in, face first and enjoy.
A.O.K Kitchen
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Few venues are more popular than A.O.K Kitchen when it comes to Riyadh breakfast restaurants. The spot is known for its inclusive menu which features limited gluten, dairy and refined sugar. The spot first opened in June 2022 in Riyadh and its dishes mostly include Mediterranean and Californian flavours.
Must order: Frequent diners at the hotspot will tell you to run and order the Chilly Fried Eggs served with toasted sourdough, grilled pepper and tomato and the super Instagrammable signature A.O.K Pancakes which come with organic maple syrup, coconut chantilly cream, and fresh berries.
A.O.K Kitchen, KAFD, Wadi, Al Aqiq, Sat to Thu 7am to 11pm, Fri 7am to 10.30pm. @aokkitchensaudi
Avindar Old Town
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Avindar Old Town, nestled in ROSHN Front, is a verdant retreat, featuring rich and lush decor, complete with an abundance of plants, eclectic knick-knacks, and sumptuous furnishings. Designed to transport you into a whimsical, forest-like setting, Avindar Old Town wraps you in a fairy-tale ambience. Think an enchanting woodland scene straight out of a storybook. The breakfast menu is a thing of beauty, with something for every appetite and mood.
Must order: The Yemeni breakfast platter – perfect for sharing with a group of friends.
Avindar Old Town, ROSHN Front, Airport Road, Riyadh 13413, daily 8am to 1am.
Brekkie
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Hailing from Bali, Brekkie is the perfect spot for breakfast… even if the craving hits at 4pm. The venue is an all-day brunch and cafe spot that you can tuck into pretty much anytime you’re craving brekkie (see what we did there?) food.
Must order: We’d say that by popular demand, the BAT Benni Croissant has to be an item you need to check out along with the Sticky Toffee French Toast if you’re after more of a sweet treat.
Brekkie, 4212 Abi Bakr As Siddiq Branch Rd, Al Mursilat, Sun to Thu 6am to 5pm, Fri 8am to 11.30am, 12.3opm to 5pm, Sat to Sun 8am to 5pm. @brekkie.sa
Brunch and Cake
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A gorgeous Bohemian-themed spot in Bujairi Terrace, Brunch and Cake has an overall vibe of a laidback and serene space in neutral and pastel shades. The spot serves speciality lattes like beetroot, caramel, and Spanish and so much more.
Must order: Its Next Level Avo Toast is another level altogether.
Brunch and Cake, Al Bujairi, Al Bujairi, Ad Diriyah, daily 9am to 1am. @brunchandcakeksa
Buttermilk
What’s in a name, you may ask? For this place, a lot. If you’re in the mood for pancakes for breakfast, this is where you want to go. If you are looking for more pancakes for your riyal, Buttermilk is your best bet. They serve five scrumptious stacks of buttermilk options: from Nutella and mixed berries and caramelised bananas with crunchy walnuts to the decadent original buttermilk batter and pumpkin-spiced pancakes with caramelised apple. While you may spend the next few hours in a food coma, it’s totally worth it.
Must order: Buttermilk pancakes served with berries, crème Fraiche, and drizzled with maple syrup – this is what heaven on a plate sounds like.
Buttermilk, 2154 Abdulwahid Ibn Ahmad, An Nakheel, Riyadh 12385, daily 7am to midnight. Tel: 055 627 9170. @buttermilk.sa
Chapter
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Hit up this café for your dose of breakfast delights any time of the day. The open and light-filled venue is a lively hub of activity, with swarms of locals keen to get a taste of the renowned breakfast menu with their morning coffee. There will likely be a line, but it moves quickly.
Must order: You should probably get some scones and the honey baked halloumi topped with pistachio. But you should also absolutely get their Cilbir egg (perfectly poached eggs with creamy labneh and chilli clarified butter served with chopped olives and tomato sourdough) because it’s one of the most delicious things you’ll ever put in your mouth.
Chapter, 8113 Ath Thumamah Road, Ar Rabi, Riyadh 13315 4083, daily 7am to 6pm. Tel: 050 231 2406. @chapter.sa
Flour & Firewood
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Be honest, who wouldn’t want an award-winning for at least one meal a week? It’s always important to treat yourself for a job well done and one way (our preferred way) to do that is through food. And at Flour & Firewood, you get just that.
Must order: We don’t want to make the decisions for you, but for a savoury option, you kind of have to get at least one of the Sunny Eggs Platter or the Brioche French Toast for a sweeter one.
Flour & Firewood, 2829 7717 Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Rd, As Sulimaniyah, Mon to Sat 8am to 11pm. @flourandfirewood
F6or Faris
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With touches of industrial décor throughout, F6or Faris is a Saudi interpretation of an American diner. There are several locations throughout the city, one of which is located in Turki Square.
Must order: The menu features a part dedicated to traditional Saudi fare, such as liver, masoub, and three-cheese dips, in addition to a shared Saudi breakfast platter. Additionally, you can choose fusion foods like zaatar-topped French toast.
F6or Faris, 7375 2262 Prince Muhammad Ibn Saad Ibn Abdulaziz Rd, Al Aqiq, daily 5.30am to 11.30pm. @f6or_faris
Hustle N Flow
From organic supercharged smoothie bowls, artisan toast, salads, and wraps to speciality coffees, everything they serve is as photogenic as it is delicious — perfect for both Instagram and health fanatics alike.
Must order: The avocado roll is our all-time fave.
Hustle n’ Flow, An Nafal, Riyadh 13312, Sun to Thurs 9am to 5pm, Fri & Sat 8am to 5pm. @hustlenflowriyadh
Jones the Grocer
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Jones the Grocer is located inside the top foodie and business destination, King Abdullah Financial District, so you already know it’s going to be something to remember. The stunning, airy spot is the perfect place to go on a crisp morning when you feel like treating yourself.
Must order: Jones traditional English breakfast, of course…
Jones the Grocer, KAFD, Al Aqiq, Riyadh 13519, daily 7am to 12.30am. @jonesthegrocersa
NAC
Short for North Audley Canteen, NAC is a chic restaurant in London’s Mayfair, famed for its photogenic interior and French bistro-style menu. Expect fantastically fresh and innovative food all day long, perfect for sharing with friends, plus a selection of perfect patisseries and desserts.
Must order: Some of the menu highlights include ricotta pancakes with Dulce de Leche and banana and honey French toast with raspberries, clotted cream and speculoos.
NAC Riyadh, Laysen Valley, daily 8am to 12.30am. @nacmayfair
Richoux
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Richoux is one of the finest spots in Riyadh to tuck into a delectable breakfast. We love that the restaurant serves complimentary tea and generous starters of fresh pieces of bread and salad.
Must order: The classic smashed avo on toast – done to perfection with a sprinkle of chilli. Don’t forget the waffles, too. They’re crisp and golden brown on the outside, warm and soft within.
Richoux, Abu Baker, Al Yasmin, Riyadh 13316, daily 7am to 9pm. Tel: 050 855 2550. @richouxksa
Sisi’s Eatery
Sisi’s Eatery specialises in Viennese cuisine. The all-day diner prides itself on serving handcrafted cuisine, traditional baked goods, speciality coffees and plenty of cakes. Breakfast will be the focus here. Journey through a menu of both international favourites and Austrian classics with a modern twist.
Must order: Get the halloumi rosti and add a poached egg on top. Yum.
Sisi’s Eatery Riyadh, Al Nakheel Mall, First Floor, Gate 7 (New Extension), daily 9am to midnight. @sisiseatery
Sociale Cafe
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Riyadh has its fair share of amazing cafes, but for us, one that always stands out has to be Sociale Cafe. Home to an amazing vibe, a cosy productive atmosphere, and tonnes of gorgeous artworks, the space also hosts cool Sociale events every month. One amazing thing? The spot serves breakfast and brunch all day long, so whether you head here for breakfast or breakfast for dinner, you can find it.
Must order: The pretty acai bowl and we do love the iced Matcha Spanish latte, too.
Sociale Cafe, Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz, As Sulimaniyah, daily 8am to 12.45am. @sociale.cafe
Urth Caffe
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Urth Caffe is a homely, relaxed cafe with venues all over Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. From all-day breakfasts to freshly baked sweet treats and speciality teas, it’s a chilled-out spot for a casual bite at its many locations, with a contemporary design and an inviting atmosphere.
Must order: The massive Italian omelette or the pillowy Green Tea pancakes.
Urth Caffe, various locations, including Oud Square and Al Faisaliah Mall. @urthcaffesaudi
Zaatar w Zeit
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You can never quite go wrong with traditional breakfasts, they are almost always a hit. And especially that have been around for as long as Zaatar W Zeit.
Must order: Get a manakish, any manakish.
Zaatar W Zeit, 2577 Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz, Al Olaya, daily 24-hours. @zaatarwzeitksa
Zeila
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Known for its delicious food and beautiful décor, Zeila Coffee Lounge is the new breakfast spot you didn’t know you needed to visit. What sets the tone here is the interior. The relaxed vibes, green foliage, and natural light (thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows) work well for the ‘Gram.
Must order: The brioche with halloumi is amazing, or the French toast if you’re craving something sweet.
Zeila Coffee Lounge, Imam Abdullah Ibn Saud Ibn Abdulaziz Rd, Al Hamra, Riyadh 13217, Sat to Thurs 6.30am to 1am & Fri 2pm to 1am. Tel: 056 751 9954. @zeilalounge
Zooba
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This popular Cairo-based street-food chain makes its Saudi debut in the capital city. Zooba focuses on taameya, a patty similar to falafel but made with fava beans instead of chickpeas. It comes in a classic flavour, as well as spicy sauce, eggplant, and pickled lemon ones. All can be stuffed into pita-like Baladi bread.
Must order: Alexandrian ful (fava beans) and the classic taameya, of course. But if you’re staying till lunch, the koshari – a hearty bowl of lentils, chickpeas, macaroni, rice, and crispy fried onions topped with spiced tomato sauce – comes highly recommended.
Zooba, Anas Ibn Malik Rd, Al Malqa, Riyadh 11564, daily 7am to 2am. Tel: 011 415 8885. @zoobasaudi
Images: Instagram