Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia unveils its first-ever guide and top restaurant picks
The prestigious Yellow Guide has officially arrived in the Kingdom, recognising almost 250 restaurants across Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, Abha and Dammam
After the arrival of the Michelin Guide, another major name in the restaurant world has officially planted its flag in Saudi Arabia.
Gault&Millau, the influential French restaurant guide often known as the Yellow Guide, launched its first-ever Saudi Arabia edition, recognising almost 250 restaurants across the Kingdom and shining a spotlight on the chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality professionals helping shape Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving dining scene.
View this post on Instagram
Founded in France in 1969, Gault&Millau is one of the world’s most respected restaurant guides. Unlike Michelin’s star system, Gault&Millau uses a toque rating system, awarding one to five toques based on factors such as the quality of ingredients, creativity, technique and consistency.
Restaurants that make the cut
The inaugural guide features almost 250 restaurants across Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, Abha and Dammam, with establishments grouped into three categories: Remarkable Restaurants (three toques), Chef’s Restaurants (two toques) and Gourmet Restaurants (one toque), alongside a wider selection of recommended venues.
Three toques:
- Julien by Daniel Boulud, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre, Riyadh
- Nomas, Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
- Wadi, Laysen Valley, Riyadh
- Lola Brasserie, Jeddah
Two toques:
- Auria, The Drop Avenue Plaza, Riyadh
- Botanica, Kimpton KAFD, Riyadh
- Carbone, Mansard Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Hotel, Riyadh
- Goji Kitchen, Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
- Gymkhana, VIA Riyadh, Riyadh
- Jackie, The St. Regis Riyadh
- La Petite Maison, Riyadh
- Maiz, Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh
- Maman, Hittin, Riyadh
- MLLe, Laysen Valley, Riyadh
- Santini, Laysen Valley, Riyadh
- Table To, Riyadh
- The Globe, Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh
- The Rubi Room at Hocho, VIA Riyadh, Riyadh
- Yawmiyat Bistronomy, Riyadh
- Zafran Indian Kitchen, Riyadh
- Zuma, KAFD, Riyadh
- Lievito Italian Restaurant, Dammam
- Maharaja by Vineet, Mövenpick Al Khobar, Dammam
- Takara, Dammam
- Alieia, Mövenpick Jeddah Al Nawras, Jeddah
- Shang Palace, Shangri-La Jeddah, Jeddah
- The Lucky Llama, Jeddah
- Tofareya, Jeddah
- Yashi, Jeddah
- Yaza, Jeddah
- Harrat at Banyan Tree, Banyan Tree AlUla, AlUla
- Joontos, Dar Tantora The House Hotel, AlUla
- Maraya Social, AlUla
- Prima Classe, The Chedi Hegra, AlUla
- Saffron, Banyan Tree AlUla, AlUla
- Tama, Our Habitas AlUla, AlUla
One toque:
- 7 Ribs, Riyadh
- A.O.K Kitchen, Zallal, Riyadh
- Abou El Sid, Riyadh
- Agio, Riyadh
- Altopiano, Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh
- Asador de Aranda, LaysenValley, Riyadh
- Aseeb, Riyadh
- Aseeb (Zallal), Riyadh
- attaché, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
- Azzurro, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh
- Baco, Riyadh
- Bagatelle, Laysen Valley, Riyadh
- Beefbar, Riyadh
- Bellbird, Riyadh
- Benoit, KAFD, Riyadh
- Betmoon, Riyadh
- Burj Al Hamam, Riyadh
- Café Boulud, Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre, Riyadh
- Casa Myrra, Novotel Riyadh Sahafa, Riyadh
- Cello, Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh
- Charcoza, Riyadh
- Chotto Matte, KAFD, Riyadh
- Cipriani, Riyadh
- COYA, Riyadh
- Cucina, Riyadh Marriott Hotel, Riyadh
- El Camino, KAFD, Riyadh
- Em Sherif Café, Riyadh
- Fi Glbak, Riyadh
- Hocho, VIA Riyadh, Riyadh
- Hong, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh
- Il Baretto, KAFD, Riyadh
- JW Glass Garden, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh, Riyadh
- Karam Beirut, Riyadh
- Kimyona, Riyadh
- Kuuru, KAFD, Riyadh
- Le Maschou, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
- Madeo, VIA Riyadh, Riyadh
- Mamo Michelangelo, Mandarin Oriental Al-Faisaliah, Riyadh
- Marble, Riyadh
- Mayrig, Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences, Riyadh
- Mirzam, Riyadh
- Momo, Riyadh
- Monopoly, KAFD, Riyadh
- Myazu, Riyadh
- Najd Village, Riyadh
- Namu, Riyadh
- Nozomi, Riyadh
- Oulu, Riyadh
- Ovun Bistro, Riyadh
- Parea Mediterranean Brasserie, Hilton Riyadh Olaya, Riyadh
- Phet Phet, Riyadh
- Robata, Riyadh
- ROKA, Riyadh
- Ruhi, Riyadh
- Seray, Riyadh
- Signor Sassi, Riyadh
- Somewhere, Riyadh
- Stella Sky Lounge, The St. Regis Riyadh, Riyadh
- Sumosan, Laysen Valley, Riyadh
- Taj Mahal, Riyadh
- Takya, Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh
- Taleed By Michael Mina, Bab Samhan, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Diriyah, Riyadh
- Thara, Riyadh
- Tofareya, Riyadh
- Tokyo, Riyadh
- Villa Fayrouz, Riyadh
- Villa Mamas, Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh
- Where East Meets West, Narcissus Hotel Riyadh, Riyadh
- Yawmiyat by Dalal, Riyadh
- Enab Beirut, Dammam
- Fayrouz All Day Dining Restaurant, Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Convention Centre, Dammam
- Lumiere Lounge, Dammam
- Mulia Restaurant, Dammam
- Rodeo Grill, Dammam
- Salvaje, Kempinski Al Othman Hotel Al Khobar, Dammam
- Solace, Dammam
- AlBasali Seafood, Historic Jeddah, Jeddah
- Al Deira, Mövenpick Jeddah City Star, Jeddah
- Al Dente, Jeddah
- Alaaly Seafood Restaurant, Jeddah
- Alkofeia, Jeddah
- Amar, Jeddah
- Aromi, Jeddah Hilton, Jeddah
- Asmak Tharaa, Jeddah
- Ba’eshen Fish Restaurant, Historic Jeddah, Jeddah
- Blanca Pizzeria, Jeddah
- Blue Ocean, Jeddah
- Burj Al Hamam, Jeddah
- Café Lapérouse, Jeddah
- Cocina La Cantina, Jeddah
- Fish Market, Jeddah
- Flame by SKLT, Jeddah
- Hazal | Modern Mediterranean Cuisine, Jeddah
- Il-Gabbiano, Jeddah
- Jinji, Jeddah
- Karamna, Jeddah
- Kumar, Jeddah
- Kuuru, Jeddah
- La Calle, Jeddah
- L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, Jeddah
- Manko, Jeddah
- Maritime by Cedric Vongerichten, The Jeddah EDITION, Jeddah
- Meez The Market, Jeddah
- Mimosa, Cascade at Jeddah Walk, Jeddah
- Myazu, Jeddah
- Nafoura, ParkHyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club & Spa, Jeddah
- Niyyali, Shangri-La Jeddah, Jeddah
- Noto, Cascade at Jeddah Walk, Jeddah
- Rasoi by Vineet, Mövenpick Hotel Tahlia Jeddah, Jeddah
- Ricci San, Jeddah
- Sakura, Jeddah Jedsa Hotel, Jeddah
- Shahnamah, Jeddah
- Siddharta Lounge, Assila, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Jeddah
- Sofia’s Bistro, Hayy Jameel, Jeddah
- Sura Korean Fine Dining, Jeddah
- Toki, Leylaty, Jeddah
- Twina Seafood, Jeddah
- Villa Fayrouz, La Paz Plaza, Jeddah
- Entrecôte Café de Paris, Old Town, AlUla
- La Palma, Shaden Resort AlUla, AlUla
- Somewhere, AlUla
- Tofareya, AlUla
- Aala Bali, Jorry Elite, Abha
- Bab Al Turath, Abha
- Cello Veranda, Abha
- Nahran, Abha Palace Hotel, Abha
- Senso Italian, Jorry Elite, Abha
Selected restaurants:
- Al Falamanki, Riyadh
- Anis, 60 Avenue, Riyadh
- Awani, Riyadh
- Café Lilou, Riyadh
- Café L’Occitane, 1364 Complex, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
- Chez Lily’s, Riyadh
- Encore, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
- Flamingo Room by Tashas, Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh
- HABRA, Riyadh
- JW Steakhouse, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh, Riyadh
- JW Sushi Bar, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh, Riyadh
- Kayzō, Riyadh
- Kitchen on 3, JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh, Riyadh
- KO Asian Kitchen, Riyadh
- Koojeh, Riyadh
- La Brasserie, Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh
- Leila Min Lebnen, Riyadh
- Long Chim, Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh
- Lunch Room, Riyadh
- Lusin, Riyadh
- Morini, Jareed Hotel, Riyadh
- Naya Lebanese Restaurant, voco Riyadh by IHG, Riyadh
- Pantera, Riyadh
- Parker’s, Riyadh
- Porterhouse, Riyadh
- Sadelle’s, Mansard Riyadh, A Radisson Collection Hotel, Riyadh
- San Carlo Cicchetti, Riyadh
- Shababik, Riyadh
- Shogun, Riyadh
- Tameesa, Riyadh
- The Palace, Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace, Riyadh
- The Social Pizzeria, Riyadh
- The Villa Restaurant, Riyadh
- V Italian Restaurant, Century Corner, Riyadh
- Yauatcha, Al Faisaliah Mall, Riyadh
- Bait AlRobyan, Dammam
- Da Vinci Italian Restaurant, Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Convention Centre, Dammam
- Il Vero, Kempinski Al Othman Hotel Al Khobar, Dammam
- Al Nakheel, Jeddah
- Boat Fish, Historic Jeddah, Jeddah
- Hareed, Jeddah
- Il Postino Pizzeria, Jeddah
- Karam Beirut, Jeddah
- Le Relais de l’Entrecôte, Jeddah
- Pampas, Assila, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Jeddah
- Relais de Paris L’Entrecôte, Babylon Plaza, Jeddah
- San Carlo Cicchetti, Jeddah
- Shababik, Jeddah
- Shiraz, Jeddah
- Sultani Persian Restaurant, Jeddah
- The Good Butcher, Mövenpick Jeddah Al Nawras, Jeddah
- Twina Seafood – Corniche Alhamra, Jeddah
- Al Rais Fish, AlUla
- AlUla Heritage Restaurants & Kitchens, AlUla
- AlUla Palace Restaurant & Kitchen, AlUla
- Being, AlJadidah Arts District, AlUla
- Derwas Corner, AlUla
- Fish Face, AlUla
- Osturi, AlUla
- Villa Fayrouz, Old Town, AlUla
- Joy Venue, Abha
- Karamna, Sky Village, Abha
- La Scene, Al Rashid Mall, Abha
- Olive Garden, Sky Village, Abha
Special awards:
The evening also honoured some of the industry’s standout talents with a series of special awards.
- Chef of the Year: Wed Saleh
- Pastry Chef of the Year: Hachem Taleb
- General Manager of the Year: Sara Katanani
- Emerging Chef of the Year: Elia Kaadi
- Young Talent of the Year: Nihal Felemban
A special Inspiring Leadership Award was also presented to Mayada Badr, CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission, in recognition of her contribution to the Kingdom’s culinary sector.
The growing number of restaurant guides, rankings and awards programmes in Saudi Arabia reflects the pace at which the Kingdom’s dining scene is evolving. From internationally recognised guides such as Michelin and Gault&Millau to consumer-voted accolades like the upcoming What’s On Saudi Arabia Awards, the spotlight on local restaurants has never been brighter.
The Gault&Millau Saudi Arabia guide is now available in both print and digital formats, with future editions expected to expand into additional cities across the country.
Visit: Sa.GaultMillau.com | @gaultetmillausa
Images: Supplied
