From Agio to Zuma, these are the best new restaurants in the Saudi capital.
Keeping track of all the new restaurants in the Kingdom is a full-time job. But if you love finding the hottest restaurants before anyone else, these are the best new restaurant openings in Riyadh for 2024.
Agio
Riyadh, it’s time to say ciao to a new Italian restaurant. Located in The Canopy, Agio draws inspiration from the Amalfi Coast and is a sophisticated spot to indulge in Italy’s finest food. Created by Modern Food Company, which opened BeefBar, Billionaire, MYAZŪ and Signor Sassi in the capital, Agio is a homegrown concept. The menu from Chef Filippo Pagani spans pasta, pizza, fish and meat dishes and includes a wood fire oven. Plus, a range of classic desserts, from gelato to tiramisu. The smart spot includes white tablecloths, rattan-style chairs, soft sofas and statement chandeliers.
GO: Follow @agiosaudi on Instagram for more information.
Akira Back Riyadh
After seeing success in Dubai, London, Paris, Seoul, Singapore, and Toronto, celebrity chef Akira Back has opened his self-named concept to Riyadh. Located at 1364 in the Diplomatic Quarter, Akira Back Riyadh offers a modern atmosphere, world-class cuisine, impeccable service, and was one of the most anticipated restaurant openings in Riyadh this winter. The menu showcases Chef Akira’s Japanese cuisine imbued with a Korean essence, offering an appealing selection of salads, sushi and larger plates. Plus, signatures such as AB Tacos, Tuna Pizza, and Yellowtail Jalapeño
GO: Visit https://unifiedhospitality.com for reservations and more information.
Asador De Aranda
After wowing diners in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai, the superb Spanish restaurant Asador De Aranda has opened in the capital’s Laysen Valley. The restaurant is famous for its Spanish dishes, which include Patatas Bravasand Caldoso, El Cuarto de Asado roasted lamb, and Las Chuletillas grilled lamb chops. Marvellous for meat eaters, the dishes are slow-cooked in a clay oven, making the meat juicy, flavourful and tender. You won’t want to leave without satisfying your sweet tooth with a selection that includes puff pastry with custard and chantilly cream.
GO: Follow @asadordearanda.riyadh on Instagram for more information.
BeKaBo
The taste of Southwestern America has landed in Riyadh. BeKaBo has opened in Al Wadi and prides itself on offering an authentic American experience that draws inspiration from Southwestern America, which includes the states of Arizona and New Mexico. Plus, areas of California, Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. The design includes murals on the walls depicting golden crops and green countryside. Plus, greenery comes courtesy of the potted plants and cactus. If you’re a fan of big burgers and tasty tacos, you’ll want to check it out.
GO: Follow @bekaboeats on Instagram for more information.
Café Boulud
Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud in Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre is one the year’s best restaurant openings in Riyadh. At Café Boulud Riyadh, guests can indulge in a thoughtfully curated menu that celebrates the distinct flavours of French cuisine. Drawing inspiration from his grandmother’s cooking, highlights include the Lavender-Glazed Duck Breast and Potato-Wrapped Sea Bass. The 130-seat restaurant features elegant materials such as antique mirrored glass, marble, and bronze accents, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere.
GO: Visit www.fourseasons.com for more information.
Café Kitsuné
It’s time to say Konnichiwa to Café Kitsuné in Saudi Arabia. The Japanese brand has expanded from Tokyo to Riyadh, and is now open in Laysen Valley. So, if you’re a coffee connoisseur, here’s what to grab your next cup. The drinks at Café Kitsuné are famous for being full-bodied and flavoursome. It’s all about the smooth and syrupy textures, and the notes ranging from chocolate to grilled hazelnuts. The specialities include an Americano, Cappuccino, Cortado, Espresso, Dirty Chai, Flat White and Mochaccino. The menu also includes a selection of juices, teas, pastries and ice cream. In Japanese, kitsune means fox and refers to the animals in traditional folklore that are believed to have supernatural powers.
GO: Follow @cafekitsune on Instagram for more information.
Che Figata
Che Figata brings a touch of la dolce vita to Saudi Arabia. Located in Fairmont Hotel Riyadh, the Italian restaurant celebrates authentic flavours from the country. So, if you’re after classic sauces, hand-tossed pizzas, and a traditional tiramisu, you need to tuck into Chef Rino Serra’s menu. The signature dishes include the Risotto Ai Porcini and Risotto Gamberi e Zafferano, freshly made pasta with classic sauces, and wood-fired pizzas. In Italian, che figata means how cool.
GO: Visit www.fairmont.com for more information.
Forno Del Buffone
What do you know about Italian food? Well, Forno Del Buffone in Riyadh asks diners to put aside their preconceptions. In Italian, forno translates to oven and buffone translates to fool and funny. The menu will showcase Italian dishes but in creative concoctions. Expect freshly baked pizzas hot from the wood-fired oven and daily-made pasta that tastes like a trip to Italy. Pizzas are prepared with either a Napoletana or Romana base and offer various flavour combinations such as marinara, Margherita, diavola or the tempting truffle me. Pasta choices range from risotto saleeg and nonna’s gnocchi to mama’s lasagna, while main courses cover Italian classics like veal Milanese and pistachio veal. Save room for dessert as the decadent delights include Limoncello pie, mini bonbons, pavlova, tiramisu and calzones stuffed with Nutella.
GO: Follow @fornodelbuffone on Instagram for more information.
Jon and Vinny’s
International restaurants keep coming to Saudi Arabia. The latest brand to have made its way to the Kingdom is Jon and Vinny’s. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Jon and Vinny’s was created by the friends, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. The aim was to create Italian food that is reminiscent of nonnas – aka Italian grandmas. The menu includes pizzas and pasta galore. The pizzas include a Breakfast Pizza 2.0 with potato, egg and red onion, La Woman with local burrata, tomato basil and olive oil, and The Rosy with tomato and olive oil crust. Jon and Vinny’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, but it’s the pizza at soft serve that have earned this casual spot a FACT Dining Award as one of the most popular restaurant openings in Riyadh this year.
GO: Visit www.jonandvinnys.com for more information.
Kimyona
On the outside, Kimyona appears to be a street-side gallery. However, the nondescript door opens up to reveal a secret dining room and one of the best restaurant openings in Riyadh this year. Curious diners will be rewarded with a restaurant inspired by a photographer’s dark room with wet photos hanging from the ceiling. The name Kimyona is derived from the Japanese word for “curious, incomparable, and excellence,” perfectly reflecting the appeal of the seven-section menu, filled with Pan Asian dishes. Highlights include Bang Nang Prawns, Burmese Fermented Tea Leaf Salad, Caramel Chilean Seabass, Mango Jungle Curry, Oxtail Bao and Peking Duck.
GO: Follow @kimyona.sa on Instagram for more information.
Kuuru
Just days after placing at number 50 on MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants list, Kuuru opened in Riyadh. Having set Jeddah alight with its funky fusion cuisine, the restaurant has now made its way to KAFD in the capital. Kuuru brings Nikkei cuisine to the Saudi table with a sharing-style menu designed to bring people together. Combining the flavours of Japan and Peru, the signature fusion dishes include Black Cod Criollo, Chicken Panca Truffle and Tiger Shrimp Anticuchero. The colourful plates are so stylish that you’ll want to snap them before you start – we’re not judging. As the winner of ‘Restaurant of the Year’ at the FACT Dining Awards Riyadh 2024, there is little doubt that Kuuru is one of the best restaurant openings in Riyadh in recent memory.
GO: Visit www.kuururestaurant.com for more information.
MLLE
If the sound of flatbreads, fatteh and freeeh get your mouth watering, then you’ll want to check out the newly opened MLLE in Laysen Valley. The restaurant prides itself on creating twisted Lebanese cuisine while paying homage to traditional cooking techniques. Not only does the restaurant feature hand-painted plates and patterned upholstery, but the dining room includes a dramatic indoor tree with red leaves. Dishes are instilled with a modern twist with signatures such as hummus wagyu, ribs kebbah and the um Ali mille-feuille.
GO: Follow @mlle_eatery on Instagram for more information.
Spontini
If you can’t make it to Italy, then you can make it to Roshn Front. The Italian restaurant, Spontini Pizza, has made its way from Milan to the Saudi Arabian capital. Spontini Pizza is a family-run business that dates back to 1953. The family transformed their original restaurant, Cibi Cotti, to Spontini and sold pizzas by the slice. The recipes for success were created—so much so that the recipe for the Pizza Al Taglio has not changed over the decades. The menu includes classic Italian pizzas: Margherita, Mushrooms and Vegan Mediterranean. Plus, the dishes include Lasagna Bolognese, Lasagne with Pesto, Profiteroles and Tiramisu.
GO: Follow @spontini.saudi on Instagram for more information.
San Marzano
Saudi Arabia, it’s time to grab a slice or three at a new pizza place. San Marzano has opened in Laysen Valley, Riyadh, and offers Italian food, drink and vibes. So, grab a seat by the open kitchen and watch the chefs at work. The name of the restaurant refers to the Italian plum tomato, which is grown specifically in the country near Mount Vesuvius. Take your pick from the long banquette, chic chairs or counter top seats, and watch the chefs in action at the open kitchen. The menu is great for groups, and includes a range of pizzas. Plus, there is a wood fired oven, which creates the traditional-styled pizzas that have earned this spot the title of one of the year’s best restaurant openings in Riyadh.
GO: Follow @sanmarzanosa on Instagram for more information.
Stella Sky Lounge
The St. Regis Riyadh is one of the most sophisticated hotels in Saudi Arabia. Now, the hotel has opened Stella Sky Lounge. Featuring snacks, shisha, and sights, it boasts a classy and contemporary vibe. Dishes span flatbreads, grilled, plancha, raw, salads, sides and desserts, while the mocktail menu draws inspiration from the Zodiac signs. The design is smart and sleek, with neutral tones, traditional carpets and panoramic views of Via Riyadh and the city
GO: Visit www.marriott.com for more information.
SUSHISAMBA Riyadh
With restaurants in Dubai, London and Las Vegas, SUSHISAMBA’s latest opening in KAFD is one of the hottest restaurant openings in Riyadh this year. Drawing influence from the culinary traditions created by the Japanese diaspora in Brazil and Peru during the early 20th century, SUSHISAMBA Riyadh’s menu showcases SUSHISAMBA’s signature dishes, including the Brazilian churrasco, Japanese tempura, Peruvian anticuchos, and a colourful selection of sushi and seviches. Guests are greeted by the iconic orange tree, a hallmark of the brand. Inside, the restaurant boasts two outdoor terraces, a mezzanine featuring an intimate private dining room, a main dining area, and a glass enclosure offering breathtaking views of the Wadi. The open-plan kitchen, dynamic robata grill, and sushi bar allow diners to watch chefs in action.
GO: Visit www.sushisamba.com for reservations and more information.
Thaiya
Thaiya in Riyadh boasts a modern aesthetic with funky touches. On arrival, there is a fun neon sign that reads: “With grace and haste, Thaiya”. The brightly lit sign comes in blue, green and pink, and resembles a plant. Guests can choose from tables for two to long banquettes, which include black tables and brown sofas and chairs. Sit under the old-school chandelier hanging from the ceiling or by the floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer a view out onto Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz Street. Thaiya’s menu includes Thai classics that are superb for sharing. Starters include Chicken with Thai basil, coriander, and peanuts on crispy sushi rice and the Tom Yum Seafood Soup, which comes in a creamier concoction. Dishes also include Beef Tenderloin Pad Thai and Chicken Penang Curry.
GO: Follow @thaiya.sa on Instagram for more information.
Thara
Located on Abi Bakr As Siddiq Branch Road in Riyadh, Thara invites you to try a truly authentic Saudi experience. Upon stepping in, you’ll be immediately transported back to the days of old with beautifully crafted wooden doors, textured walls resembling stone, and pottery that echoes the creativity of the past. Thara’s menu is a celebration of Saudi cuisine. Some favourite items on offer here include the chicken samosa. Other options include makhboos, saleeq, qursan, jareesh, and many more, which promise to take you on a journey of authentic Saudi flavours. Several Saudi desserts are also on the menu if you like to give your meal a sweet ending.
GO: Follow @thara_saudi on Instagram for more information.
White Robata
The Japanese restaurant, White Robata can already be found in Kuwait, and has now expanded to Laysen Valley in Riyadh. White Robata boasts an open kitchen so that you can watch the chefs at work. Great for groups, the dishes are superb for sharing and include Seabream Nigiri, Six Hour Braised Short Rib with crispy shallots, Spicy Tuna Wanton Taco and a Wagyu Burger with camembert. Look out for fun anime figures, which wouldn’t look out of place in Transformers. Plus, there are potted plants, which add a touch of colour.
GO: Visit www.whiterobata.com for more information.
Zuma
Designed by acclaimed architect Noriyoshi Muramatsu, Zuma is one of the year’s most anticipated estaurant openings in Riyadh. The two-story venue, connected by a dramatic spiral staircase, features three distinct kitchens: the main kitchen, a robata grill, and a sushi counter. Guests can explore a dynamic restaurant and upstairs lounge space, complete with a signature bar churning out zero-proof Zuma signatures. The signature dishes include Japanese Mushroom Rice Hotpot, iso Marinated Black Cod, and Spicy Beef Tenderloin. The menu also showcases a Riyadh-exclusive dessert: the Ajwa Date and Miso Toffee Cake, paired with ginger crumble, poached pears, and sweet corn mochi ice cream.
GO: Visit https://zumarestaurant.com for reservations and more information.
911 Pizza
Pizza fans, it’s time to grab a slice or three. 911 Pizza has opened in As Sulaimanyah and specialises in Chicago-style pizzas. While the world might know Chicago deep-dish pizzas with thick crusts, it’s also home to thin crusts. The tavern-style, party-cut pizza boasts a circular shape and a thin, crispy crust. The toppings are spread right to the edge, and the pizza is cut into squares rather than triangles. 911 Pizza’s food menu may be short, but it hits the comfort food spot. The pizza menu includes Buffalo Chicken, Margarita, Pepperoni and Jalapeño, and Truffle Mushroom. Starters include Chicken Wings, which come in twelve pieces.
GO: Follow @911pizzasa on Instagram for more information.
