If you've been following me on Instagram you've seen that during high Summer, to help me fight off the boredom, isolation and cabin fever, I've been going out of my way to make plans with people spending the hottest months in Riyadh. Below some of the nicest places I'm excited to return to this Autumn.
Sadelle's
This high-end opulent lunch spot reminds me of fancy tea salons with its large windows, marble tabletops, gorgeous pastel decor and sophisticated vibe. They have a refined, mouth watering all day dining menu with classic French pastries and well curated New York staples – probably the best lox bagels in town! The presentation of the house smoked salmon platter is gorgeous. The only thing letting me down was the chocolate babka which was on the dry side and didn't nearly have enough filling. This is one of my favourite comfort cakes, a real ashkenazi treat, so I may be overly critical, but I was a little deflated after trying Sadelle's version.
Fortunately the carrot cake made up for the disappointment with the babka. It was moist and spicy but not too dense and topped with a sufficiently creamy cheese frosting. Overall we left satisfied and happy.
Lunch Room
I went back to Lunch Room two days in a row and let me tell you that getting a reservation for a weekend lunch was not easy! The rustic menu offers fresh flatbread, eggs made a hundred different ways and sustainable coffee.
The first time, my mind was blown by their delicious, fluffy and sweet homemade butter and honey flatbread that I still dream about to this day and despite a disappointing sandwich, I will be back for more of this warm and comforting bread.
As for the signature avocado on toast, I only managed a single bite, because I simply couldn't get my knife (or teeth) through the bread. The sourdough is cut very thick and toasted to the end of its life until it becomes so dry and crunchy that it's no longer enjoyable or tasty. At this pricepoint it's a real letdown.
I'm optimistic about this place though, the menu is extensive and the flatbreads and eggs we tried were delicious, so I will be back for more with the family if we manage to get a table during the weekend rush.
Brunch and Cake
First time I visited was when I took my mom here for Mother's Day after a stroll at Bujairi Terrace. I've been back twice since and the service is always outstanding. The decor is very girly with vibrant colours and terrazzo accents and the food is beautifully presented. The avo toast is probably one of the most beautiful ones I've ever seen, but flavour-wise it was the eggs benedict with salmon (and an order of extra avocado on the side) that won me over.
My mom was in awe of the freshly baked chocolate cake that goes perfectly with a cup of lavishly creamy latte. The menu also caters to kids, the fruit salad is so vibrant, colourful and fresh that even a picky toddler wouldn't resist. My kids also love smoothies and Brunch and Cake does them really well (with no added sugar).
Brekkie
It's getting repetitive at this point but honestly all the places in Riyadh seem to be very instagrammable. Brekkie still stands out with its fun but not over the top tiki vibe. My metrics for what's considered OTT have seriously changed since moving to Saudi Arabia though, so you'll have to judge for yourself. The decor is all about natural colours, rattan and green. They have cute canopies over the tables to make you feel like you're eating eggs bennie on vacation. The food is decent, I had a solid avocado on toast followed by a super delicious decaf cappuccino. I missed a biscotti or similar to balance the heavy creaminess.
Flour & Firewood
I finally made it to Flour & Firewood. The hype around this all day eatery and bakery is real and well deserved. I barely had time to sit down before they put a bread basket with some butter and jam in front of me to munch on while I browse the menu. The all day breakfast and lunch menus are packed with mediterranean inspired sandwiches, flatbreads, salads, pizzas and more, and everything looks mouth watering. I opted for an avocado caprice sourdough sandwich and added a fried egg on the side. It was incredibly satisfying with a perfect crunch to the bread. It also came with a well seasoned side salad. I only managed to finish half though, because portion sizes are huge. Luckily the staff were very helpful in packing up the rest. The only drawback is that there is no decaf coffee to follow up such a lavish breakfast.