Riyadh has quietly become one of the Middle East’s most exciting brunch cities. The Saudi capital’s dining scene has exploded since the Kingdom opened to tourism, and weekend brunch — served on Fridays and Saturdays — is now a fixture of social life for residents and visitors alike. Whether you want a lavish five-star hotel buffet, a trendy Japanese set menu, or a laid-back café serving fluffy pancakes and specialty coffee, this guide covers the best brunch spots across the city. If you are planning a wider Riyadh travel itinerary, building a great brunch into your weekend is one of the easiest ways to experience the capital’s new energy first-hand.

How Brunch Works in Riyadh

The Saudi weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, so Riyadh’s brunch culture mirrors that calendar. Most hotel brunches run on Fridays from around 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm, while independent restaurants and cafés tend to offer brunch on Saturdays or both days. A handful of trendy spots serve all-day brunch seven days a week.

Saudi Arabia does not serve alcohol, so there are no “bottomless” drink packages in the traditional sense. Instead, expect free-flowing fresh juices, mocktails, specialty coffees, and Saudi Arabic coffee (qahwa) with dates. Many hotel brunches include unlimited soft drinks and premium teas as part of the set price.

Tip: Brunch is a social event in Riyadh. Smart casual dress is expected at hotel restaurants — think clean trainers, no shorts, and a collared shirt for men. Women can dress as they wish indoors; abayas are no longer required in restaurants.

Reservations are essential for hotel brunches and strongly recommended for popular cafés on weekends. Most restaurants accept bookings through their own websites, OpenTable, or by calling directly. Prices listed below are in Saudi Riyals (SAR); USD 1 equals approximately SAR 3.75.

Best Hotel Brunches in Riyadh

Riyadh’s five-star hotels host the city’s most elaborate brunch spreads. These are grand, multi-station affairs — live cooking, carving stations, sushi bars, and towering dessert displays — designed for a leisurely two-to-four-hour experience. If you are visiting during Riyadh Season, pairing a hotel brunch with an evening event makes for a perfect day.

Al Orjouan — The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh

The Ritz-Carlton’s flagship restaurant hosts Riyadh’s most famous Friday brunch, running from 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm. The Chef’s Brunch is an all-you-can-eat international buffet featuring live cooking stations for Arabic grills, Japanese sushi, Italian pasta, Indian curries, and a seafood bar with fresh oysters, prawns, and crab. The dessert section alone — with its chocolate fountain, French pastries, and Arabic sweets — justifies the trip. The restaurant’s opulent gold-and-marble interior seats around 300 guests, but it fills up fast; booking at least three days ahead is wise.

Price: From SAR 350 per person | When: Fridays, 12:30 pm–5:00 pm | Location: Al Hada District, Makkah Road

La Brasserie — Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah

La Brasserie inside the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah hotel (formerly Rosewood) is one of Riyadh’s top-tier international buffets. The Friday brunch runs from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and features interactive cooking stations with Asian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern dishes, plus a dedicated kids’ section. The atmosphere is upscale but relaxed, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the hotel’s gardens. La Brasserie is also excellent for weekday breakfast if you are staying in the Al Olaya financial district.

Price: SAR 397 per adult, SAR 205 per child | When: Fridays, 1:00 pm–5:00 pm | Location: King Fahd Road, Al Olaya

The 365 — Fairmont Riyadh

Named after its price tag, The 365 at the Fairmont Riyadh launched a revamped brunch buffet in early 2025 and it has quickly become one of the city’s go-to Friday options. The spread covers international and Arabic cuisines across multiple live stations, and the terrace seating is especially appealing during Riyadh’s cooler months from October through March. Families appreciate the dedicated children’s area with its own menu and entertainment.

Price: SAR 365 per adult, SAR 180 per child | When: Fridays, 12:30 pm–5:00 pm | Location: King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)

Elements — Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh

The Four Seasons on Kingdom Centre Tower’s doorstep houses Elements, a polished buffet restaurant with an open-kitchen concept. While Elements serves a daily international buffet, the hotel’s standout brunch experience is at Café Boulud, the Daniel Boulud outpost on the same property, which runs a Mediterranean-French set-menu brunch on Fridays from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm at SAR 380 per person. Expect dishes like duck confit hash, lobster omelette, and Boulud’s signature tarte flambée.

Price: SAR 380 per person (Café Boulud Friday brunch) | When: Fridays, 12:30 pm–4:00 pm | Location: Al Olaya, Kingdom Centre

Goji — Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter

For a more affordable hotel brunch without sacrificing quality, Goji at the Marriott Diplomatic Quarter offers all-you-can-eat stations covering grills, salads, pasta, pizza, and curries. The atmosphere is casual by five-star standards, and the Diplomatic Quarter location makes it a convenient choice if you are staying near embassies and government offices. It is also one of the few hotel restaurants with consistently good vegetarian options at the buffet.

Price: From SAR 200 per person | When: Fridays and Saturdays | Location: Diplomatic Quarter

Best Japanese and Asian Brunches

Japanese brunch has become a defining feature of Riyadh’s dining scene. Several globally acclaimed Japanese restaurants have opened Saudi outposts, and their weekend brunch menus are among the most sought-after reservations in the city.

Zuma

Crowned Restaurant of the Year at the FACT Dining Awards Riyadh 2025, Zuma offers a Japanese set-menu brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The format is generous: unlimited signature starters — including miso-marinated black cod, spicy beef tenderloin, and California rolls — followed by a choice of main course such as marinated lamb chops or robata-grilled sea bass. The sleek, dark-wood interior channels Zuma’s London and Dubai flagship energy, and the service is impeccable.

Price: SAR 295 per person | When: Saturdays–Sundays, 1:00 pm–4:00 pm | Location: Riyadh Front, Northern Ring Road

ROKA

Sister brand to Zuma, ROKA brings a bolder, more theatrical brunch every Saturday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at its Riyadh Midtown location. The Japanese robata-grill format means dishes arrive sharing-style: sushi platters, sashimi, yakisoba noodles, and signature robata items cooked over the central charcoal grill. Add SAR 60 for premium upgrades including wagyu and yellowtail sashimi. The atmosphere is livelier than Zuma — think weekend party energy rather than refined calm.

Price: SAR 195 (plus optional SAR 60 upgrade) | When: Saturdays, 1:00 pm–5:00 pm | Location: Riyadh Midtown

Yauatcha

For dim sum lovers, Yauatcha offers a Chinese brunch on Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The Michelin-starred Hong Kong concept serves steamed har gow, siu mai, char siu bao, and crispy duck rolls alongside wok-fried mains and delicate French-Asian patisserie. The extended six-hour window makes it one of the most flexible brunch options in the city.

Price: SAR 270 per person | When: Fridays–Saturdays, 12:00 pm–6:00 pm

Best European and Mediterranean Brunches

Angelina Paris — Bujairi Terrace, Diriyah

Angelina’s Riyadh outpost occupies a prime spot on Bujairi Terrace overlooking the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif ruins in Diriyah. The French café is famous for its signature chocolat chaud à l’ancienne — a thick, rich hot chocolate — and the brunch menu features chocolate pancakes, eggs Benedict, croque madame, and a rotating selection of Viennoiserie fresh from the pastry kitchen. Sitting on the terrace with views of Diriyah’s mud-brick palaces while sipping Angelina’s legendary hot chocolate is one of Riyadh’s most memorable brunch experiences.

Price: SAR 195 per person | When: Daily, 10:00 am–2:00 pm | Location: Bujairi Terrace, Diriyah

Café Boulud — Four Seasons Riyadh

Daniel Boulud’s outpost at the Four Seasons merits a second mention for anyone who prefers a structured à la carte brunch over a buffet. The Friday brunch is a three-course Mediterranean-French affair with dishes rotating seasonally — past menus have featured burrata with heirloom tomatoes, seared salmon with fennel purée, and Boulud’s signature beef short-rib burger. The setting is intimate and refined, perfect for a long lunch without the chaos of a buffet line.

Ladurée

The Parisian macaron house operates several locations across Riyadh and serves a daily brunch from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. At SAR 225 per person, you get a selection of French pastries, savoury crêpes, eggs Florentine, and — naturally — a box of Ladurée’s pastel-hued macarons. The décor is predictably ornate in pink and gold, making it a popular choice for group celebrations and birthdays.

Price: SAR 225 per person | When: Daily, 10:00 am–3:00 pm

Best Middle Eastern and Turkish Brunches

Rüya

Rüya delivers one of Riyadh’s most generous Turkish brunches every Saturday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. For SAR 200, the spread includes endless baskets of fresh bread — simit, pide, and lavash — alongside Turkish cheeses, olives, honeycomb, menemen (Turkish-style scrambled eggs), sucuklu yumurta (eggs with spiced sausage), and börek. The pacing is relaxed, with dishes arriving in waves so nothing sits cold. It is one of the best-value brunches in the city for the quality and quantity of food served.

Price: SAR 200 per person | When: Saturdays, 12:00 pm–5:00 pm

Mayrig — Hilton Riyadh Hotel and Residences

Mayrig brings Armenian home cooking to a Saturday brunch format at the Hilton Riyadh. The SAR 250 set menu includes manti (Armenian dumplings), lahmajoun, basterma with eggs, and a selection of cold mezze. The cuisine is distinctive enough to stand apart from the Turkish and Arabic options elsewhere, and the Saturday afternoon slot from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm works well if your Fridays are already booked with a hotel buffet.

Price: SAR 250 per person | When: Saturdays, 1:00 pm–4:00 pm | Location: Hilton Riyadh Hotel, Al Olaya

Arcomi — The Esplanade Mall

For a budget-friendly Arabic-Turkish brunch, Arcomi at The Esplanade Mall in the Diplomatic Quarter serves a Saturday brunch from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at just SAR 75–85 per person. The menu covers freshly baked flatbreads, ful medames, shakshuka, labneh, halloumi, and a solid tea and coffee selection. It is a no-frills option that delivers on flavour without the five-star markup — ideal if you are exploring the Diplomatic Quarter’s parks and galleries on a Saturday morning.

Price: SAR 75–85 per person | When: Saturdays, 10:00 am–2:00 pm | Location: The Esplanade Mall, Diplomatic Quarter

Best Cafés for All-Day Brunch

Not every brunch needs a set menu or a time slot. Riyadh’s café scene has matured rapidly, and several independent spots now serve excellent all-day brunch menus that you can drop into any day of the week. These tend to be more casual, more affordable, and better suited to solo travellers or couples who prefer flexibility over formality.

Buttermilk

Founded by three Saudi women, Buttermilk brings American Southern comfort food to Riyadh with a local twist. The menu revolves around fried chicken and waffles, buttermilk pancakes stacked high, shakshuka, and loaded breakfast burritos. Portions are generous, the coffee programme is strong (pour-over and espresso), and the casual diner-style atmosphere makes it an easy drop-in. There are multiple locations across the city, with the Al Nakheel branch being the most accessible for visitors.

Chapter — Al Aqiq

Chapter is a neighbourhood favourite in the Al Aqiq district, known for its all-day breakfast that draws remote workers and brunch crowds alike. The French toast — thick-cut brioche with berry compote and cream — is the signature dish, best paired with a Spanish iced latte. The interior is light-filled and minimalist, with plenty of workspace if you want to linger after eating.

Lazy Cat

This Kuwaiti-born café has become a Riyadh institution for its photogenic brunch plates. The soufflé pancakes are the star — towering, jiggly, and dusted with powdered sugar — alongside tartines, French toast, and a selection of burgers and pizzas for those who prefer savoury. The cat-themed décor and signature blue matcha latte make it one of the most Instagrammed brunch spots in the city.

Café Bateel — Tahlia Street

Café Bateel on Tahlia Street in Al Olaya serves an elegant European-style brunch anchored by Saudi Arabia’s most famous export: Bateel dates. Expect date-infused pastries, organic eggs with truffle, avocado toast, and a refined afternoon tea option. The terrace seating on Tahlia Street puts you at the heart of Riyadh’s most upscale shopping corridor. It is also a good option if you are spending a day exploring the Al Olaya and Tahlia Street district.

Riyadh Brunch Price Comparison

Practical Tips for Brunch in Riyadh

When to Go

The best months for brunch in Riyadh are October through March, when temperatures are mild enough to enjoy terrace seating. During summer (June–September), daytime temperatures regularly exceed 45°C and outdoor dining is impractical, though air-conditioned hotel restaurants remain comfortable year-round. If your visit coincides with Riyadh Season (typically October–March), you will find many restaurants running special brunch menus and pop-up dining events.

Getting Around

Riyadh is a car city, and most brunch venues have valet parking or adjacent car parks. The Riyadh Metro, which opened in late 2024, connects the city centre, KAFD, and the Diplomatic Quarter. Uber and Careem (the regional ride-hailing app) are reliable and affordable — a typical cross-city trip costs SAR 25–50. If you are visiting from abroad, you will need a valid Saudi tourist e-visa, which can be obtained online in minutes.

Dietary Considerations

All food served in Saudi Arabia is halal. Pork is not available. Vegetarian and vegan options have expanded significantly, with hotel buffets now routinely including dedicated plant-based stations. If you have specific dietary requirements, most upscale restaurants will accommodate requests with advance notice. Arabic coffee is always served black and unsweetened, while Western-style espresso drinks are universally available.

Tipping and Payment

A 15% VAT is included in menu prices at most restaurants. Some venues add a service charge of 10–15%. Tipping beyond the service charge is appreciated but not obligatory — rounding up or leaving SAR 20–50 is customary at upscale restaurants. All major credit cards are accepted everywhere, and contactless payment via Apple Pay and mada (Saudi debit) is standard.

Dress Code

Hotel restaurants expect smart casual attire. Men should avoid shorts and sleeveless tops. Women face no specific dress code in restaurants — abayas are no longer required in dining venues. Trendy cafés like Buttermilk and Lazy Cat are casual; come as you are.

Ramadan note: During the holy month of Ramadan, most restaurants are closed during daylight hours. Some hotel restaurants serve breakfast to hotel guests only, and public brunch is generally unavailable until after iftar (sunset). Check dates before booking — Ramadan shifts by roughly 10 days each year.

Riyadh’s Best Brunch Neighbourhoods

Al Olaya and KAFD

The financial district is home to the Four Seasons, the Fairmont, and a concentration of high-end restaurants along King Fahd Road and Tahlia Street. This is where you will find the densest cluster of brunch options, from hotel buffets to standalone cafés. The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) is Riyadh’s newest dining precinct, with several restaurants opening along the pedestrianised Sky Bridge walkway.

Diplomatic Quarter (DQ)

The leafy Diplomatic Quarter is quieter and more residential, with parks, galleries, and a handful of excellent restaurants including the Marriott Goji brunch and Arcomi. It is a pleasant area to combine brunch with a morning walk through the DQ’s sculpture park. The King Khalid International Airport is roughly 40 minutes north by car.

Diriyah and Bujairi Terrace

On the northwestern edge of Riyadh, the restored Diriyah district is home to Bujairi Terrace — a curated dining precinct overlooking the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site. Angelina Paris is the brunch highlight here, but the terrace also houses several other international restaurants. Combine brunch with a visit to the At-Turaif ruins for a half-day excursion that pairs food with history. If you have more time, the Edge of the World is a 90-minute drive from Diriyah.

Riyadh Front and Northern Ring Road

The northern corridor along the Ring Road is where you will find Zuma, ROKA, and several other contemporary restaurants in mixed-use developments. These venues tend to be newer and attract a younger crowd. Access is easiest by car or ride-hailing.

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