Saudi coffee, known as gahwa, has long been a symbol of the Kingdom’s hospitality, poured since the 15th century from ornate dallah pots and shared among friends and strangers. Today, Riyadh’s fast-growing café scene pays homage to this deep-rooted tradition – while adding a contemporary twist.
Emanating from the busy coffee hub of Tahlia Street to chic neighbourhood nooks across the city, an abundance of cafés offers flavourful brews in sleek, minimalist spaces and cosy corners bursting with character. With hundreds of spots to choose from and more popping up every year, many led by local entrepreneurs (as well as global giants looking to make their mark among the caffeine crowd), the Kingdom’s coffee culture is booming. Here are Condé Nast Traveller Middle East’s top picks for the best coffee experiences in Riyadh.
A.O.K Kitchen
The limited edition Dolce Morsa coffee with thick camel milk cream steals the show on A.O.K Kitchen’s revamped menu, which features cool collaborations with Jazean Coffee, Sawani and SoMatcha. This buzzy brunch spot in King Abdullah Financial District skips refined sugars but makes up for it with a colourful collection of iced teas, infusions and fruit-filled mocktails — plus thick stacks of pancakes drenched in organic maple syrup and generous handfuls of fresh berries. Sip on signature drinks from Greece and Spain amid eclectic interiors by Princess Anoud Khaled Al Saud, featuring foliage-print banquettes, cane-backed chairs and mirrored walls under a canopy of gleaming white magnolias. Book well in advance to snag a table during the weekend rush.
Address: KAFD Wadi, King Abdullah Financial District
Brew92
Don’t expect “one coffee, please” to cut it here — the Brew92 team are serious about their beans. Trained to the Specialty Coffee Association’s exacting standards, they make regular visits to farms around the world to find the best flavours and strictly brew at 92°C in a bid to extract the optimum flavour profile from each roast. You’ll find all the classics on the menu (plus plenty of alternative milks for vegans) but the most interesting options are in the “stranger drinks” section — ice cream sandwiches dunked in espresso, cold pistachio lattes and crème-brulée brews.
Address: Uthman Ibn Affan Road, An Narjis
Elixir Bunn
Terracotta-coloured arches inspired by traditional Islamic architecture frame sleek, honey-hued tables at this oasis of calm — a minimalist “deco temple” of Saudi coffee once lauded by Architectural Digest Middle East for its unique design. Elixir Bunn, brewing beans since 2014, serves up blends inspired by the distinct aromas of the Kingdom’s regions. The Western version bursts with the warmth of cardamom, cloves, saffron and mastic, while the light-roasted Southern blend delivers a subtly sweet profile with ginger, fennel and cinnamon. Pair your coffee with a dense slice of chocolate-flecked banana bread or seasonal sweets like Kohei-Ziri, a Japanese dessert marrying the sweetness of vanilla ice cream with the bitterness of espresso.
Address: Salem Bin Maaqil, Al Nakheel
Half Million
Even if you haven’t visited Half Million, you’ll have spotted its famous logo emblazoned on cups clutched by die-hard coffee fans across the city. Named after the initial 500,000 riyal investment by founders Meshari Alshehri and Abdullah Alrajhi, this homegrown brand has skyrocketed in popularity thanks to its fuss-free approach and easygoing service. It’s a hit outside of Saudi Arabia too, recently opening an outpost on London’s Oxford Street. Swing by 24-hours-a-day for coffee, a simple falafel bagel or the irresistible mini caramel bites temptingly displayed on the counter. For a cosy treat in cooler months, the ultra-rich hot chocolate is a classic winter warmer.
Address: Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz Street, Al Olaya
Over Under
This VIA Riyadh café focuses on making a “positive impact” on customers, brewing UK-roasted beans with notes of praline, brown sugar and cocoa — or cups of Barry’s Breakfast Tea for those seeking a simpler start to the day. Dig into crowd-pleasing French toasts, granola bowls and toasties until sunset, when the pastel pink café shifts gear into a lively neon-lit mocktail bar serving patatas bravas, nachos and burnt labneh cheesecake. This transition, dubbed “the flip” by New York-born founder Ed Barry, quickly takes the space from laid-back brunching to late-night lounging.
Address: VIA Riyadh, Makkah Al Mukarramah Road, Al Hada
Sociale Café
Drawing in a young, artsy crowd and laptop-toting creatives, Sociale Café on Tahlia Street oozes rustic charm. Dig into beautiful açai bowls and sharing boards of grilled halloumi, stracciatella and zaatar-infused dips, or indulge in decadent desserts like pain perdu drowning in chocolate and fresh strawberries. The Instagram-worthy space, bathed in natural light from grid-like windows, is adorned with vintage light fixtures and lush greenery, complete with rough-hewn concrete columns and snug cushioned corners perfect for intimate conversations. The small outdoor garden, hidden behind a wall of plants, is perpetually packed (even during the sweltering summer) with friends catching up under the twinkle of fairy lights. Plus, the café frequently hosts live music events and showcases works by local artists under monthly themes like Bauhaus, Memphis and connections.
Address: Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz Street, Al Olaya
SoMatcha
After sipping her first sweet, grassy matcha at New York Fashion Week in 2018, Saudi beauty influencer Yara Alnamlah was hooked. Frustrated by the lack of quality ingredients back home, she launched the Kingdom’s first specialised matcha café in a stripped-back space at the Shorofat Park complex. Here, on tables dotted among potted plants and shelves of Japanese chasen whisks, emerald green ceremonial-grade tea takes centre stage in every form imaginable — from pure shots to floral lattes with rose petal infusions. Whether you crave it straight up or as a mellow, milky concoction, this spot has your matcha fix covered.
Address: Shorofat Park, An Nada
Urth Caffé
Packed with organic options for vegans and the health-conscious (including surprisingly excellent plant-based chocolate cake), this bohemian café from California focuses on all-natural dishes free from artificial ingredients or refined sugars. Homely bread pudding breakfast bowls, hearty portions of lasagna and scrambles with eggs from vegetarian-fed chickens keep diners coming back, but it’s the commitment to coffee and tea that truly sets Urth apart. It all started in 1989 when Jilla and Shallom Berkman met a farmer from Peru who introduced them to rare heirloom coffee trees. Fast forward to 2017, and Urth Caffé opened its Riyadh branch, continuing the tradition of serving exceptional, earth-friendly dishes and drinks. The Manhattan Mudd, a smooth and complex African-Asian blend straight from New York, pairs perfectly with a slice of old-fashioned Granny Smith apple pie, baked fresh daily using classic recipes.
Address: Prince Muhammad Ibn Abd Al Aziz Street, As Sulimaniyah