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CULINARY

The best dessert cafés in Saudi

Looking to indulge in some of Saudi’s favourite traditional desserts? From rich delicacies made using layers of pastry to date-filled delights that melt in the mouth, be sure to scout out these popular sweet treats on your next trip to the Kingdom.

From shredded pastry filled with cream and fried dough balls to semolina cakes and churro-like fritters, many of the delicious sweet treats boasted by Saudi and the region have two things in common; they are soaked in syrup (which is sometimes flavoured with cardamom or saffron) and they are meant to be shared.

During Ramadan, Eid, or other festivities, Saudis have their Saudi coffee or “Qahwa” late in the afternoon with dates and an assortment of small pastries. It’s an ancient scene, one that is symbolic of the centuries-old ties that Saudis have with sweets of the region and now in the dawn of globalisation, with sweets from all around the globe. From French Millefeuille at “Paul Arabia” to Japanese Mochi at “Kane Mochi”, there is little in the way of desserts that can not be found in Saudi which brings us to this list.

Le Concheur

“Artisanal..true..indulgent..” The slogan of Jeddah’s Le Concheur well and truly captures the staff’s dedication to quality making it a great spot to pick out delectable and luxurious gifts for loved ones. The café is a specialty dessert store that doubles as a pastry shop. It’s one of Saudi’s few bean-to-bars, producing chocolate and chocolate treats entirely in-house. The café also has a party room where customers can host their friends and family and try their hand at decorating chocolate. For those wishing to buy a treat for a friend, the packaging alone sets the scene with chocolates being placed in gorgeous turquoise blue boxes, reminiscent of Tiffany & Co.

AL3NAH

The craftily made desserts, carefully picked furniture, and delightful outdoor veranda of Al3NAH make the café a hidden gem for lovers of all things beauty. Because of the store’s proximity to Al Hofuf University and relaxing atmosphere, it has become a hotspot of sorts for students and staff alike to work, relax, and meet with their friends and colleagues. The store also offers a selection of savoury meals and if you get a latte to go with your treat, don’t forget to snap a shot of the lovely art on the cup before stirring your drink.

Café Bateel

In search of a luxurious culinary experience to share with family and friends? Bateel Café in Jeddah’s Le Prestige Mall and Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter offers an extensive menu for all three meals of the day in addition to a kids’ menu and gluten-free options. The store boasts an appreciation for fresh ingredients and a menu that perpetually changes to take advantage of the region’s unique seasonal produce. Customers can even order online or through the phone and enjoy their meals remotely. That being said, it would be a pity to miss the café’s lovely ambiance. Famous for its quality and selection of dates, you can purchase a beautiful hand decorated box to give the dates as a gift.

Cobbee Café

The addictive and delectable scent of roasted coffee beans which is nearly impossible to escape in Riyadh’s Cobbee Café attracts casual drinkers and coffee connoisseurs alike. With a relaxed atmosphere and experienced baristas, the café has many regulars. The chain was founded by the Hernandez brothers in 1987 and now has several branches all around the world. Known for its extensive collection of cold drinks and desserts all centred around coffee, Cobbee Café’s great variety of treats can satisfy cravings for sweets on a sweltering hot day.

Criollo Café

It’s hard to refute that cookies and ice cream go well together, but few have brought out the best of the duo like Jeddah’s Criollo Café where a single cookie of the customer’s choice is served on a skillet with a scoop of ice cream and delicious toppings. Cookie flavours range from carrot cake with pecans to brownie skillet with ganache and chocolate sauce. The café also offers savoury flatbread, soaked cakes, waffles, mini cookies, and warm drinks to pair with your treat of choice. Criollo is also on various delivery services meaning customers can enjoy all the goodies the café has to offer from the comfort of their homes or even send gift boxes to their loved ones. With 3 locations in Jeddah, you are never far away from delicious coffee.

Magnolia Bakery

In a 2001 episode of the hit series “Sex and the City”, two characters sit outside of the first-ever branch of Magnolia Bakery and enjoy vanilla buttercream cupcakes. The scene was barely 30 seconds long but it left a strong impression on viewers and turned a local favourite into a New York hotspot. Now the bakery is more well known for its banana pudding which is wildly popular in all branches of the bakery and the Riyadh branch is no exception. The store’s tried and true recipes are popular among even those who don’t particularly enjoy sweets and the newly launched cold brew flavoured pudding is making ripples among the bakery’s regulars.

Creamery Soft Serve

In the mood for something sweet and cold to combat Saudi heat? Dammam’s Creamery is a must-go spot for all ice cream fans, especially those with a weakness for rich and creamy soft serve. The creamery boasts a casual and relaxed atmosphere and a variety of cones, soft-serve ice creams, and toppings making it a crowd-pleaser and a great place to go in a group. For those who might find the possibilities daunting, Creamery’s aesthetically pleasing Instagram serves as a great source of inspiration to draw from. The store is also on delivery sites making it possible to get soft serve wherever you are.

Whether you are a casual fan of sweets or a dessert connoisseur, these spots will perfectly capture the Saudi love for sweets making it a memorable culinary adventure.

Practical information

Visas

It’s surprisingly simple and easy to get an e-Visa for Saudi and the process is very similar to applying for an ESTA for the USA. Over 50 nationalities are eligible to apply for an e-Visa, including people from the UK and USA, with it costing (at the time of writing) 535 Saudi riyals (about £115 or US$143). Applications are swift and nearly all applicants will receive a response within three working days – most within 24 hours. To apply for your Saudi e-Visa, visit the official Saudi Tourism Authority website. If you’re from the USA, UK or the Schengen Area, you can also apply for a visa on arrival into Saudi. It’s slightly cheaper than an e-Visa, too, at SAR480 (about £102 or US$128).

Getting there & around

With plenty of direct flight links from the UK to Saudi, it’s really easy to get to the country. Saudi’s national airline SAUDIA flies to Riyadh three times daily from London Heathrow, while British Airways also offers a regular service from Heathrow with daily flights to the capital. SAUDIA also operates twice daily flights to Jeddah from London Heathrow and daily flights from London Gatwick. If you’re travelling from the US, SAUDIA offers direct flights to Riyadh from both New York City and Washington, D.C., as well as direct flights to Jeddah from New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.

Local customs

To really embrace Saudi life and pay respect towards its traditions, there are a few local customs you should abide when travelling around the country. Both men and women should wear clothing that covers their elbows and below their knees when out in public. If you’re heading to the coast, it’s still expected you dress modestly. When meeting and greeting locals, whether it’s a market stallholder or a private guide, say hello with ‘salam alaykum’, which means ‘peace be upon you’, as well as offering a handshake.

Weather

You might think it’s hot all year round in Saudi but it’s a little more nuanced than that. The best time to visit Riyadh is between October and March, when temperatures can dip as low as 20°C during the daytime and rarely exceed 30°C. Summer months in Riyadh can get extremely hot, with temperatures often above 40°C between June and September.

FAQ

Is English spoken in Saudi?

Arabic is the official national language but English is widely spoken.

What is the currency of Saudi?

The currency of Saudi is the riyal, with the current rate (at the time of writing), around SAR4.76 to the UK£. You’ll need to pre-order money before you travel, as in the UK it’s not usually stocked in currency exchange booths.

What’s it like travelling in Saudi as a female?

We think you’d be surprised! To find out more, read our first-hand account on what it’s like to travel in Saudi.

What’s the time difference in Saudi?

Saudi follows Arabia Standard Time (GMT +3) all year round.