Cultural Attractions To Satisfy Your Appetite and Curiosity in Riyadh

Najd Village

Enjoy a combined dining and heritage experience, with faithfully re-created Najd architecture and authentic recipes such as kabsa, jareesh and hashi.

Takya

Sample Saudi fusion food inspired by the country’s many different regions.

Section B

Bite into some of the juiciest burgers in Saudi.

Elixir Bunn

One of the capital’s first specialty coffee venues, Elixir is run by passionate baristas who love to do quirky and creative things with their coffee. Beans are roasted on-site, and the interior has a stripped-back look with lots of sharp, linear angles. But Elixir isn’t just about the caffeine hits; this is also a tasty dessert spot. Don’t think about ordering a cortado without a slab of pecan pie to go with it.

Al Masaa Café

Whether it’s night or day, be sure to ask for a seat facing out toward the Kingdom Center — although the view is just one reason to visit Al Masaa, located right in the heart of the capital. Some other reasons you’re sure to like this spot? The excellent coffee, the delicious lunch menu and the refreshing mocktails.

Montreux Cafe

Opened by local Alhala Alfakher upon his return from Italy, where he fell in love with tiramisu, this café offers variations on the layered dessert as well as specialty coffee drinks, including the popular pistachio latte. Try saffron, honey cake or pistachio tiramisu at one of the more than 10 Montreux locations throughout Riyadh.

The Antiquities Museum

The Antiquities Museum is home to one of Saudi’s most important collections of ancient artifacts, a treasure trove of items unearthed from key archaeological sites across the region and a direct link to the country’s past.

Tucked in the sandstone buildings of King Saud University — the oldest university in Saudi Arabia — its exhibits are the product of excavations carried out by the institute since the 1970s. The relics they uncovered paint an evocative portrait of pre-Islamic and early Islamic civilizations, and to wander among them is to embark on a journey back in time.

National Museum of Saudi Arabia

Education and entertainment collide inside this two-story, 28,000-square-meter museum, which has eight galleries. Though modern on the outside, the National Museum of Saudi Arabia brings visitors on a journey through centuries of culture, art and history, from prehistoric Arabia to today. Discover interactive exhibits, replicas of buildings in old Jeddah, Neolithic rock art, antiques, manuscripts and centuries-old crafts while exploring the diverse economic and commercial activities of Arabia.