What to eat Saudi Arabia? culinary specialties and gastronomy

The hours vary depending on the type of restaurant. Fast food restaurants serving falafel and restaurants specializing in breakfast dishes (foul madames, mutton liver, omelets...) open very early, between 5 and 6 am, and close at noon. Traditional restaurants open in the late morning, between 11am and 1pm, and close in the evening after 11pm. Fast-food restaurants such as shawarma, hamburger, chicken in all its forms are open continuously between 11am and midnight, sometimes 2am.

Please note that on Fridays, the day of the great prayer, most restaurants are closed in the morning and only open from 1pm or 2pm, or even later.

Fast food restaurants offer a good value for money, but the menus are not very varied. You have to count between 8 SAR and 12 SAR for a falafel sandwich, a shawarma or a hamburger. In a traditional restaurant, the average ticket is between 25 SAR and 50 SAR, depending on whether you have a full meal or a dish. In trendy restaurants or those offering a different experience (such as a panoramic restaurant), the bill can go up to 250 SAR or more.

VAT and service are included in the prices. However, it is customary to leave a tip in restaurants. Service is often provided by foreign workers, who are often poorly paid. A tip of at least 10% of the bill is always appreciated.

The separation between men and women is still very present in Saudi society, and many women refuse to uncover their faces in public, even though the law no longer obliges them to wear the niqab. Restaurants often have two separate entrances, one for men and another called "Family", for women and families. The "Family" sections are arranged as small, private lounges. This can be a simple curtain drawn around the table, or a real room with a door or curtain.

Covid-19 has made QR codes mandatory in all restaurants. Printed menus are (almost) a thing of the past. So don't forget your cell phone, and make sure you have the data in your package, or you won't be able to view the menu.

All restaurant menus display calories per dish (not to be confused with prices!). It's the law.

Traditionally, Saudis eat sitting on the floor and share the same dish. It is forbidden to use your left hand as it is considered unclean. Similarly, you should remove your shoes before sitting on the carpet and you should never turn the soles of your feet towards a person sitting with you. The easiest way is to sit cross-legged.

Children are welcome absolutely everywhere. Saudis often go out with their families and most of them have three to four or more children.

Smoking is prohibited in enclosed public spaces. This law applies to restaurants. There is one notable exception, the shisha bar. They often double as a restaurant, so you can smoke and eat in the same place. Smoking is allowed on the terrace of a restaurant.

You will find a coffee shop on every corner of almost every city in Saudi Arabia. Some are open during the day, from 9am to 7pm, some open very early in the morning and close at the end of the day, and some are open 24 hours a day. So the hours vary a lot, but you will never have trouble finding a café that is open whenever you feel like having a coffee.

Coffee is an art in Saudi Arabia and the drink is served in every conceivable way. The price varies depending on the type of coffee you order. You should expect to pay between SAR 10 and SAR 25 for a traditional coffee and between SAR 5 and SAR 15 for a tea, depending on the type of establishment. Credit cards are accepted everywhere.

The consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, there is no age limit.

Gourmet restaurants and chic bars often offer a selection of wines, champagnes and non-alcoholic beers. But the taste is not the same...

As alcohol is forbidden, children are accepted everywhere. Even so, it's rare to come across parents with their children in shisha bars or cocktail bars (without alcohol, of course).

In the evenings, it's not uncommon to see children out very late. They take long naps before going out in the cooler weather.

Smoking is not permitted in enclosed public spaces. A notable exception is the shisha bar. Due to the high temperatures, the air-conditioned rooms are accessible to smokers.

Saudi Arabia is a very safe country. There are no particular tourist scams or annoying touts who are desperate to get you to buy from them.