We're officially nearing the end of the Holy Month here in Riyadh. The holiday was a great way for us to focus on spending time relaxing at home together. During Ramadan everything seems to slow down and days start later. Schedules are pretty much thrown out the window. This means that administration, shopping and even education are impacted by later start times and shorter hours. Today also marks the start of a ten day Eid break in our nursery and lots of schools.
Restaurants and cafes are closed during the day and even if some drive throughs are open, it's considered frowned upon if not rude to eat or drink in public while practically the entire country is fasting. By the time malls, shops and soft plays open in the evenings during Ramadan, our kiddos are usually too tired to enjoy being out and about... it was hard for the family to adjust, and as much as we enjoyed the festivities, we're all happy that things will soon return to normal.
That said, it was a truly special experience. In good old Saudi fashion, nothing is understated. For example, clothing brands from high street to high-end names released exclusive capsule collections for Ramadan, Eid sales are in full swing and unsurprisingly, shopping malls are more crowded than ever once shops reopen after 8pm. Restaurants may be closed during the day, but they go all out with their special Iftar and Suhoor offerings. We were lucky enough to catch a few of the most highly recommended ones. We were honoured to be invited to break fast at friends' houses who went all out to offer some of the best dishes from their cuisines. In no particular order, these were some of our best Ramadan moments and favourite things this month.
Yauatcha
After trying both Hakkasan and Yauatcha's set menus, I can confidently say that Yauatcha won over its more expensive sister restaurant, at least when comparing their Riyadh locations. Excellent value for money and the food doesn't disappoint. It's rare that all dishes in a set menu hit the spot, but everything here was full of flavour yet light, and the service was also above and beyond. I can't just pick one dish as the highlight, the dim sum, sacha beef, chicken lettuce wraps and sautéed asparagus were all amazing. We'll definitely be back for more after Ramadan!
Ramadan Tents
Generally I'm not a huge fan of buffets as I tend to find them messy, overwhelming and I usually end up overeating. Buffets in Riyadh are on another level though, always beautifully presented with an abundance of choice for every palate and occasion. We tried Offwhite Lounge and Al Faisaliyah's traditional Saudi Fawanees Iftar buffets and both were exquisite. I ended up overeating, but I found the food irresistible. Salads were a highlight at both - light and refreshing, a perfect way to break fast. My favourite part was the pasta station in Offwhite and the incredible cheese selection at the Fawanees tent. I also loved that they had an amazing children's play area set up for the littles to tire themselves out.
This stylish setup for Ramadan dressing runs well into April, and is definitely worth a visit for anyone that loves fashion. They have gorgeous pieces from leading regional and local designers. The offerings go beyond just abayas, kaftans and modest dresses - there are accessories, homeware and even luxury sweets. The prices are high, but it's definitely worth a visit. Most of the pieces are out of my price range and aren't things I could get enough wear out of, so I browsed mid-range and high street brands for more affordable occasionwear instead to refresh my wardrobe for our upcoming Eid holiday.
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