Cristal Amaken Hotel Riyadh

This is one of THE places to go in Riyadh for authentic Saudi cuisine. Their three branches have all been reconstructed to resemble a Najd village setting that is both welcoming and oozing in local charm. Take a seat on the floor under the covered terrace for a traditional experience. If you're two or three, opt for the sharing menu that highlights an extensive selection of satisfyingly generous and authentic flavours of the region. Don’t miss the freshly baked breads made to order and the tatlee, a baked custard with crushed pistachio.

This is Chef Hisham Baeshen’s first restaurant. The cooking is inspired by five Saudi regions and sprinkled with some dishes from various Middle Eastern countries. The eatery, whose name translates as ‘in your heart’, is set in a large open room with an eye-catching tree trunk suspended from the ceiling. Be sure to come in a big group as portions are perfect for sharing. Recommendations include their samosas, seabream in molasses stew and the sharqawi rice topped with caramelised onions. Finish off the meal with the queen of Arabic desserts, the kunafah.

Get your breakfast fix at this contemporary Saudi eatery located a short distance from Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District. Served from early morning to mid-afternoon, the food here proudly represents the country’s regions, particularly in its ingredients and spices. Start with the Mirzam platter, a selection of appetisers including hummus, foul and salads all served with warm flatbreads fresh from the oven. Their Egg Maghash and Kibda Hijazi – aka lamb’s liver – are must haves but do leave room for dessert – the maasoub is the chef’s speciality – and come with friends as sharing is enco

A little way away from the city centre – but worth a visit. The Persian rugs hanging from the ceiling and the décor of this contemporary restaurant are nods to what’s on offer on the menu. You’ll have your pick of authentic dishes, ranging from hearty stews to generously sized charcoal-grilled kebabs, with larger sharing portions available for bigger groups. The team are on hand to recommend plates according to your tastes and will also ensure the pace of the experience is just right.

Open from early in the morning until mid-afternoon and often referred to as a traditional Saudi Arabian breakfast restaurant, this place is much more than that. A bright, colourful and slightly retro interior has the chefs visible in their glass-fronted kitchen. Dishes stem from Hijazi-style cuisine with must haves, all designed for sharing, include foul (fermented fava bean puree), moutabbal and mutabbaq. Be sure to order plenty of bread freshly prepared in the tandoor oven, along with tamees, and finish with a bowl of sweet areeka. Expect generosity in flavour and portions, all appealingly p

Luxury, elegance and Chinese cuisine come together on the second floor of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Riyadh at this restaurant overlooking the hotel’s leisure club pool. The extensive menu boasts a wide range of authentic and bespoke Chinese dishes such as tasty dim sum, classic Peking duck, spicy Sichuan beef and the ever-so-loved sweet and sour prawns. Come Saturday night for a special-priced menu showcasing their dim sum selection.

With its welcoming light décor, this popular Lebanese restaurant seems to tick quite a few boxes for the locals, who frequent the place. It’s open from breakfast to late in the evening, offering authentic, generously sized and well-priced dishes mainly focused on Lebanese cuisine, but with some influences from across the region. Sharing is always recommended by the friendly team. Opt for tasty dips, such as muhamarrah with warm breads to start, kebabs are the way to go for mains, and save room for the delicious, rich mouhalabiya milk pudding to finish.