BY THE PINK TARHA
Every morning, we come to a common ‘ground’: coffee. Coffee is what most people consider as the “intellectual drink” because of its stimulating effects and health benefits. Saudi Arabia has many cafes and coffee shops that sell premium and specialty coffees. If you have “procaffeination syndrome”, the tendency to not start anything without having a cup of coffee, then this list is for you!
DR. CAFE (@drcafeksa)
Dr. Cafe is one of the most popular coffee brands in Saudi Arabia. Living by their rule to be excellent in everything they do, Dr. Cafe offers premium specialty coffee and food items like pastries and cakes. Their most recent venture is V12, a series of in-depth manual and advanced brew methods like Chemex, Syphon, and French Press.
Must-Try: Iced Shaken Double Espresso, Spanish Latte, Croissant
DRAFT CAFE (@draftcafe)
Draft started as a concept store in Riyadh that eventually grew into a specialty coffee shop. The cafe is known for being a venue for students to study and for artists to share their talent and craft. Nowadays, Draft is a favorite hang-out place of millennials.
Must-Try: Iced Spanish Latte, Green Tea Matcha, Cheesecakes
STARBUCKS RESERVE (@starbucksmiddleeast)
Who doesn’t know Starbucks? It’s only the most popular coffee shop in the world. It has a lot of branches scattered all over the Kingdom but if you want a nicer, brighter atmosphere for a quick meeting with the team, Starbucks Reserve in The Boulevard is perfect. It’s one of the largest in the MENA region with its combo of the traditional coffee bar and the Reserve Bar which introduces deeper coffee knowledge to customers.
Must-Try: Reserve Americano, Espresso, Turkey and Cheese Croissant
JOLT (@jolt.sa)
Jolt has taken Riyadh by surprise (true to its name huh). When their first branch opened, people lined up for their dark yet sophisticated interiors. In contrast, their marbled lattes came in quite interesting flavors and colors: Red Velvet, Spice, Pistachio, Rose, Chocolate and more! People can’t get enough of them!
Must-Try: Hot Jolt Latte, Iced Pistachio Latte, Saffron Milk Cake
ILLY CAFFE (@illyksa)
The company Illy has been synonymous with velvety coffee and high quality coffee machines which are featured and used by other cafes in the world. Recently, Illy opened a huge coffee shop in Takhasussi that looked like a mirage resplendent with colors. Imagine drinking coffee surrounded with such vibrant colors! Illy Caffe has branches in major cities in Saudi Arabia.
Must-Try: Espresso Illy, Cappuccino Freddo, Mushroom Soup
Whether you just want a cup before going to work or as a companion to your breakfast or as a cozy meeting place with your colleagues, you will find a lot of choices when it comes to coffee shops in Saudi Arabia.
ABOUT THE PINK TARHA
Janelle Vales-Yasay and Reina Tejano-Berina are the power duo behind the successful multi-awarded blog “The Pink Tarha”, an online lifestyle guide in Saudi Arabia. They started their blog in 2009 and since then have inspired many people by showcasing the fun and interesting side of living in KSA. What started out as a hobby for the girls has gained so much positive attention and appreciation in the process winning them the Saudi Excellence in Tourism Award.
Facebook/Instagram: @thepinktarha
Website: www.thepinktarha.com
