Takya

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Set on Riyadh’s Bujairi Terrace plaza, overlooking the UNESCO-listed Deriyah ruins, Takya was opened in 2019 by Hadeel Almotawa with a manifesto of putting Saudi Arabian cuisine – specifically, Almotawa’s modern interpretations of traditional recipes she’s gathered from the Kingdom’s regions – on the international stage. The dining room and terrace echo this ethos of preserving cultural heritage, being calming, unflashy spaces with artfully placed historical artefacts and artworks and an unobtrusive soundtrack of music from around the country. An inventive drinks list contains nuanced mocktails bursting with flavour: the Desert Rose, for example, is flavoured with rose, pomegranate and cardamom. The menu indicates each dish’s place of origin, with every mouthful a testament to the quality of the hyper seasonal ingredients. Signatures such as the mathlutha, smoked rice and durum wheat balls stuffed with lime and chilli and shrimp muflag, a paella-like native dish, will be a revelation to those unfamiliar with Saudi cuisine and a nostalgic treat for those in-the-know.

Key Information

• Tasting menu from $45
• Lunch and dinner: Mon – Sun
• 966550402000
• Visit Takya's Website

Location

7297 King Faisal Road, Al Ruqiyah, Riyadh, 13711