With coffee houses galore — each with its own signature dessert and coffee variants — it could be quite a task to pick the perfect spot. At times, the desserts are enticing and the coffee average, and vice versa.
But with Heyla Café open at the new Khayat Center (next to Big Chefs) on Prince Sultan Street in Jeddah, you’ll find a good balance of both — refreshing coffee plus delectable desserts to satiate your sweet tooth. The menu may be a bit restricted but it is safe to say almost every dessert is a must-try — we have already picked our favorites.
While the exterior looks more grandiose and formal, once you walk in you will instantly pick up on the casual and fun vibe the place has. Whether it is the colorful couches, cushions, tables or walls, the interior is oozing with vibrancy and is refreshing to the eye. A great setting if you want to hang out for a couple of hours with friends for multiple coffee rounds.
It is only one floor for now — which is spacious and caters to a large number — but the good news is the second one should be up and running soon.
The first thing we tried was the scented rose cake because the presentation was simply the epitome of perfection on a plate — a scrumptious slice of cake served on a bed of fresh rose petals. For those who have not tried fragrant rosy desserts, a rose cake is essentially pound cake with a mild blend of vanilla, rose petals and a tinge of saffron. It is also one that a lot of confectioners do not get right. The ratio of all the ingredients is tricky yet crucial. The flavor has to be subtle. If the floral ratio is even slightly off, it can be very overpowering and leave a taste you cannot rid your tongue (and throat) of for a few hours — like you accidentally swallowed perfume.
But we have to say the bakers at Heyla know what they’re doing. When you dig into the vanilla sponge (though it looks dense), it instantly melts in your mouth like mousse. The texture is almost like an aerated baked cheesecake and the subtle undertone of rosiness, which comes up as pops of flavor, will be a delight for your palate. And of course the refreshing fragrance of the rose petals will make your gastronomical experience all the merrier!
Our second choice was the date cake — there were two options, bundt and one topped with a thick mouthwatering layer of caramel. In a country where dates are in abundance and almost revered, you would expect every bakery and café round the block to nail the recipe…but that wasn’t the case. While the thick caramel layer on its own was divine, the sponge itself was rather dry and crumbly, which was surprising because the texture of dates always provides that much needed stickiness and depth to any dessert recipe they’re used in. In fact, you could barely taste the flavor of dates. The bundt date cake on the contrary was a lot better. The flavor came out well, the texture was sticky — exactly how it should be — and every bite was scrumptious and left a mark.
Last but certainly not the least was the delectable pistachio kharabeesh — a hands down crowd pleaser. It is everything you are probably looking for in a dessert. Every bite will take your palate on a rollercoaster ride — you will taste cream and a layer of crushed green pistachios, and then cream followed by pistachios again. It melts in your mouth, and the key ingredients complement each other well. It was definitely well-balanced — sweet enough to be a dessert but not nauseatingly sugary which is perfect. If you’re a fan of kunaafa, then this will be next on your list of favorites.
Your dessert may fulfill your sugar cravings, but you also need the perfect cup of coffee or tea to wash it all down — or maybe a few cups! The perfectly brewed Arabian coffee or tea at Heyla cannot be missed. It’s served in a pot which guarantees to keep your drink hot till you’re done with the last and final cup.
All in all, the ambiance and aura of the coffee shop is on point, the staff is welcoming and amiable, the music is never too obnoxiously loud, prices are not over the top and the overall vibe of the place is great.
However, the menu is a little restricted and you don’t get too many dessert options but whatever they are offering, will leave your taste buds satisfied. We also wish they had a menu in English because not everyone understands Arabic in the multi-cultural city that is Jeddah.
Heyla Café is a must-try for dessert aficionados and coffee buffs!
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Heyla Café: For your sugar and caffeine cravings
Heyla Café: For your sugar and caffeine cravings
Where We Are Going Today: Joontos restaurant
While staying at Dar Tantora: The House Hotel in AlUla recently, I kept coming back for seconds at the establishment’s restaurant, Joontos, awarded a Bib Gourmand distinction in the Michelin Guide 2025.
If you are also staying at the hotel, this is the breakfast option that is conveniently provided — with no buffet in sight.
On my first breakfast there, on a crisp cool morning, I overheard several guests ask if there was a buffet and each was told no, it was a la carte.
That special attention to each plate made sense moments later when my selection arrived. I did not need to be distracted or stuff my plate with a mismatch of items but focus on one decadent dish at a time.
Even if you are not a hotel guest, you can — and perhaps should — also dine there. Seating is limited, so it is best to book ahead.
You can enter either from outside the building or via the labyrinth within the hotel. Like in life, the path there seems complicated at first, but very easy once you know where to go.
The aptly-named Joontos derives from the Spanish word “juntos,” meaning “together.”
While the staff told me they tend to skirt around using the overused word fusion, the food is indeed a tasty mix of this and that.
It serves what they call “modern Saudi cuisine” from chef Jaume Puigdengolas, using local ingredients from nearby farms, with a menu medley full of international favorites.
The outdoor seating in the fresh air is spacious and offers sweeping views of the ancient rock formations. But the main view will be your beautifully curated dishes, bursting with vibrant color and even brighter flavor.
There are limited semi-indoor tables, which usually need to be reserved.
Since oranges were in season, I had freshly squeezed juice and indulged in the mascarpone croissant with berries that they recommended, both highlights. I also could not resist the plate of homemade baked bread with various sauces for dipping.
One morning, I ordered the Moroccan eggs bowl, made with freshly poached eggs — I asked for mine medium — served with roasted cherry tomatoes, olives, whipped labneh and chili oil.
I returned for several days and also for a group lunch — everything was excellent. It was consistently good.
My food arrived on time, and the service was attentive; friendly without being overbearing.
That said, on one visit, my friend ordered a granola yogurt bowl and an egg dish — the granola arrived instantly, and she raved about it, but the eggs never came.
Despite asking multiple times, they did not arrive, and we eventually had to rush out, so the rest of the order was canceled.
Joontos is deliberately kept exclusive to AlUla with no other branches, ensuring high quality and a unique experience.
It is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a smart-casual dress code.
If you travel by car, there is free parking available at Old Town South Parking, making it easy to pop in and enjoy a meal, as many locals did.
While the Dar Tantora hotel is named for the tantora atop its building — the triangular stone sundial whose shadow across the space below historically signaled the start of the farming season — perhaps the truest marking of time is one’s grumbling stomach, signaling that it is time to eat.
Follow them @joontos_alula on Instagram.
