A glamorous new restaurant in Jeddah’s Assila Hotel puts you at the center of the world with a special Ramadan theme that celebrates international cuisine and music from around the globe.
24 Restaurant Assila offers delicious homemade Italian patisseries, ice creams and desserts as well as a mix of international, Saudi and Middle Eastern buffet options for iftar and suhoor.
The large buffet has everything: High-quality meats, cheeses, desserts, an organic food bar, fresh fruits and veggies, yogurts, dips, fresh juices and homemade varieties of granola.
Chef de cuisine at the restaurant Daniel Vicente Atunes is a Portuguese national who has worked in leading restaurants and five-star hotels around the world. He is experienced in Arabic, Italian, French, Spanish and Thai cuisine.
For starters, enjoy the smell of cooked harirah and mushroom soup ladled out of a huge pot. The scent alone is sure to make you eager for iftar.
Harirah is a traditional soup from the Maghreb region, consumed in Morocco and western Algeria. It is popular as a starter, but is also eaten on its own as a light snack. There are many variations and it is mostly served during Ramadan.
Eating the hot dessert of Umm Ali with a ball of coffee ice cream while sipping delicious Turkish coffee after iftar is the perfect end to a sumptuous meal.
Umm Ali is an Egyptian dessert containing puff pastry, milk and nuts. Any kind of nuts can be added and you can eat it with a spoon. Legend has it that Umm Ali was the first wife of the Mamluk Sultan Ezz El-Din Aybek.
But to talk solely of starters and dessert would be misleading as what lies between is what makes this restaurant truly shine.
A fresh tasty lamb was served in a huge ornamented steel tray for everyone to enjoy at the buffet.
If meat to your liking, the pasta station has choices galore. Pesto pasta was the most delicious and colorful choice with a twist of dried cherry tomato. It is best enjoyed warm and is loaded with protein and fiber.
Pesto sauce originates in Genoa, in the northern region of Italy. It traditionally consists of crushed garlic, pine nuts, salt, leaves, Parmesan cheese and olive oil.
Refreshing drinks to wash it all down
This year, the holy month of Ramadan falls in the summer, making fasting a tough task for Muslims who abstain from food and drink until sunset. As the body loses liquids, Muslims need to drink more after iftar in order to avoid dehydration.
In addition to the everyday drinks of Ramadan, such as Laban and Vimto, this buffet provides traditional Ramadan drinks that can keep you hydrated.
Amar el din contains enough sugar to boost the digestive system without over-stimulating it. Made from either rolled dried apricot or dried apricot paste, amar el din contains digestive aids, metabolism regulators and vitamins.
Tamer Hindi is popular in Arabic countries. Tamer Hindi is a very sour drink that is considered the twin of hibiscus as it is made almost in the same way.
Karkade is refreshing hot or cold with a color that is as intense as the flavor. Karkade is a sweet infusion made from hibiscus flower. Karkade, which is a typical Ramadan drink, is also served during other occasions, such as weddings.
Erk sous, is another popular drink in Arab countries, especially Egypt and Syria. It is a black, mildly sweet and slightly bitter beverage made from licorice root.
Jallab is a popular drink around the Middle East, especially in Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. The drink is made of dates, grape molasses and rose water and served with lots of ice and topped with pine nuts and raisins.
While the prices at most buffets have gone up considerably in many Jeddah hotels, the quality of food you will find at this restaurant make SR310 a convincing enough spend.
The Assila Hotel is located at the heart of Tahliah Street, one of Jeddah’s most fashionable business and shopping districts.
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— Photos by Huda Bashatah
Assila Hotel’s 24 Restaurant: An ideal Ramadan meal to delight the senses
Assila Hotel’s 24 Restaurant: An ideal Ramadan meal to delight the senses
Where We Are Going Today: Savory cinnamon rolls at Darcin
- The labneh zaatar roll was also a great choice, similar to a manakeesh with its creamy and aromatic flavor
Have you ever had a savory cinnamon bun? Neither had we, but Darcin has changed the game. As their slogan says, it’s “not your ordinary spice — it’s cinnamon with attitude.”
The self-proclaimed “Home of the Cinnamon Roll” is in Riyadh’s Al-Rayyan district. It invites you to its outdoor seating area through a wall of natural greenery, equipped with heating lamps that make it the perfect spot to spend a cozy winter night reading a book or catching up with friends.
We started off with the halloumi pesto roll, which was savory, indulgent and vibrant with creamy basil flavors. The bun itself was extremely soft, almost like a Japanese milk bun, and the halloumi was well cooked and topped with sundried tomatoes.
The labneh zaatar roll was also a great choice, similar to a manakeesh with its creamy and aromatic flavor.
We capped our meal by indulging our sweet tooth; there are a decent number of options, ranging from a mixed berry cheesecake and pistachio kinafeh to halawa or a creamy tiramisu. It was tough to pick from all the mouthwatering cinnamon rolls on offer, but we settled on the maple pecan, which was great if you’re not looking for something too intensely sweet.
The coffee was also great, and the venue was quite busy for a weekend evening, with all the outdoor seating occupied at some point.
One thing to note is that we didn’t get the best service when we were there. The staff were not especially helpful in providing recommendations, oddly telling us they had no savory options until we proved otherwise by pointing at the menu.
Regardless, it’s a lovely place to visit if you are seeking new places to hang out in Riyadh or want to grab a treat to take home. They have a selection of sharing boxes that would be great for a night in or a large gathering.
