Where We Are Going Today: ‘Al-Mirkaz’ restaurant in Jeddah 

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Located on King Abdulaziz Road, Al-Mirkaz is known for its luxurious atmosphere, stunning decor and five-star buffet. (Supplied)
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Located on King Abdulaziz Road, Al-Mirkaz is known for its luxurious atmosphere, stunning decor and five-star buffet. (Supplied)
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Located on King Abdulaziz Road, Al-Mirkaz is known for its luxurious atmosphere, stunning decor and five-star buffet. (Supplied)
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Updated 21 March 2025
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Where We Are Going Today: ‘Al-Mirkaz’ restaurant in Jeddah 

JEDDAH: Al-Mirkaz is a fine Ramadan dining experience, offering elegant iftar tents in Jeddah.

Located on King Abdulaziz Road, Al-Mirkaz is known for its luxurious atmosphere, stunning decor and five-star buffet. It is priced at SR560 ($150) per person for iftar or suhoor, which many food lovers will find quite expensive. 

The moment you step inside the huge tent, you are greeted warmly by the reception team, who check your reservation and lead you to your seat. The service is exceptional, with a team of European staff adding a polished and refined touch to the experience.

The setting is breathtaking, featuring a forest-like atmosphere with soft, warm lighting, stylish decor and a calming yet luxurious feel. At the center of the tent, golden metal arches and a beautifully designed Ramadan chandelier create a magical focal point. Lush greenery, wildflowers and rattan bamboo lights complete the enchanting look, making the space feel both grand and intimate.

Visitors will love the dessert stations, particularly the Middle Eastern sweets — especially the Kunafa station and the Hijazi sweets corner — where traditional flavours are served with a modern twist.

The Italian gelato counter is another standout, offering flavours inspired by the Kingdom, such as Saudi coffee and masoub. You might also like to try the masoub-flavored gelato, which is creamy and lightly sweet.

You will also love their lotus and nutella crepe cake, which is made with more than 25 layers of thin crepes filled with rich chocolate spread. 

Don’t miss the chocolate corner, featuring handcrafted chocolates, including Roshan-shaped molds of many sizes, and the trending Dubai chocolate molds in both dark and white chocolate. Other delicious options include babka, mille-feuille, macarons, cakes, puddings, and even a royal fruit station with exotic Asian fruits.

The buffet is spectacular, with a wide variety of international cuisines. From Italy, India, Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, the Levant and Morocco, every dish is beautifully presented and expertly prepared. 


Where We Are Going Today: Alkofeia in Jeddah

Updated 06 February 2026
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Where We Are Going Today: Alkofeia in Jeddah

  • The menu is extensive, with a plethora of dishes prepared fresh

In my household, weekends are a chance to step away from mundane daily chores and unwind, which usually translates into eating out and trying something different.

And, so while driving with my husband around Jeddah’s Rawdah district, Palestinian restaurant Alkofeia caught our attention with its unusual warm rustic facade.

The interiors of the multi-story restaurant exude an old-world Middle Eastern charm, with miniature roped furniture strategically hanging from the ceiling and vintage sign boards plastered across the walls. The abstract wooden tables, chairs with traditional Palestinian embroidered covers and distinctive cutlery add a unique touch. The restaurant is spacious, with both indoor and outdoor seating.

The menu is extensive, with a plethora of dishes prepared fresh.

For starters, we ordered the beetroot hummus, which was super creamy and flavorful; and the fattoush salad — which was quite fancifully served by the waiter — was fresh, crisp and tangy with the right amount of pomegranate molasses. We also shared a comforting bowl of barley soup.

For the main course, I had chicken maqlouba, which also comprised finely sliced potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes and toasted almonds; it was simply delicious. My husband had a traditional meat and rice dish garnished with toasted almonds; he quite enjoyed it but I did not. Different palates, I guess.

Both dishes came with a side of small bowls of plain yogurt.

For drinks, both of us had pomegranate juice, finely balanced between sweet and sour.

The prices are wallet-friendly given the prime location and generous portion sizes. We had enough leftovers to take home for lunch the next day.

The servers are friendly but could be a little more attentive considering the restaurant was not busy when we went.

This was my second visit — and surely, not my last.