Take a Swedish break without the flight to Sweden — right in the Eastern Province.

We made the drive to Saihat to sample from the original branch of Fika & Go, which opened three years ago. The hole-in-the-wall joint is reminiscent of the coffee shops I came across on my recent trip to Stockholm, where I quickly adopted “fika” into my diet and daily itinerary.

The name of the cafe itself is a nod to the Swedish tradition of “fika.” Coined in the 19th century by scrambling the syllables of the word “kaffi,” the old Swedish spelling of coffee, “fika” began as playful slang for the drink itself.

Over the 20th century, it took on a new meaning: a moment of connection with others while savoring a light, sweet treat.

The classic fika staple, the kanelbulle — or cinnamon bun — was the first thing I dug into (SR9, $2) alongside an iced latte (SR14) to help with the scorching summer heat. It hit the spot just fine, though it was slightly different from the ones I tasted in Sweden. 

We followed that with an assortment of croissants, each more satisfying than the last. We liked the new akkawi cheese croissant (SR16) and the zataar chocolate one (SR12).

The cheesecake eclair ball was definitely an easy bite, filled with gooey goodness. We also liked the mini mille-feuille, which oozed pastry cream in the right proportion. 

The Saihat location offered clean and fast service, but there was zero seating and no restroom. Many delivery drivers were coming in and out for HungerStation orders. True to its name, that branch really is “fika and go” — strictly takeaway. 

A year ago, the brand expanded to Alkhobar. Unlike the original, this one has indoor seating, making it more of a sit-down cafe experience. 

In a region packed with cafes, Fika & Go has carved out its own identity by fusing Scandinavian rituals with Middle Eastern flavors — offering a little taste of Stockholm, with a Saudi twist. 

For more details, check their Instagram @fika_and_go.