Where We Are Going Today: Le Fournil

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Updated 11 February 2026
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Where We Are Going Today: Le Fournil

JEDDAH: La Fournil in Jeddah is a bakery that prioritizes wholesome and healthy ingredients.

The bakery’s name comes from the French word for “oven,” reflecting the traditional craftsmanship at the heart of its concept.

The speciality provided is natural yeast sourdough bread, offering a variety of shapes and sizes designed to suit dietary needs, including gluten sensitivity.

Among its standout offerings is the San Francisco-style sourdough bread, which takes up to three days to prepare. 

I sampled the sourdough coated with a traditional blend of Saudi grains. The bread stood out for its balanced texture and rich flavor and paired particularly well when served at home with labnah, salmon and olives.

After purchase, the bread is sliced upon request using a slicing machine and elegantly packed in a paper bag.

Founder and baker Abdulmohsen Bai brings more than 25 years of baking experience to the venture. He oversees production and develops new recipes, adding personal touches to each type of bread. 

La Fournil operates a single branch in Mohammadiyyah and does not supply other bakeries.

One of the bakery’s most distinctive features is its custom-built pizza oven that you see when you first enter the bakery, designed and constructed by Bai himself.

La Fournil offers more than 10 varieties of sourdough bread, with prices ranging from SR7 to SR37 ($1.87 to $9.87) depending on the type and ingredients.

For more information, visit their Instagram @lefournilksa.


Where We Are Going Today: Adani Bar in Jeddah

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Updated 13 February 2026
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Where We Are Going Today: Adani Bar in Jeddah

  • The two-way cheese sandwiches, paired with either strawberry or blueberry jam, play on sweet and savory contrasts

Located in Al-Rawdah, Adani Bar is a small cafe founded on Yemeni tea and coffee traditions, with a menu that mixes the familiar with personal interpretation.

The focus here is clearly on Adani tea. The classic version blends milk with tea and spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, cloves and habaq. It is served hot or cold and the balance remains steady in both forms.

Other drinks lean toward fusion, including the London, which combines Yemeni Haraz coffee with cinnamon paste, milk and maple syrup, and ya caramela, in which Adani tea is paired with a Haraz espresso shot and caramel sauce.

These drinks show experimentation, though some combinations feel busier than necessary and may not appeal to those who prefer simpler tastes.

Food options are limited, but show some variety nevertheless. Sandwiches such as the ultimate tuna — with sun-dried tomatoes, olives and tahini mayo — and the establishment’s turkey offering — a regional take on turkey and mozzarella — are filling without being heavy.

The two-way cheese sandwiches, paired with either strawberry or blueberry jam, play on sweet and savory contrasts.

And do not miss the lamb kebab, a new menu addition served both as a plate and a sandwich and served with yogurt, tahini and accompaniments that stay close to traditional flavors.

Desserts follow a similar approach. I tried the basboosa with Adani ice cream, which connected well with the cafe’s core theme. I also tried dibs and tahini brownies, both of which were rich and satisfying, boasting layered elements that made for generous portions.