Sibon (written S!bon) is a place I have passed countless times but had never visited. This beautifully lit patisserie has been open for over eight months, and would put many bakeries in Jeddah to shame, so I’m surprised I haven’t heard more about the place.
Neighboring ‘Shogun Lounge’ on Prince Sultan Street, Sibon was brought to Jeddah by the people behind Casper and Gambini, and if the desserts at Casper are anything to go by (I’m a big fan of their tiramisu), I felt sure Sibon would be fantastic. Fortunately for me, I wasn’t far off.
Post-Ramadan and I’m still trying to shed the pounds, but temptation took over, and there was no stopping me as I walked into Sibon, taking in all that was on offer. The venue is impressive to say the least, double height ceilings give the bakery a grandiose feel, and the backlit slabs of luminous yellow marble which cover the walls (and ceiling) suggest the owners certainly spared no expense in the design of the interior. Upon entering Sibon you’re initially met with a long glass counter which runs along the left side of the wall; the counter is filled with dozens of intricately made delectable looking cakes — the kind that wouldn’t look out of place in a children’s book.
With so much on offer, this is where I stopped (or started) and began my journey through the patisserie, ordering enough pastries to fill my stomach many times over!
The chocolate mille feuille immediately caught my attention, as it was unusual in the sense that it was square instead of rectangular which I was accustomed to; perhaps more unusual was the fact that it stood upright with its layers of puff pastry tightly sandwiching the chocolate custard filling with the help of a small red ribbon which is a nice touch.
The mille feuille was soon joined in the box by the asfahan, a pistachio layer cake soaked in rosewater. Most impressive was the St. Honoré which is similar to a large profiterole — the pudding has a puff pastry base, and is covered with a ring of pâte à choux (profiterole pastry) and then filled with fresh cream. To top it off, thin slivers of caramelized sugar also cover the pâte à choux for a truly indulgent (if calorific) treat.
Also ordered were the strawberry tart, exotique tart, the tarte a citron, a hazelnut dessert, a strawberry and a cop banana (a chocolate mousse filled with a large slice of banana and then layered in dark chocolate sauce).
All were exceptional. The ‘cop banana’, St. Honoré and tarte citron were particularly good. The asfahan was a little too rose-watery for my liking.
Before leaving I had a look at the bakery at the back of Sibon and was impressed by the selection of fresh breads and pastries (Apparently baked each morning at 9 a.m., so I imagine a visit at 9.30 would be best if you like your croissants hot!). I couldn’t help taking a few brioche (plain and orange) home, along with a chocolate almond croissant and some English cakes.
The English cakes received mixed reviews, while the chocolate nut brownie mini-muffins were dry; the cardamom cakes were better. Our favorites were the pistachio and vanilla mini-muffins; these were almost polar opposites of the others, moist to the point of being almost gooey in texture, ideal for a small treat with coffee.
The butter brioche were soft; I particularly enjoyed the orange brioche as it was covered in soft orange zest. As for the almond chocolate croissant, it was the only real disappointment.
The staff were incredibly helpful, and knowledgeable about the ingredients of each item, The store manager kindly helped me in ordering items and one of the team also helped us carry the boxes to the car.
Prices are similar to other fine patisseries in town; the small cakes vary from about SR8 to 11. Half a kilo of English muffins set me back SR42 and the pastries, e.g brioche, were SR4 each.
Considering the effort that goes into these things, the prices seem pretty reasonable. However, it’s the taste of the cakes that should draw you to Sibon, as they really are very good. Another example of a place in Jeddah living up to its name! C’est si bon! Bon Appétit!
Location: Prince Sultan Street, next to Shogun Lounge
Tel: 966 2 606 3143
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. till midnight
