The story
Benoit Riyadh is a French bistro at Area 1, King Abdullah Financial District, bringing Alain Ducasse's version of the Paris original to Riyadh. Gault&Millau awarded it a score of 12 in 2026.
The kitchen keeps the bistro repertoire of the Paris house, with appetizers, classic entrées and Parisian pastries. Chef Alain Ducasse works with the Riyadh executive chef on the updated menu, mixing bistro favorites with unexpected takes on familiar flavors. Gault&Millau singled out the Vichyssoise, the roast chicken with its purée and the Rossini camel, a dish that nods to the Kingdom. Its chocolate soufflé was judged too sweet.
Deep red banquettes, thick white tablecloths and vintage chandeliers set the dining room, with black-and-white prints of the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower on the walls. The Riyadh branch opened on 23 April 2025 as part of a bistro founded in Paris in 1912 by butcher Benoit Matray. Michelin lists the restaurant as Recommended for 2026.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
Like a few other big names in the restaurant world, Alain Ducasse has set up shop in Riyadh, to create a local version of the famous Parisian bistro. And what better district than the KAFD (King Abdullah Financial District) to host this concentrated vision of French dining as it is often dreamed of abroad? Almost nothing is missing: deep red banquettes, thick white tablecloths, vintage chandeliers and waiters obviously dressed as in Paris, or almost. We let our eyes wander over the black-and-white photos of the Arc de Triomphe or the Eiffel Tower hanging on the walls and, while listening to a playlist from the 70s that wouldn't make sense in Paris (Delpech, Dassin, Guichard...), we indulge with a certain delight in the great classics, from the Vichyssoise soup and the roast chicken with its pretty purée to the chocolate soufflé, unfortunately far too sweet. The menu includes a nice nod to the kingdom with the Rossini camel, service is attentive and prices largely mirror those in Paris.
Location
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