Benoit

Rating: 12
Author: Gault&Millau

Al Aqiq, Riyadh 13519, Saudi Arabia

12/20
Gourmet Restaurant

BOOK

5 PHOTOS

Chef: Amr Abdel Hafez
Cooking: French
Style: Bistro/Brasserie

Gault&Millau's review 2026

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.