
Where We Are Going Today: Tar'fay cafe in Alkhobar
In historic northern Alkhobar — where tradition and the contemporary collide — lies a quintessential Eastern Province cafe: The eclectic and quirky world of Tar'fay.
A kaleidoscope of color and craft, the cafe is the best-kept local secret.
Everything we tried was delicious — their famous cake slice, affectionately known as 'cake heart of Khobar,' features a tiny red heart in the corner and goes for SR15 ($4).
Opened in 2023, the cafe is the brainchild of a Saudi woman creative whose name it proudly carries. More than just a cafe, Tar'fay hosts a variety of artsy events; their recent calendar has been packed with workshops like junk journaling, rubber-stamp making and a teddy bear workshop.
This is the place where you would take someone from out of town to show them the aura and essence of Alkhobar.
It is also the spot in which locals park their laptops and work while sipping on some coffee or matcha.
Tar'fay hosts a treasure trove of items and every space is full of vibrant and inspiring art to help fuel your creative energy as you fuel up on caffeine. They even have fun mugs that feel like a hug for your hands.
It is an Instagram and TikTok haven but also a great spot to slow down and delve into a physical book — many of which are supplied on the coffee tables.
Tar'fay is a gathering space for creatives with a large communal table and plenty of nooks to nestle in and read, or scroll on your phone.
The cafe is open daily. Check out Tar'fay's Instagram page for more @tarfay.sa.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Asharq Al-Awsat
28 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Foreign Minister Arrives in Kuwait to Participate in GCC Ministerial Meeting
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, arrived in Kuwait to participate in the 164th Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Saudi Press Agency said on Monday. The Minister was received at Kuwait International Airport by Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, and Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait, Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khaled. The Ministerial Meeting of the GCC is scheduled to discuss ways to promote joint GCC action, developments in regional and international arenas, and efforts made in this regard.


Al Arabiya
32 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Raising the Kaaba's Kiswa: An annual Hajj tradition explained
Raising the Kiswa – the black cloth covering the Holy Kaaba in Mecca – is an annual tradition preceding the Hajj season that signals the start of the Muslim pilgrimage and protects the black silk and gold cloth from damage. The act involves raising the lower part of the Kiswa and covering it with white cloth, creating a barrier. The black cloth, crafted from black silk and adorned with Quranic verses, that drapes over the Kaaba, is a symbol of reverence and marks the sanctity of the holiest site in Islam. It is changed annually. Raising Kiswa during Hajj During the Hajj season, the Kiswa is traditionally raised, not as an act of worship, but for practical reasons that have evolved over time. Each era has offered its own explanation or wisdom behind this practice. Historically, lifting the Kiswa signaled the beginning of the Hajj season, alerting the faithful to the start of the sacred rituals and the arrival of pilgrims from across the globe to perform the fifth pillar of Islam. It also helped protect the Kiswa from potential damage due to the large crowds. Deeply rooted tradition Over the centuries, this act became a deeply rooted tradition, carefully upheld by Muslim rulers and authorities. Today, the Kiswa is raised well ahead of the Hajj season primarily to preserve it from wear and tear caused by the dense crowds around the Kaaba, and to prevent pilgrims or Umrah performers from cutting off pieces as keepsakes or seeking blessings. Historical sources indicate that this practice dates to the early Islamic period, when the Kiswa was lifted to make it visible to pilgrims performing circumambulation around the Kaaba.


Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Makkah mobile stroke unit saves Ugandan pilgrim
MAKKAH: A medical team stationed at the Grand Mosque in Makkah successfully intervened to save a Ugandan male pilgrim who suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage, the Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday. The pilgrim reportedly lost consciousness within the Grand Mosque due to the hemorrhage, prompting an immediate response from the specialized unit. "The Ugandan pilgrim received critical treatment within an impressive 16 minutes — one-sixth of the internationally accepted standard time of 60 minutes for such cases," said the report, quoting the Makkah Health Cluster. After getting emergency care, the patient was transferred to King Abdulaziz Hospital for further comprehensive medical treatment. He is now undergoing rehabilitation and expected to be discharged to complete his pilgrimage. As part of Hajj preparations, a Mobile Stroke Unit affiliated with King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) is stationed at the Grand Mosque. The team is made up of a neurologist, cardiologist, respiratory therapist, emergency nurse, radiologist, and paramedic and equipped with advance diagnostic devices. Each year, tens of thousands of Hajj pilgrims benefit from various healthcare services provided by health centers and hospitals in the holy sites. Saudi Arabia deploys around 50,000 healthcare and other professionals to work 24 hours daily during Islam's most important gathering. Last week, a medical team at the Eye Health Center of King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah saved the sight of an Egyptian pilgrim who experienced sudden vision loss.