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FACT
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
All the must-try dining destinations at Solitaire Mall in Riyadh
From cute cafés to indulgent bakeries, there's something for everyone. Solitaire Mall in Riyadh is the hot spot for all things luxurious. While the mall is home to various high-end boutique stores, its dining game is equally diverse. If you want to fuel up before a shopping spree or wind down after a haul, Solitaire Mall's dining options promise a world of options under one roof. From quick bites to leisurely sit-down meals, every corner holds something delicious waiting to be discovered. Arcade Food Hall Hailing from London, Arcade Food Hall will offer a diverse dining experience on its rooftop when it opens later this year. The food hall offers an eclectic mix of global cuisines, featuring a carefully curated selection of vendors and dining options, ranging from street-style bites to fusion delicacies and classics. Arcade Food Hall's ambience is a harmonious mix of trendy and warm communal vibes. GO: Visit for more information. Angel Cakes Angel Cakes is the place to satisfy your sweet tooth, but in a healthy way. The charming café offers delicious, sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan dishes and desserts. Angel Cakes crafts every dish with health and flavour in mind, a space for conscious eaters and food lovers alike. Their menu features everything from Buckwheat Bowl to fluffy pancakes and a wide range of hot and cold beverages. GO: Visit for more information. The Butcher Shop & Grill The celebrated South African steakhouse, The Butcher Shop & Grill, brings bold flavours and rich traditions to Solitaire in Riyadh. Their menu features exquisite succulent steaks, and each cut is carefully selected by connoisseurs and prepared to perfection. GO: Visit for more information. Café Bateel Famous for its organic dates, the café reflects this sophisticated ethos, blending traditional Arabian hospitality with contemporary elegance. Whether you're visiting for a cup of traditional coffee or selecting a beautifully packaged gift, Bateel delivers quality and craftsmanship at every turn. GO: Visit for more information. Home Bakery Home Bakery is the ideal destination for those who love to indulge in the comforting taste of fresh, homemade treats. Specialising in artisanal breads, pastries and cakes, this cosy café brings the warm vibes of home baking into every bite. The inviting aroma and charming atmosphere make it a perfect spot to grab a quick bite and relax with a cup of coffee. GO: Follow @home_bakery on Instagram for more information. Joe & The Juice The viral juice and sandwich chain has become a favourite go-to spot in Riyadh. Joe & The Juice is known for serving fresh juices, smoothies, coffee, and light meals, such as sandwiches and salads. Originally from Denmark, the brand has exploded across Europe and the Middle East. The ambience takes on a hip, pink atmosphere, focusing on creating a relaxed and friendly social environment. GO: Visit for more information. Jon & Vinny's The iconic Italian-American restaurant, Jon & Vinny's, is a go-to spot for comfort food. This FACT award-winning restaurant serves classic house-made dishes, from pizza and pasta to delicious desserts and coffee. Their casual, laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff are not to be missed. GO: Follow @ on Instagram for more information. Ladurée The popular Parisian café has become the hotspot at Solitaire Mall. It offers a luxurious escape into the world of French patisserie, renowned for its iconic macarons and elegant pastries. The classic French interiors, adorned with pastel hues and ornate décor, provide the perfect setting for a leisurely coffee or a sweet treat. GO: Visit for more information. Lavazza Lavazza Cafe is a fantastic choice for a quick cup of coffee at the mall. The cafe serves speciality house blends and single-origin coffee from around the world. Lavazza Cafe's interiors are inspired by their flagship stores in Milan and London, which radiate a chic and contemporary atmosphere. With breakfast, desserts, and more, this cafe offers a wide range of options. G): Follow @lavazzasaudi on Instagram for more information. New Shanghai Modern Shanghai-style cuisine offers the most flavoursome dishes. Inspired by the city of Shanghai, the restaurant's interiors reflect its bustling atmosphere. The menu features ancient family recipes passed down from generations. The restaurant offers a diverse menu, featuring a range of dishes, including dumplings, noodles, hot pots, and pan-fried buns. While they also offer a live dumpling-making theatre, the Rainbow Beef has the FACT team returning time and again. GO: Visit for more information. PAUL Cafe Globally popular French bakery and cafe PAUL has established a stylish and welcoming location at the Solitaire Mall. It offers a distinctly European atmosphere and serves freshly baked pastries, breads and French dishes. It's the ideal place to savour a cup of coffee or enjoy a casual lunch on the go. GO: Visit for more information. Parker's Casual dining spot Parker's offers a menu that combines comfort food with creative twists. The cafe serves Instagram-worthy dishes, including burgers, loaded fries, and decadent desserts. It is Solitaire's go-to lunch spot for casual gatherings and quick coffee. Parker's unique 'key' concept adds an element of fun, encouraging diners to unlock special menu items or experiences. GO: Visit for more information. Perruche The soon-to-open Perruche will blend Parisian elegance with Mediterranean charm at Solitaire Mall. The restaurant offers a vibrant menu inspired by the sun-drenched cuisine of Provence. Offering dishes like grilled salads and Tagliatelle with Summer Truffle, paired perfectly with delicious desserts. This fine dining restaurant provides a glimpse of the French Riviera, with its warm interiors that create an inviting setting reminiscent of an urban oasis. GO: Visit for more information. Patchi Cafe Patchi Cafe is an extension of the chocolatiers' half-century-long legacy. The famous chocolate now combines its renowned chocolate heritage with a contemporary café concept. Their menu features an array of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, paired perfectly with a selection of chocolate beverages and decadent desserts. GO: Visit for more information. Somewhere A hybrid neo-Mediterranean culinary concept that offers a mix of contemporary and international dishes. The restaurant offers flavorful dishes such as Avocado Focaccia, Lahme w Batenjen Fatteh, and Wagyu Baajine. With locations in Abu Dhabi, AlUla, and Dubai, you can have a delightful dining experience that celebrates the richness of Mediterranean cuisine. Go: Visit for more information. Said Dal 1923 Brought to the Saudi capital from Rome in Italy, Said Dal 1923 is famous for its chocolate drinks and desserts. Their famous triple chocolate is one of their best-selling hot beverages, coating the cup in layers of melted chocolate. The dessert selection features cake options such as carrot and walnut, and pistachio with salted caramel. They also offer chocolate bars flavoured with chilli, cinnamon, ginger, mint and orange. GO: Follow @saiddal1923ksa on Instagram for more information. Venchi Experience European indulgence, decadent chocolates and gourmet gelato at Italy's Venchi. Their signature offering boasts a selection of fine chocolates crafted from high-quality cocoa sourced from Africa and South America. The beverage offering features drinks like the Bicerin, a traditional Turin beverage made with espresso, chocolate, and milk, and the Venchino Experience, which combines espresso with melted gianduja chocolate and whipped cream. GO: Visit for more information. Yann Couvreur Yann Couvreur Pâtisserie draws its inspiration from traditional Parisian pastries. Yann started his career in Paris and trained at the Tecomah training centre in Jouy-en-Josas. He has also created pastries for the world-famous Orient Express train. The café is known for its iconic Vanilla Mille Feuille, so try it while you're there. GO: Visit for more information.
Campaign ME
05-02-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Is your restaurant marketing ready for 2025?
The food service market in the MENA region continues to evolve, with a projected increase from $92.48 billion in 2024 to $189.87 billion by 2032, driven by the never-ending evolution of consumer preferences. In fact, 2024 was a year of culinary growth and sustainability as consumers sought diverse culinary experiences and authentic foods. Some of these trends will flourish even more. Here are the top five trends that will shape restaurant marketing in 2025: Trend #1: Loyalty programs Embracing a loyalty programme in 2025 is not just a strategic move, but a promising one. With an annual revenue growth of 12-18 per cent and a significant boost in customer satisfaction by 20–30 per cent, the potential for your business is substantial. Modern loyalty programmes, designed as sophisticated digital platforms, offer personalised experiences, track customer activity, and offer rewards like discounts and free items. This not only provides valuable insights into customer behaviour but also helps tailor your marketing strategies, optimise menus, and create targeted promotions. In 2024, gamification became one of the standout strategies for loyalty programmes. It is projected to remain central in the market as restaurants integrate points, challenges, and rewards to enhance customer engagement. Papa John's loyalty programme is a great example of this approach. The pizza chain turned every purchase into a strategic journey, resulting in substantial revenue growth. In particular, app users could earn points through various activities (and purchases) and become Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum members to receive the perks – cashback, discounts, and other pleasant surprises. Another example is Angel Cakes café, whose in-house built loyalty application tightly integrated with their Syrve POS instances ensures outstanding customer experience along with a smooth in-store operational process. With this innovative toolkit, Angel Cakes can save up to 30 per cent of the aggregator commission, leverage a CRM and marketing platform for effective communication with clients, and enjoy other exclusive benefits. Having a lower cost impact therefore creating a win-win scenario for Angel Cakes and its customers. Loyalty programmes also integrate social elements, allowing customers to share achievements and compete with friends. For example, Dunkin' Donuts Rewards includes mini-games, task-based rewards, and a social media campaign on TikTok. Videos on TikTok featured social media influencers and helped attract a Gen Z audience. This helped increase their followers by 210 per cent in under a month Trend #2: Sustainability as a point appealing to the customers Sustainability has also become one of the key strategies in restaurant marketing, as MENA consumers are drawn to brands that prioritise eco-friendly practices. For instance, 'green influencers' now impact 30 per cent of the region's population and drive the adoption of sustainable dining, including local foods, minimising waste, and using recyclable materials. This correlates with the market statistics: over 61 per cent of modern customers prefer healthier dining options and value local ingredients like za'atar, dates, and camel milk. As the MENA region increasingly focuses on the impact of climate change on food supply, cost-effective initiatives like the UAE's ne'ma are gaining traction. Restaurants are adopting AI-driven tools such as real-time inventory tracking to minimise waste and boost efficiency. AI-powered robots, like Dnata's, are revolutionising kitchen operations, making sustainability not just a responsible choice but also a cost-effective one. Furthermore, restaurants that use local ingredients and reduce waste have more loyal consumers. Take One Life Kitchen and Café, for example, which is known for its eco-friendly packaging and organic foods. Specifically, it implements waste management strategies, minimises food waste, and promotes composting. Trend #3: In-app discounts on delivery Recent advancements in the delivery sector throughout the MENA region showcase changes in technology, consumer behaviour, and strategic growth. In 2024, the area experienced a 10 per cent rise in delivery orders. To remain competitive, restaurants provide in-app discounts and delivery promotions, which attract new customers and reinforce ties with current ones. Running an in-house delivery service can be quite costly. This is why delivery platforms such as Talabat and Deliveroo are prevalent in the restaurant sector. Talabat, for instance, collaborates with more than 70,000 restaurants and has long ago processed over 100 million orders, offering smaller or newer establishments a robust platform to enhance their visibility in a competitive landscape. In 2024, a single grocery order in Dubai reached over Dh 6,800. Another customer made 988 orders yearly, amounting to over Dh 42,000. Numerous restaurants are now creating their mobile applications to combat the prevalence of third-party delivery apps. This development enables them to oversee their branding, customer information, and profit margins and provide personalised discounts. Specialised services, in particular, assist restaurants in building feature-rich apps. Transitioning to proprietary applications allows restaurants to strengthen direct customer connections and lessen reliance on outside platforms. Trend #4: Social media influencer partnerships Social media influencers are a powerful force in restaurant marketing, with 69 per cent of consumers trusting their recommendations. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are key drivers of engagement, with 40 per cent of restaurants attracting new customers and 70 per cent of diners visiting based on social media promotions. Influencer partnerships can effectively boost visibility and reputation, helping to create a loyal customer base. Salt, a popular burger joint in Dubai, is a prime example of how influencer marketing can significantly grow a brand's presence. By inviting local food influencers, Salt became a hot topic in the region and has grown to 328,000 active followers in the last year. This growth was mainly due to influencer partnerships, which helped Salt reach a broader audience. The visually appealing content featuring Salt's signature sliders and vibrant dining experience shared in these partnerships was particularly effective in engaging potential customers. Another example of a viral collaboration is the partnership between Khalid Al Ameri, who has over 3 million followers, and Zaatar w Zeit. In 2023, Khalid created a series of comedy videos and posts showing the restaurant's signature dishes. The collaboration quickly gained traction, with Khalid's posts about Zaatar w Zeit generating over 500,000 views within the first week. In fact, Zaatar w Zeit reported a 25 per cent increase in foot traffic at their locations. Trend #5: Ghost kitchens and virtual brands Ghost kitchens and virtual restaurant brands are transforming the food and beverage industry in the MENA region. Practically speaking, ghost kitchens significantly lower overhead costs by cutting out conventional dining spaces; meanwhile, virtual brands enhance this movement by offering creative, delivery-focused menus that align with contemporary consumer tastes, addressing the increasing need for convenient dining options. As a vivid example, Kitopi is a successful ghost kitchen. Launched in Dubai in 2018, it has rapidly expanded its regional operations, with over 75 ghost kitchens. Kitopi manages the cooking, packaging, and delivery processes, while restaurants provide their recipes and brand identity. At the core of Kitopi's operations is its Smart Kitchen Operating System (SKOS), which integrates real-time data analytics, such as inventory management, cooking times, and delivery scheduling. Restaurants pay an initial onboarding fee to integrate into Kitopi's system and then share a percentage of their revenue (typically around 10-13 per cent) with Kitopi. As we move into 2025, restaurants will explore new strategies and refine their operations by focusing on personalisation, digitisation, and improving customer experiences. And don't forget about social media. Influencer partnerships will help to enhance credibility and reach a broader audience. By Alexander Ponomarev, CEO of Syrve MENA.
