It’s true that all artists usually need is to close the door and immerse themselves in their craft.
However, the well of creativity can run dry, bringing with it panic and despair. For me, replenishing that well requires mingling with people, whether up close or from a distance, observing them, listening to their conversations, or finding solace in a breathtaking natural scene that puts my problems into perspective and inspires me to really dive into my work.
Since settling in Riyadh, I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect places to frequent within my corner of the city, specifically its eastern part. (I know it sounds too specific a locale, but if you haven’t been, Riyadh is a sprawling metropolis, so vast that it would take forever to explore it all.)
My expectations are a bit different. Sure, like everyone else, I chase after the perfect cup of coffee, delicious food, and cool air conditioning – reading this article during the scorching summer months is quite different from reading it in winter. However, at the top of my list is finding places with an atmosphere that helps with my writing, especially when it becomes challenging.
So, here are my suggestions of places that inspire me, and I believe will inspire you too.
First, A Creative's Breakfast
I happened upon Civilization Café by accident, while simply searching for a decent cup of coffee. I then found myself going there every day for a month! Picture yourself settling into a vintage red chair, facing a glass table adorned with intriguing artefacts. Peering into it, you might spot rare coins salvaged from a second world war shipwreck or video tapes of childhood favourites like Grendizer, Heidi, and Zina the Bee – a delightful wave of nostalgia. Surrounding you are ornate windows, a swing by the door, old blue lamps, and a traditional straw mat dining area. It’s an experience like no other.
Going through the café’s door transports you into the past, to a delicious breakfast that isn’t actually the star of the experience; the real highlight is the meticulously curated details that captivate your senses. The coffee shop offers outdoor seating, and I know the first thought that came to your mind. I agree with you. The idea of being outside is off-putting in this heat, even with all the air conditioning and shade. But it’s OK, as it will eventually turn into winter, when Civilization Café is truly unmissable.
After breakfast, don’t leave the café before viewing the rest of the artefacts distributed on the tables. You may find dishes from King Saud’s palace, old school textbooks, or other things worth checking out.
Imam Abdullah bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz, Al Yarmuk, Riyadh 13243
Alternative option:
Dawar Al Sa’ada: Grab your breakfast and enjoy the cool, morning breeze. @dawar_sa
Coffee O'Clock
My preference for working in public places resonates strongly with what English writer Neil Gaiman recently said in an interview. He mentioned that he needs a moderately busy place with soft sounds; to feel the presence of people around him while he works, but without his thoughts drowning in a sea of their noise or being distracted by a crowd of patrons. And the small HAI Coffee & Roasters, which kind of feels like a typical bachelor’s apartment in Riyadh, is the best café that met my complex cravings.
HAI barely accommodates 12 chairs, and its patrons are mostly from the neighbourhood, coming in by themselves or visiting in pairs. In this cosy spot, even your headphones are unnecessary, because people’s faint murmurs are the best white noise you need.
The café’s simple yet elegant decor doesn’t demand more than your minimal attention, whether it’s the dark wooden furniture, the scattered green trees, the worn white cupboard with the stylish white typewriter perched on one of its shelves, or even the antique brown grandmother clock above it. All these details quickly fade into the background, becoming, like the sounds, mere tools to help you get more immersed in your art.
Perhaps HAI’s only challenge is what makes it stand out; its narrow space forces you to choose which time to visit to avoid crowds.
Alternative options:
- Mkth: As soon as you enter, head to the back of the venue to reserve the best seat, overlooking a small green space. And when the holidays come around, rush to secure a seat in its outdoor area, because it’s always extremely crowded inside. @mkth.sa
- TERRA CAFE: A hub for art in east Riyadh, this café provides a suitable atmosphere for artists to gather from all over the capital. @terracafe.sa
- BeeHive Art: Another destination for artists, this coffee spot takes over an entire floor, curated for artists to socialise and practice, away from the public. @beehivecafe_sa
A Working Lunch
My mother says I have the taste buds of a six-year-old. And truth be told, her description is more accurate than it is sarcastic, because I dislike most things kids do, like dates, raisins, and honey. However, at this age, I still judge food based on look, colour, and texture.
So, what makes a connoisseur like you read a review by a writer like me? All I have up my sleeve are modest suggestions for places that provided me with food, as well as exceptional experiences.
Roshan Front: If I had to choose somewhere to get all my work done, it would be here. Cinemas, restaurants, cafés, a lot of people and conversations in front of me and around me, and on top of that, musical and artistic performances and mobile libraries that suddenly appear as a good idea in one’s head. @roshnfrontksa
Cenomi Al Nakheel Mall: Is it the strange bridge, the several astonishing viewpoints, or the intriguing people? I couldn’t determine the reason this shopping complex got my attention. It is usually my first destination when I want to buy something, or feel like strolling around in the scorching noon heat. @alnahkeelmallriyadh
Finding a Siesta Spot
After such effort, you need to relax at a quiet coffee shop. Despite my suggestion, it’s not a black and white one, as I do not like comfortable places too much. It is impossible for me to get any work done without yawning to the point of boredom. However, I believe this is a natural reaction to Adab’s soft sofas, muted lighting, and air conditioning. The welcoming atmosphere lives up to all the stereotypes related to literature and writers.
So, if after lunch, you’re drowsily seeking a quiet place to relax, read, draw, or meet a friend, Adab is the perfect place. Voices get lost in its spaciousness and under its high ceiling, as if there’s only one floor separating it from the sky.
Alternative options:
- Tena Tea: I’m not a fan of tea, but the combination of nuts and fine tea at this establishment will please anyone, even me.
- Daily Cup and Al Hamdan Heritage Museum: pick up your coffee from a walk-up window this time, rather than your car, then go back in time in the museum that displays everything from the oldest cameras in the history of the Kingdom to antique swords and rifles. @dailycup.sa Museum: 4816 At Tarfawi, Al Khaleej, Riyadh 13224
The Evening Shift
This varies from one person to another. You might spend the early evening in the enormous Granada Mall, which always makes me feel like a lost child at a shopping centre, and catch a movie at Reel Cinemas, as I did. Or head north to attend one of the literary partners’ meetings at TASHKEEL.
Whatever kind of artist you are, try using social apps such as Meetup to look up people with shared interests at a café near you (a helpful tip due to the size of Riyadh and its population).
Time to Clock Out
A lot has been said in praise of silence, but it’s hardly enough, as I feel it’s a sacred and indescribable feeling. So, my recommendation as the day comes to a close is to park and explore a wonderfully quiet neighbourhood. The star at the end of the day? Eastern Riyadh’s Al Jazeera Park, which is by a residential part of the area.
The deeper I delve, the less movement around me there is, and the sound of my footsteps became louder. There’s a half-alive, half-dead tree that catches the eye, a bench on the sidewalk, a door with branches spread out around, and enough silence to contemplate all of this. For me, the experience of such places is mysteriously magical, locations that feel slightly secretive, triggering my imagination 100 times better than walking along a meticulously cared-for path with its smallest details. Art is an act that begins with contemplation, and nothing helps you like a walk in the neighbourhood surrounding this park.
Alternative option:
Prince Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf Park: A friend of mine (and athlete), who helped me find great suggestions, insisted on this park (so don’t hold me accountable for it)! He says it has tea shops, food booths, excellent seating areas, and more.
*Make sure to double check the museum’s opening hours before dropping by.
