Ask any Jeddawi and they’ll tell you that this city has some of the best sunsets – not just in the country but in the entire world. The long Corniche stretching down the west coast of Jeddah means that absolutely remarkable sunsets, with wide open pinky-orange skies reflected in the Red Sea water, are totally the norm here.
So grab a table at one of the city’s rooftop lounges or restaurants, take a walk along the promenades, or just throw out a blanket on a sea-facing stretch of grass, and enjoy your front-row seat as the sun dips below the horizon.
These are the best sunset locations in Jeddah.
1. Al Malaki Lounge Terrace
One of the city’s most glamorous evening spots, Al Malaki Lounge Terrace is right on the rooftop of the Rosewood Hotel, near the North Corniche. It’s a super-romantic place to watch the sun go down from high above the city’s hustle and bustle, with huge deep-blue pillars framing the beautiful Red Sea panorama.
Grab a table as close as you can to the outer rim of the terrace and sip on a Bellini mocktail as you make the most of the views. The terrace is open from 6pm to 11pm and gets extra lively at weekends.
2. Sunset boat tour
Picture yourself bobbing gently on the waves of the Red Sea as the evening sun’s soft reds, oranges and pinks are reflected in the water around you – surely it doesn’t get more magical than that? To get utterly uninterrupted sunset views, book a private boat tour to make the most of the golden hour accompanied by sweet sea breezes, salty spray, and the lapping of the waves – then arrive back on shore at dusk, ready for the night ahead. Roam offers a one-hour cruise with drinks and snacks, followed by dinner at the Jeddah Yacht Club.
3. Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina
If you’re fortunate enough to belong to the Jeddah Yacht Club, you’ll already know that the sunset views from the lounges and terrace are second to none. No membership? No problem.
Book a table at Jason Atherton's Marina Social Restaurant for Mediterranean fine dining as you gaze out over the luxury yachts. Or take a stroll along The Boardwalk, the Marina’s scenic waterfront promenade where there are plenty of cafes and restaurants with terrace seating. Nab a table at Lebanese Petit Café or Italian Le Vesuvio for a perfect sunset meal.
4. Jeddah Waterfront
With Jeddah’s Corniche lining 30km of the Red Sea Coast, it’s not going to be hard to find a stunning sunset viewpoint pretty much anywhere along it. Feeling active? Take a jog or ride a bike along the sports track as the sun sets and the air cools. Want to enjoy the sunset at a slower pace? Grab an ice cream and stroll along the promenade with friends and family instead. There are lovely picnic spots in the Jeddah Waterfront Park too, so do as many of the locals do, and bring a blanket to spread out for a relaxed picnic as dusk falls.
5. Park Hyatt, The Lounge and Terrace
Towards the southern part of the Corniche is the elegant Park Hyatt hotel, which has a rooftop terrace perfect for admiring the Red Sea vistas. It’s open 24/7, so come for sunset, sunrise, or anytime in between for a peaceful moment on the palm-lined terrace. This is known as one of the absolute best places in Jeddah to watch King Fahd’s Fountain, so arrive in the early evening to catch the illuminated jets at their most beautiful. Drinks and food are served on the terrace too.
6. Kaia
Kaia is not just one of Jeddah’s most stylish lounges, but a fantastic place to start your evening right, with sensational sunset views (and many, many insta-perfect photo ops). Based right on Jeddah’s waterfront, the open-air terrace is at the top of the Shangri-La hotel and has some of the city’s best sharing plates and mocktails – try the cooling passion fruit mojito. Kaia only operates for the winter season, from 6pm until midnight Tuesday to Saturday. There are often top DJs booked at weekends – make sure you reserve tables in advance.
7. Sunset sightseeing
Many of Jeddah’s most famous sights are set along the Corniche, and these waterfront icons are unforgettable when viewed at sunset. Head to King Fahd’s Fountain in the early evening, and you’ll get to see the record-breaking water jets at their most spectacular: against the setting sun and then lit up with hundreds of LED spotlights after dark. If you’re at the more northern part of the Corniche, visit the Al Rahma Mosque, also known as the Floating Mosque, as it appears to hover over the seawater at high tide. It’s a dramatically beautiful sight at sunset.
8. Blue Ocean Restaurant
A family-friendly eatery, Blue Ocean Restaurant is an ideal spot if you’re looking for somewhere relaxed and casual to dine with kids at sunset. Blue Ocean is part of the Fakieh Aquarium complex (although you don’t need an aquarium ticket to eat here) and sits right on the water’s edge.
The restaurant is Miami Beach-themed and serves everything from pasta and sandwiches to burgers, with a great selection of kiddie meals too – very reasonably priced. It’s open from 7am until 1am Saturday to Wednesday and until 2am on Thursdays and Fridays.
9. Rilassato Specialty Coffee
This cafe is a firm favourite with Jeddawis for its great coffee as well as its long list of desserts – anyone for tiramisu or San Sebastian cheesecake? There are two Rilassato branches in Jeddah, and the Corniche branch doubles up as an amazing sunset spot. This is a perfect choice if you want to sit somewhere comfy and air-conditioned to enjoy the views, but don’t want to spend a fortune on an expensive meal out for the privilege.
