Category: Food & Drinks

I’ve been publishing my annual Ramadan buffet list since 2013, which means I’ve built a pretty solid and interesting archive of pricing data over the years. Below is the list of Ramadan buffets, updated for 2026. The list divided into two parts, hotels and restaurants. If I missed a place let me know in the comments, especially really cheap/affordable buffets.

If there has been an increase or decrease in price compared to the previous year then I’ve also highlighted that.

HOTELS

Al Jahra Copthorne Hotel & Resort – Taima’a Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD9.5
Telephone: 24590000

Arabella Hotel – Icon Rooftop Lounge
Buffet Price: KD18
Telephone: 22277744

Arabella Hotel – Envy Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD16
Telephone: 22277744

Courtyard by Marriott – Atrium
Buffet Price: KD17 (+2.000)
Telephone: 22997000

Crowne Plaza – Al Ahmadi Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD17
Telephone: 1848111

Four Seasons – Jawaher Tent
Buffet Price: KD28 (+1.000)
Telephone: 22006000

Four Seasons – Li Beirut
Buffet Price: KD27 (-1.000)
Telephone: 22006000

Grand Hyatt – Miral
Buffet Price: KD22 (+2.000)
Telephone: 22007698

Grand Majestic Hotel
Buffet Price: KD7.950 (-0.050)
Telephone: 22254700

Hilton Garden Inn – The Avenues
Buffet Price: KD22 (+2.000)
Telephone: 22262000

Jumeirah Messilah Beach – Majliss Tent
Buffet Price: KD28 (+4.000)
Telephone: 22269600

JW Marriott – Terrace Grill
Buffet Price: KD27
Telephone: 22063636

Kuwait Continental Hotel
Buffet Price: KD9.5 (+1.550)
Telephone: 22527300

Marina Hotel
Buffet Price: KD20 (+3.000)
Telephone: 22230030

Millennium Hotel – Lamar International Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD15
Telephone: 22050505

Montrose – Free Zone – Bays Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD14 (-1.000)
Telephone: 22055700

Movenpick – Al Bida’a – Breeze Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD18 (+3.000)
Telephone: 22253100

Park Inn by Radisson
Buffet Price: KD18
Telephone: 22068540

Radisson Blu – Al Bustan Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD19.5 (+1.000)
Telephone: 25673000

Safir Hotel – Fintas
Buffet Price: KD16 (+4.100)
Telephone: 25455555

St Regis – Diamond Ballroom Tent
Buffet Price: KD30
Telephone: 22422055

Symphony Style Hotel
Buffet Price: KD15 (+1.000)
Telephone: 25770000

SVN
Buffet Price: KD19
Telephone: 1876777

The Regency Kuwait – Silk Road Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD24
Telephone: 25766666

Waldorf Astoria – Oxio
Buffet Price: KD29 (+1.000)
Telephone: 24774414

RESTAURANTS

Almayass
Buffet Price: KD12 (+0.500)
Telephone: 25761001

Assaha Lebanese Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD14 (+1.250)
Telephone: 22533377

Babel
Set Menu Price: KD14.950
Telephone: 22081111

Dar Hamad
Buffet Price: KD16
Telephone: 22275555

IKEA
Set Menu Price: KD2.95
Telephone: 1840408

Jihan Khanah
Buffet Price: KD10
Telephone: 1819991

Kuwait Towers
Buffet Price: KD13
Telephone: 24965500

Leila Min Lebnen
Set Menu Price: KD12 (-3.000)
Telephone: 22996414

Mughal Mahal – Hawally
Buffet Price: KD6.45 (-1.000)
Telephone: 22626782

Naranj
Buffet Price: KD12
Telephone: 22268666

Paul
Set Menu Price: KD12.5
Telephone: 22208204

Saraya Palace
Buffet Price: KD8
Telephone: 25712998

Vapiano
Set Menu Price: KD7.950
Telephone: 22597171

Villa Fayrouz
Buffet Price: KD12
Telephone: 22650052

Don’t forget to get your loved one a Shani today. shaniday.com

Valentine’s is this weekend, so here’s a list of 16 romantic restaurants that have something planned for the occasion.

All the places shared are doing something for Valentine’s, whether it’s special set menus, live music, or decorations. I’ve also included the starting price, but keep in mind that some restaurants charge more for outdoor seating or offer different set menus, so it’s call the restaurant you’re interested in for more details.

Vigonovo
No minimum

JARS
From KD 25 per couple

Kei
From KD 45 per couple

Cantina
From KD 50 per couple

Roka
From KD 60 per couple

Al Boom
From KD 70 per couple

Paparazzi
From KD 70 per couple

Solange
From KD 80 per couple

Mei Li
From KD 90 per couple

Peacock
From KD 100 per couple

Dai Forni
From KD 110 per couple

Li Beirut
From KD 110 per couple

Republique
From KD 110 per couple

OFK
From KD 110 per couple

Sintoho
From KD 120 per couple

Ricardo
From KD 160 per couple

Last night, the winners of this year’s Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants were announced in Abu Dhabi, and two restaurants from Kuwait made the list.

Cantina and Matbakhi both earned spots on the 50 Best Restaurants list, with Cantina ranking 18th and Matbakhi coming in 50th. Cantina’s ranking is pretty incredible and the highest ever achieved by a Kuwait based restaurant on the 50 Best list.

Previous Kuwaiti restaurants that made the list include White Robata in 2022 and 2023, and Bonjiri in 2023.

The Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants list was launched in 2022 and is published every year. Restaurants are voted for by 250 respected food and restaurant industry experts from across the region, all chosen for their knowledge and experience of the local dining scene.

For the full list of 2026 winners, click here.

La Petite Maison Abu Dhabi is hosting a 50 Best Signature Session in collaboration with MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, and they’ve invited a Kuwaiti chef to take part in the event.

Chef Basmah Marouf, best known for her concept Cantina, will be collaborating with an international chef on a one night only dinner on February 5. The evening will feature an exclusive four course set menu created especially for the event.

Being invited to take part in a 50 Best Signature Session is a pretty big deal, and since the event is being promoted by 50 Best, it does make me wonder if Cantina might have made it onto their Top 50 Best Restaurants list. We’ll find out for sure when the winners are announced on February 3.

For more info on the dinner, head to @lpmabudhabi. To find out next month if Cantina made it onto MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, keep an eye on @menas50best.

The Neighbourhood is a nostalgic space built around good coffee and food. Their first location in Kuwait opened last year in Qortuba, and a few weeks ago they opened their second location, this time in the brand new Hessah District.

The new location is bigger than the first, with plenty of outdoor seating along with some indoor seating. It’s located right at the start of Hessah District, and the outdoor area overlooks the main road. Inside, the space follows the same nostalgic look that made the original location popular, with dark brown wood, beautiful tiles, and the striped umbrellas that have become synonymous with the brand.

The fresh-baked goods section and the new protein boost menu have become the main reasons people keep coming back. The award-winning matcha is another big draw, alongside the newly introduced hojicha and specialty coffee, which pair perfectly with the menu.

If you’re looking for a new, cool outdoor spot for coffee, good bites and vibes, the weather is perfect to try out the new location (Google Maps). There’s plenty of parking, and it also gives you a reason to pass by and check out Hessah District if you haven’t already. Check them out @nbrhood.me

Ever since Nando’s reopened in Kuwait, I’ve been a regular, usually ordering my go-to dish, the Espetada with the hot peri-peri sauce. If you’ve never been to Nando’s, the best way to describe the Espetada is that it’s their version of taouk. It’s flame-grilled boneless PERi-PERi chicken thighs served to your table on a skewer hanging from a stand. It’s pretty eye-catching, and you’ll usually notice people glancing your way when it arrives.

Recently, Nando’s launched their most epic Espetada to date, the Espetada A Torre Dukkah Lima, which was created to feel a bit more special than the usual lineup. The dish still features flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken thighs, but this time they’re stuffed with a spiced PERi-dukkah and cream cheese filling, layered with yellow pepper, red onion, and lime, then finished with a PERi and herb tahini pour-over sauce. You also get to choose your sides, and my favorites are the corn on the cob and coleslaw.

It’s a good excuse to try the Espetada if you’ve never had it before. It’s available for dine-in at The Marina Crescent, Assima Mall, The Warehouse Mall, and Al Kout Mall. If you don’t feel like leaving the house, their menu is also available on Talabat. If you want to check out the full menu and prices, they have it linked in their profile @nandos.kw

If you still haven’t booked your New Year’s Eve dinner, here are three options worth checking out.

Solange
Solange, one of my favorite restaurants, is hosting a New Year’s Eve evening with a live performance, a curated menu by the visionary Alan Yau, and a countdown to the new year.
Minimum charge is KD 40 per person.
Book Here

Paparazzi
Paparazzi is going with a festive Italian vibe, featuring a live Italian swing band, a welcome drink, a special dessert, and a countdown to the new year.
Minimum charge is KD 35 per person.
Book Here

Giulia
Giulia’s New Year’s Eve includes a live performance, special decorations, a welcome drink, and a countdown to welcome the new year.
Minimum charge is KD 32.5 per person.
Book Here

Every year I pick 6 New Year’s Eve dinners to highlight, but this year there are 7 since I added one extra option that doesn’t require a minimum spend or advance booking. I’ve mixed up the list with different styles and vibes, so check them out below.

The list is in alphabetical order and the prices listed are per person. If you have other recommendations just share them in the comments.

Odachi at SVN
Includes live music and fire show, set menu and welcome drink
KD 40

OffTheCoal
Includes live DJ and a set menu curated by Chef Sebastiano Campanelli
KD 35

Piatti
Includes live DJ, performance by Arabs Got talent finalist magician, Khalid Al-Muhareb and a set menu.
KD 65

Republique
Includes live entertainment with a curated set menu
Outdoors: KD 95
Indoors: KD 85

SALT at Blajaat
Includes photo booth, live DJ, sparklers and party blowers
No minimum spend or reservation required

Solange
Includes live performance, a set menu curated by Alan Yau and a welcome drink
Minimum Charge: KD 40

Table Otto
Includes live music performance, a set menu and a goodie bag
From: KD 55

Update: Table Otto just decided to cancel their NYE dinner so here’s an alternative, Matcho is hosting a rooftop NYE with a live DJ at The Hub. No booking required or minimum spend, they’ll be offering their usual menu.

I just found out from a Deliveroo press release that the delivery app Cari will be leaving the Kuwait market. According to a press release, Deliveroo have made a deal with Cari following Cari’s decision to leave Kuwait market. As part of the deal, Cari’s customers will be invited to join Deliveroo get free Deliveroo Plus Gold for 6 months and a KD10 voucher.

I thought I didn’t know anyone that still used Cari but yesterday I found out I had a friend who still did so I guess they had a following just not large enough to survive. After launching pretty strong back in 2022 they kinda fell of the radar for me. I was using them initially and liked their service but I eventually stopped using them although I don’t remember why anymore.

If you’re a Cari customer you have until January 11, 2026 to redeem this offer.

If you’re looking for a place to dine on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, here are some restaurants in Kuwait offering special Christmas menus.

All the options are hotels, except for Vigonovo. The cheapest option I found is the Grand Majestic Hotel at KD 7.5 per person for a buffet, while the most expensive is Riccardo at KD 40 per person for a set menu. Check out the list below:

Courtyard by Marriott
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 16.9 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 18.9 (Buffet)
@courtyardkuwait

Crowne Plaza Hotel
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 17 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 18 (Buffet)
@crowneplazakuwaitatc

Grand Majestic Hotel
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 7.5 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Dinner: KD 7.5 (Buffet)
@grandmajestichotels

Holiday Inn Salmiya
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 13.900 (Buffet)
@holidayinnkw

Jumeirah Messilah Beach
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 25 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 25 (Buffet)
@jumeirahmessilahbeach

Marina Hotel
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 18 (Buffet)
@marinahotelkwt

Park Inn By Radisson
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 20 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 20 (Buffet)
@parkinnbyradissonkuwait

Radisson Blu Hotel
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 19.5 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 21 (Buffet)
@radissonblukuwait

Riccardo
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 40 (Set Menu)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 40 (Set Menu)

Symphony Style Hotel
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 18 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 20 (Buffet)
@symphonystylekuwait

The St. Regis
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 28 (Buffet)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 28 (Buffet)
@stregiskuwait

Vigonovo
Christmas Eve Dinner: KD 15 (Set Menu)
Christmas Day Lunch: KD 15 (Set Menu)
@vigonovo_kw

Waldorf Astoria
Christmas Day Dinner: KD 26 (Set Menu)
@waldorfastoriakuwait

Main photo taken from Jumeirah Messilah Beach

In my previous post about OffTheCoal, I talked about how the restaurant felt more like a passion project than a typical restaurant. From the steampunk and art deco inspired interior to the fire driven cooking, everything felt intentional. That same approach now carries into a new menu called “The Flame Within.”

That new menu was shaped under the direction of a new Culinary Director, Chef Sebastiano Campanelli, whose background includes time in Michelin starred kitchens such as Noma in Copenhagen and Maaemo in Oslo. He was also Head Chef at Savage in Oslo, where he played a key role in the restaurant earning its first Michelin star just six months after opening. He’s now using that experience at OffTheCoal, without turning it into a fine dining restaurant.

The goal by bringing Chef Sebastiano on board wasn’t smaller plates or a formal dining experience. OffTheCoal is still an upper casual restaurant made for the Kuwait market. Portions are big, dishes are meant for sharing, and the atmosphere is relaxed. What has changed is the level of precision in the food, with Michelin level techniques being applied to familiar flavors.

“The Flame Within” is a new menu focused on clearer structure, better consistency, and more controlled use of fire. It keeps the restaurant’s confident and playful feel while improving how the dishes come together.

OffTheCoal’s new menu officially launches tomorrow, Sunday, December 21. Kuwait still doesn’t have a Michelin star restaurant, so this is about as close as it gets for now. If you want to book, head over to @offthecoal

The Deliveroo annual Restaurant Awards list is finally out, with winners voted for by people across Kuwait in 16 different categories. I just went through the list and nothing felt out of place, check out all the winners below:

Best Local Concept: Pick
Best Healthy: Ananas
Best Coffee: Caribou Coffee
Best Burger: Five Guys
Best Pizza: Pizza Hut
Best Dessert: Overjar
Best Breakfast: Lazy Cat
Best Chicken: Raising Cane’s
Best Lebanese: Mais Alghanim
Best Kuwaiti: Freej Swaileh
Best Shawarma: Shawarma Factory
Best Mexican: Chipotle
Best Italian: Melenzane
Best Indian: Asha’s
Best Asian: P.F. Chang’s
Best New to Roo: Mr. Baker

Earlier this year Dean & Deluca closed down in The Avenues. They’d been open since January 2009, and I remember posting about it back then and loving the grocery section. But the café was always the most popular part of Dean & Deluca, which is why they’ve now kinda brought it back.

D&D Cafe is an Alshaya home-brew concept that’s based on the Dean & Deluca Café. D&D doesn’t actually stand for Dean & Deluca, but it’s more of a homage to the brand it’s replacing and makes it easier for previous customers to connect with. The menu brings back all the popular dishes from the old café, but in what I think is a better location with a much nicer interior.

The new café is located across from Abercrombie & Fitch, in the space where Bouchon Bakery used to be. It’s a corner spot in the Grand Avenue which gets a lot more daylight than the old location.

Since the café is still closed at the moment I was given a sneak peek ahead of their opening which is next Monday, December 15. If you want to follow them, their official Instagram account is @ddcafekw

Last year around this time I posted about the then-newly opened Gourmet Grocers, a premium grocery boutique at the Nasco building in Shuwaikh. Since then they’ve brought in even more brands and have become a go-to spot for anyone looking for premium essentials and interesting finds you don’t usually come across elsewhere.

Gourmet Grocers recently expanded their lineup with new gourmet brands like Ortiz, Greenomic, and Bornibus, while still carrying popular favorites such as Bjorg, Lune de Miel, Nicolas Alziari, and Nina’s Marie-Antoinette. It’s a mix of everyday essentials and those rare items you end up buying the moment you see them. Ortiz, by the way, is my favorite canned tuna brand, and if you’ve never tried it, you really should.

Gourmet Grocers also puts together seasonal collections throughout the year for occasions like Ramadan, Valentine’s Day, and other key events. For the holidays they’ve brought in Panettone, Panforte, festive sweets, and a new range of Gift Hampers and Gift Boxes. They regularly share curated hamper ideas on Instagram, or you can build your own by picking items directly from the store. Everything is packaged really nicely with a lot of attention to detail, so the gifts end up feeling thoughtful and premium.

They offer online ordering as well with complimentary delivery anywhere in Kuwait, and if you place your order before 2 p.m. you get same-day delivery through gourmet-grocers.com.

If you prefer passing by in person, the boutique is located in Shuwaikh (Google Maps). For updates and product highlights, check out @gourmetgrocers on Instagram or browse their website.