2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

Thursday, March 13
Gergean at Boulevard Mall
Gergean at Alandalus
Gergean at Gate Mall
Gergean at the Scientific Center
The Gergean Walk
Gergean at Promenade
Gergean at Kland
Gergean at Kout Mall
Gergean at Al Hamra Mall
Gergean in the South
Gergean Ya Hala

Friday, March 14
Gergean at Alandalus
Gergean at 360
Gergean at the Scientific Center
Gergean at Kland
Gergean at Kout Mall
Gergean at Al Hamra Mall
Gergean in the South
Gergean Ya Hala

Saturday, March 15
Gergean at Alandalus
Gergean at 360
Gergean at Kland
Gergean at Al Hamra Mall
Gergean Ya Hala

Gravity coffee shop recently reopened its newly redesigned shop in Seaview Mall, Abu Hulaifah. The interior was designed by Studio Nama, the same studio behind the new Matchbox at JACC, which I also love and highlighted back in December.

The main design concept of Gravity aims to accommodate both individuals seeking quiet moments and larger groups looking for communal interactions.

What caught my attention was the contrast between the different materials, colors, and textures used to give this space its unique look. I also love how the space has so many layers and nooks—plus, I’m a sucker for chocolate brown velvet sofas. Studio Nama deliberately created a variety of seating options, from sofas to casual tables with chairs to platform cushions for a more informal feel. It’s because of these different arrangements, the space can accommodate both solitary visitors and larger groups.

If you want to see more photos of the space as well as other work by Studio Nama, click here.

Photos by @mashkanani

I’m a huge fan of Anker products, which is how I first found out about Astore Kuwait. I was searching for a specific battery pack and looked up the local dealer, which led me to them. Their flagship store in Shuwaikh recently got a major facelift, and I passed by last week to check it out.

What many people might not know is that Astore started in 2009 by Abdullah Allafi as a small basement workshop on Bin Khaldoun Street called ‘Al-Molook.’ They originally specialized in iPhone and MacBook repairs, as well as screen protectors. As they grew, they rebranded to Astore Kuwait and now operate six stores across the GCC, including the Anker Innovation Stores in Kuwait, Qatar and Dubai.

Their flagship store is my go-to spot for Anker products because they have everything on display and usually in stock. But beyond Anker, they’re a full-fledged electronics store, carrying security cameras, dash cams, smart home devices, and even outdoor and travel gear. Every product they sell is carefully selected, making it more of a curated store rather than one that just stocks random brands and items. Also, something I didn’t realize until working on this post is that their flagship store is open 24/7.

Right now because of the Ya Hala Campaign, they’re running promotions on Anker and eufy security products, along with many other brands in-store. If you want to pass by and check the place out, the main store is in Shuwaikh, on the same street as VOL.1 and Five Guys. For more info, head over to @astore_kw or visit their online shop astorekw.com

Just a quick update to my T4 post from a few days ago. As I mentioned, Pret A Manger already has their ‘coming soon’ hoarding up, but I also found out about a few other places opening. Here’s the list of what’s coming soon so far:

• Bartone (Airside)
• Caribou (Airside & Landside)
• Ole (Landside)
• Pick (Airside)
• Pret A Manger (Airside)

If you’re flying out during Eid and notice a bunch of places shut down, well, now you know why.

While going through Ghazi Sultan’s photography archive, I came across a photo of the Seif Palace clock tower under construction. I don’t recall ever seeing photos of Seif Palace being built, especially the clock tower. When I previously posted about the clock’s history, I searched but couldn’t find any images of it during construction, which is why I found this simple photo so interesting.

Seif Palace was originally built in 1904, but over the years it was renovated and expanded a number of times. In the 1960s, as part of the second expansion, a new building was constructed which was characterized by a high tower that ended in a gold-plated dome with a clock. Construction of the expansion was completed in 1964.

The Seif Palace clock which was engineered by the UK based clockmakers Smith of Derby, was installed in January 1962. This means this photo was most likely taken between 1962 and 1964.

With so many dessert options during Ramadan, standing out isn’t easy, but Torta Del Este found a cool way to do it. By blending Eastern flavors with innovative ideas, they’ve created a unique selection of tapa-sized cakes, packed into a practical six-piece box.

But Torta Del Este isn’t just about desserts, it’s about storytelling through sweets. Each treat has a story, a vibe, and a distinct flavor. Their “Basque of the East” is a saffron-infused San Sebastian cheesecake, while “The Saffron Whisper” is a delicately spiced saffron tres leches. Every box is a mix of flavors and experiences, and the best part is that you get to try a variety of cakes instead of just one.

If you’re into desserts that go beyond just tasting good and actually tell a story, Torta Del Este is worth checking out. @tortadeleste

Ok this is an update to my 2024 post, “Everything that is closed in Kuwait Airways Terminal 4“. Here are the restaurants and coffee shops that are still operating as of March 2025:

• McDonalds
• Raising Cane’s
• Shake Shack

And that’s it. Everything else has closed down including Starbucks. On the bright side, Pret A Manger is opening up where the Shake Shack seating area used to be.

CAF is always up to something cool, and this Ramadan, they’ve teamed up with Birkenstock for a one-of-a-kind rooftop experience at Assima Mall.

Every night from futoor till 3 AM, the space transforms with a special setup, a unique menu, and co-branded cups. There are also exciting activities to check out, plus Birkenstock will be dropping something special every night, making each visit different from the last.

If you’re looking for a spot to hang out this Ramadan, swipe left to check out photos of their cool setup or head over to the CAF account for more info @cafcafe

I was out of town last week so didn’t really watch much TV except on the plane ride. I finally got around to watching Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 and it was as slow and epic as you would expect from a long Kevin Costner film (think The Postman). I really liked it but I’m a huge fan of his storytelling and directing (I’m a huge fan of Waterworld and The Postman).

Other than that I binge watched High Potential since I was behind on it and caught up to season 3 of Reacher.

Have you watched anything interesting lately? Let us know in the comments.

Movies at the Cinemas
The movies below are now showing at the local cinemas:

Other Movies Showing:
A Complete Unknown (7.7)
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (7.1)
Captain America: Brave New World (5.9)
Cellphone (3.0)
Cleaner (4.9)
Den of Thieves 2 (6.6)
Dog Man (8.4)
Flight Risk (5.6)
Moana 2 (7.1)
Mom (5.4)
Mufasa: The Lion King (6.7)
Outbreak (4.5)
Paddington in Peru (6.8)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (7.5)
The Bayou (4.9)
Wow! (5.4)

The numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at the time of publishing.

The first weekend of Ramadan is usually quiet, but this year, surprisingly, there are a few things happening. Qout Market is back at JACC this weekend, thankfully. I really disliked Mishref Oasis, so I’m glad they moved. There is also Shakshooka this weekend. Here is the list:

Thursday March 6
Special IMAX Screening – Journey To Mecca
Pre-Iftar Paddle

Friday March 7
Special IMAX Screening – Journey To Mecca
Pre-Iftar Paddle
Qout Market at JACC

Saturday March 8
Special IMAX Screening – Journey To Mecca
Pre-Iftar Paddle
Madang Art Day – Mood Lamp
Qout Market at JACC
Shakshooka Market

A couple of days ago the Talabat service went down and rumors started circulating that they were hacked. Now Talabat have released a statement saying that wasn’t the case:

We assure our customers and partners that all data remains fully secure despite false social media rumors. A temporary technical issue was resolved quickly, and there was no compromise of payment or personal information.

Bader Al-Ghanim, VP & Managing Director – talabat Kuwait.
@Talabat

I don’t have any of my credit cards saved in the app since I use Apple Pay to pay, so I wasn’t concerned anyway.

As you’ve probably noticed, news outlets today are reporting that Kuwait Airways was ranked the 20th best airline in the world, but they all seem to have missed the bigger story. It ranked over 30 spots higher than both Emirates and Cathay Pacific, two of the most highly awarded airlines.

AirHelp, the organization specializing in air traveler rights, released its annual airline rankings, and Kuwait Airways came in 20th place. Interestingly, this is the same organization that ranked Kuwait Airways the 3rd worst airline in 2019 and Kuwait Airport the 2nd worst airport. After that ranking, Kuwait Airport mysteriously vanished from their list and hasn’t returned since.

AirHelp’s airline rankings are based on service quality, punctuality, and passenger treatment during disruptions. The top three airlines for 2024 are:

1 – Brussels Airlines
2 – Qatar Airways
3 – United Airlines

Here’s how Kuwait Airways compared to other well-known airlines:

20 – Kuwait Airways
24 – KLM
30 – Virgin Atlantic
31 – Lufthansa
33 – British Airways
53 – Wizz Air
55 – Emirates
56 – Turkish Airlines
63 – Cathay Pacific
81 – Gulf Air

Tunisair ranked last at 109th place.

I’m a huge fan of Kuwait Airways, as you probably know by now, but it’s hard to take this ranking seriously when both Emirates and Cathay Pacific rank lower than Wizz Air. For the full list, click here.

Go Greek Yogurt is an LA-based brand known for its authentic Greek yogurt, and they recently opened in Kuwait. They are a favorite among celebrities in LA, and you might have even seen paparazzi shots of your favorite star holding a cup of Go Greek Yogurt.

The local owner used to go there every day while studying in LA, which is what inspired her to bring the brand to Kuwait. They use actual Greek yogurt and not just regular yogurt. Most of their products are also imported from Greece and Europe, and their suppliers aren’t mass-market brands but family-run businesses from different Greek islands. So in terms of quality they’re really considered premium as opposed to other frozen yogurt places.

I passed by them recently to try them out so I could put together this post, and one thing I liked about them is that they don’t only carry frozen Greek yogurt, but also offer traditional classic Greek yogurt, and in different flavors.

I’m a huge Greek yogurt fan and tend to have it every morning at home with granola and berries. They had six different flavors, but I wanted to try their hazelnut-infused Greek yogurt and their honey Greek yogurt. Both were delicious, with the hazelnut one being something I’d have as a dessert after a meal, while the honey-infused yogurt would be the one I’d want to have for breakfast.

If you’re into the classic version like me, you can get it plain or topped with ingredients like honey, nuts, and fresh fruits. If you’re in the mood for something colder, their frozen Greek yogurt is a lighter alternative to ice cream but still rich and creamy. Also, if you opt to go with frozen, one cool thing they have is self-serve. You fill up the cup with as much frozen Greek yogurt you want then pay by weight.

They currently only have one location in Kuwait, located on the ground floor of Arraya Complex (Google Maps). They’re very focused on fresh ingredients and simple, wholesome flavors and I really liked their yogurt. If you want to check them out, head to @gogreekyogurt.kw

As I do every year, below is the list of Ramadan buffets, updated for 2025. It’s technically not only buffets since I also include set menu’s, but since I’ve been using the same post title for over a decade, I’m not about to change it now.

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

Below is the full list divided into two parts, hotels and restaurants. If I missed a place let me know in the comments, especially really cheap/affordable buffets. Last year I had Big C on the list, they had the cheapest buffet at KD1.900 but looks like they closed down or something. IKEA increased their buffet price this year from 2.950 to 3.950 so really need some more affordable places to add. So if you know of a place where the buffet is less than KD5, let me know in the comments.

HOTELS

Al Jahra Copthorne Hotel & Resort – Taima’a Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD9.5 (+0.500)
Telephone: 24590000

Courtyard by Marriott – Atrium
Buffet Price: KD15 (-1.000)
Telephone: 22997000

Crowne Plaza – Al Ahmadi Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD17 (+1.000)
Telephone: 1848111

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

Crowne Plaza – Sakura Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD18.950 (+0.950) (Thursdays Only)
Telephone: 1848111

Four Seasons – Jawaher Tent
Buffet Price: KD27 (+1.000)
Telephone: 22006000

Four Seasons – Li Beirut
Set Menu: KD28
Telephone: 22006000

Grand Hyatt – Stambul
Buffet Price: KD20
Telephone: 22007698

Grand Majestic Hotel
Buffet Price: KD8
Telephone: 22254700

Hilton Garden Inn – The Avenues
Buffet Price: KD20
Telephone: 22262000

Holiday Inn – Ayam Zaman
Buffet Price: KD13.950 (-2.000)
Telephone: 1847777

Jumeirah Messilah Beach – Asateer Tent
Buffet Price: KD24 (+2.000)
Telephone: 22269600

Jumeirah Messilah Beach – Garden Cafe
Buffet Price: KD26 (+2.000)
Telephone: 22269600

Marina Hotel
Buffet Price: KD17 (+1.000)
Telephone: 22230030

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

Movenpick – Free Zone – Bays Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD15 (+1.100)
Telephone: 22055700

Movenpick – Al Bida’a – Breeze Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD15
Telephone: 22253100

Park Inn by Radisson
Buffet Price: KD18
Telephone: 22068540

Radisson Blu – Al Bustan Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD18.5
Telephone: 25673000

Safir Hotel – Fintas
Buffet Price: KD11.9 (-2.000)
Telephone: 25455555

St Regis – Diamond Ballroom Tent
Buffet Price: KD30 (+2.000)
Telephone: 22422055

Symphony Style Hotel
Buffet Price: KD14 (+2.000)
Telephone: 25770000

SVN
Buffet Price: KD19
Telephone: 1876777

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

Waldorf Astoria – Oxio
Buffet Price: KD28 (+1.000)
Telephone: 24774414

RESTAURANTS

Almayass
Set Menu Price: KD11.5
Telephone: 25761001

Assaha Lebanese Restaurant
Buffet Price: KD12.750 (+0.250)
Telephone: 22533377

Babel
Set Menu Price: KD14.950
Telephone: 22081111

Dar Hamad
Buffet Price: KD16
Telephone: 22275555

Dean & Deluca
Set Menu Price: KD10.950 (+1.200)
Telephone: 22242224

Em Sherif
Set Menu Buffet Price: KD25
Telephone: 90977997

Gulf Royal Chinese
Buffet Price: KD8.5
Telephone: 22622770

IKEA
Buffet Price: KD3.95 (+1.000)
Telephone: 1840408

Jihan Khanah
Buffet Price: KD10
Telephone: 1819991

Kuwait Towers
Buffet Price: KD13 (-2.000)
Telephone: 24965500

Leila Min Lebnen
Set Menu Price: KD15
Telephone: 22996414

Mughal Mahal – Hawally
Buffet Price: KD7.45
Telephone: 22626782

Naranj
Buffet Price: KD12
Telephone: 22268666

Paul
Set Menu Price: KD12.5 (+2.000)
Telephone: 22208204

Vapiano
Set Menu Price: KD7.950
Telephone: 22597171

Villa Fayrouz
Buffet Price: KD12
Telephone: 22650052

Wok and Grill
Buffet Price: KD3 (+0.005)
Telephone: 64440089

Here are some important Ramadan timings. If you have more to add, share them in the comments!

Banks: 10AM to 1:30PM (not including airport)
Government: 8:30AM ~ 10:30AM to 1:00PM ~ 3:00PM

360 Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 8:30PM to 1:30AM
Al Khiran Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 8:30PM to 1AM
Al Kout Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 8:30PM to 1:30AM
Avenues Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 7:30PM to 1:30AM
Boulevard: 10AM to 3PM and 8:00PM to 1:00AM
Marina Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 7:30PM to 1:30AM
Salhia Complex: 10:00AM to 4:00PM and 7:30PM to 1:30AM

Cinescape: 8:30PM
GrandCinemas: 8:00PM
Sky Cinemas: 8:00PM
VOX: 7:00PM

Al Shaheed Park: 5AM to 12AM
Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre: 8PM to 11PM (Closed on Sundays)

Ace Hardware: 10:30AM to 12:00AM
IKEA: 10AM to 4PM and 8PM to 1:30AM
Lulu Hypermarket: 8AM to 3AM
Xcite: Open 24 hours in Al Rai, Fahaheel, and Hawally

Illustration by @windowsofuae