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Earlier this week I got back from an incredible 8-day trip to Morocco. I flew direct from Kuwait to Casablanca with Kuwait Airways, rented a car, and drove to Marrakech. It was my second time there, and it’s definitely a city I’d recommend visiting. There’s so much to see and do, so I wanted to share my list of lesser-known spots to add to your Marrakech itinerary:

Eat
My favorite restaurants were Plus61 and Grand Café de la Poste, both located in the trendy Gueliz area. I also had really good meals at Le Petit Cornichon and Blue Ribbon, and on my previous trip I liked the upscale traditional experience of Le Tobsil. One place I wanted to visit but didn’t because they were fully booked was Sahbi Sahbi. I also missed out on lunch at Farasha Farmhouse since it rained the day I was planning to go.

Drink
Thirty5ive and Blue Ribbon were my two favorite coffee spots. Blue Ribbon also has great banana bread, plus the added bonus of serving breakfast and lunch. While having lunch at Royal Mansour, I saw people having Afternoon Tea and it looked great. I didn’t try it, but the hotel is beautiful and worth a visit.

See
Head to LRNCE for ceramics, Magasin Général for vintage furniture, and Marrakshi Life for handwoven garments and atelier tour. MORO have an interesting concept store and Studio Sana Benzaitar have beautiful carpets. For art, visit Loft Art Gallery, MACAAL and Le Monde des Arts de la Parure. If you’re looking for a less crowded alternative to Jardin Majorelle, check out CACTUS THIEMANN.

Sleep
I stayed inside the old Medina on both trips, and both times at Riad Mena. I can’t imagine staying anywhere else. Their Grand Suite is huge, and the riad itself is beautiful and super chill. The team is also really friendly—I’d stay there again if I go back. My plan B was Maison Brummell Majorelle.

For my previous travel guides, click here.

I visited Nasco a few months ago while looking for the local USM dealer because I needed a console for my living room TV. USM is a modular furniture brand you’d probably recognize if you saw it since it’s fairly popular and has a unique look. When I visited back in October, they had unofficially opened their new location, but since then, they finally held their official inauguration.

The new Nasco showroom has a sleek, premium aesthetic with high ceilings and diverse spaces. The building interestingly was originally a glass factory before being repurposed into a multi-brand showroom, designed by Flaviano Capriotti Architetti. The Nasco building also houses Gourmet Grocers, which I previously posted about. Gourmet Grocers is a high-end boutique offering a curated selection of premium gourmet products to quality-focused customers.

My favorite part of the building though is the area they call The Pavilion. It’s a bright inner courtyard infused with greenery that creates a seamless connection between architecture and nature.

Inside, the showroom is divided into two main areas, the Poliform showroom and the Nasco Interiors showroom. The Poliform showroom features the brand’s latest collections, from sleek kitchen units to sophisticated wardrobe systems, while the Nasco Interiors showroom offers a curated selection of luxury brands, including: SieMatic, Meridiani, Bellavista Collection, USM, de Le Cuona, Oluce, along with a wide array of textiles and fabrics.

The showroom is more than just a display—it’s an inspiration hub, demonstrating how these elements come together to create stylish, cohesive interiors for a range of tastes.

For context, Nasco Group has been around for over 30 years, operating in Kuwait and the UAE. They’re well-known for exclusively distributing premium lifestyle products across home interiors, gourmet foods, and even brands like Nestlé Nespresso.

The new Nasco building is located in Shuwaikh, on the same street as Ananas and Al Tilal Complex (Google Maps). They’re open Saturday to Wednesday from 9AM to 7PM and on Thursday from 9AM to 5PM. For more information, head to @nasco.group, @nascointeriors, and @gourmetgrocers.

The Expat City Ranking for 2024 by InterNations is out and Kuwait is back to being the least friendly for expats. According to InterNations, Kuwait has constantly placed in the bottom 10 since the list started all the way back in 2014:

As in 2023, Kuwait ranks last (53rd out of 53 countries) in the Ease of Settling In Index. In fact, it has consistently placed in the bottom 10 since the first year of the survey in 2014.

Only about a quarter of expats in Kuwait (26%) feel welcome there (vs. 63% globally). Rather, around half don’t feel at home in the country (49% vs. 23% globally) and say it’s difficult to get used to the local culture (47% vs. 21% globally). Expats rank Kuwait dead last when it comes to Local Friendliness (53rd), and less than a quarter (22%) are happy with their social life there (vs. 52% globally).

And although 57% of respondents in Kuwait say they’ve already been there for five years or more (vs. 48% globally), the majority (53%) is still only friends with fellow expats (vs. 37% globally). This is possibly because making local friends is difficult: over three in five expats (61%) agree, 20 percentage points more than the global average of 41%.

Costa Rica on the other hand was ranked the friendliest place for expats in 2024. For the full list and more details, click here.

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.

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

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

Although not confirmed yet, I have it on good authority that Dean & Deluca in The Avenues will be closing down, and Ulta Beauty will be opening in its spot.

The location is pretty huge, which is a good thing since Ulta Beauty needs the space to fit its wide range of luxury, drugstore, and indie brands. It also has in-store salons offering services like haircuts, styling, facials, and brow treatments. With so much to offer, they should have no trouble making full use of the space.

The first Ulta Beauty location is expected to open this year.

Debenhams also seems to be closing, and while I don’t have any information about that location, it wouldn’t be surprising if Alshaya’s other new brand, Primark, takes over the space.

If you’re in Kuwait this weekend, here are some events you can check out:

Thursday, February 27
Kuwait National Day Market @muroujkw
AlFarsi Kite Desert Display @alfarsikite
Bugsha Market at Al Shaheed Park @streetfoodkuwait
Bugsha Pop-up at Kuwait Towers @streetfoodkuwait
Bugsha Pop-up in Bnaider @streetfoodkuwait
Noble Element Guided Exhibition Tour @sultangallery
National Day Activities at The Scientific Center @scicenterkw
National Day Sunset Paddle @kwtsailing
Madang Pop-up Market @madang.kw
Inspire Roller Race Championship @inspiresportq8

Friday, February 28
Kuwait National Day Market @muroujkw
Bugsha Market at Al Shaheed Park @streetfoodkuwait
Bugsha Pop-up at Kuwait Towers @streetfoodkuwait
Bugsha Pop-up in Bnaider @streetfoodkuwait
National Day Activities at The Scientific Center @scicenterkw
National Day Sunset Paddle @kwtsailing
Inspire Roller Race Championship @inspiresportq8

Saturday, March 1
National Day Activities at The Scientific Center @scicenterkw

Al Rai TV turned 20 last year, and with it comes a wave of nostalgia and an exciting new chapter. For many, Al Rai wasn’t just a TV channel it was a part of daily life. From the early 2000s, it brought us iconic shows and unforgettable moments, introducing personalities like Mohammed Al Sanousi, Dr. Ahmad Al Rubai, Bayoumi Fouad, and Nabil Shuail into our homes. Those programs weren’t just entertainment; they became shared memories that shaped conversations and culture across Kuwait and the Gulf.

Now, Al Rai is embracing its legacy while stepping into the future with Rai on Demand (ROD), a new video on demand platform that brings their entire archive of past productions and all future content into one place. Launching in Ramadan 2025, ROD will give audiences free access to classic shows that defined an era, alongside live streaming of Al Rai TV, their latest productions and original ROD productions. Whether it’s reliving a favorite talk show or rediscovering the programs that once brought families together, ROD is designed to bring those special memories back to life in a fresh and engaging way.

For those of us who grew up with Al Rai, this is more than just a platform, it’s a time machine. ROD will revive the magic of Al Rai’s golden years by making its classic programs easily accessible again, allowing viewers to reconnect with the shows they grew up watching. By blending nostalgia with innovation, they’re reminding us why Al Rai became such an important part of our lives in the first place.

To stay posted on the launch, follow them on @alraimediagroup

I’ve been in Sri Lanka now for close to a week, and it’s pretty insane, and I don’t think in a good way.

I landed here on the 20th and checked into the Uga Riva Hotel in an area called Negombo that’s around 20mins from the airport. It’s kind of a getaway spot and the experience was pretty great although the amount of bugs was just pretty crazy.

I rented a car for my stay and the first two minutes of driving out of the rental lot were the most chaotic 2 minutes of my driving life. Firstly, other than the fact everything is the opposite here, steering on the right, the lanes are the opposite, the driving is pretty wild. Like I learned how to drive in Lebanon and find the experience driving there very relaxing even though most people find it chaotic. The driving in Sri Lanka on a scale of 1 to 10 is like a 7 or 8. Lebanon would be like a 6. People are completely carefree and everyone just relies on everyone else not crashing into them. It’s like organized chaos? The only people who seem to drive differently are bus drivers who drive with full confidence as if they’re the only people on the road and everyone else will get the fuck out of the way. We all really do get the fuck out of their way.

Anyway, first place I stayed in was great. Then I headed down south to an area called Ahangama. I was meant to stay at a place called Dreamsea for the first few days. The reviews online were really great, the place looked amazing in the photos, but once I checked in I was like wtf were all these reviews about? I mean just basics like the room door wouldn’t close, the bed had dried blood stains, room had bugs all over, bathroom looked very dirty. Basically it was horrible and I wouldn’t spend the night there. Thankfully I had booked another spot around a 15 minute drive from that resort for my last 4 nights called Trebartha East. It’s a small hotel located on a hill inside a cinnamon plantation. I whatsapped them asking if they had any rooms available right away and they had one, so ended up checking in a few days early and been staying there ever since.

The place is incredible, every morning I wake up and feel like I’m on a safari in the middle of the jungle. There is nothing around me except a jungle. I love it here, I’m actually sitting by the infinity pool writing this post out overlooking a valley where at any given moment there are a heard of water buffalos with white cranes grazing, or peacocks just casually strolling. It’s very surreal and beautiful. I wake up to the most beautiful views and the hotel has like 4 rooms so it feels very private and we are very secluded from the chaos thats just a 15min drive away.

But everything else here seems to be such a hit or miss. You can’t trust any reviews since most were left I assume by backpackers who have very low expectations or requirements? I’d head to a restaurant that has 4.6 rating on Google but walking by the kitchen I’m like no fucking way I’m eating here. Thankfully I’ve found a few spots that were surprisingly great.

I’ve also gotten the hang of driving here. You just need to be alert the whole time, at any moment you can hit a motorbike, Tuktuk, bus, tourist, grandma, dog, cat, cow, school kids, dog, cyclist, dog, or dog. No one ever gets out of the way, you’re always expected to maneuver around them, dogs included who just want to sleep on the side of the road. Their main road here is just two lanes, their inside roads are one lane, and I swear at one point google took me up a walking path cuz I could barely fit my tiny SUV on it and thankfully didn’t come across a Tuktuk coming the opposite way.

It’s been such a wild experience, totally love or hate moments with nothing in between. I can’t wait to get back to Kuwait.