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Cantina, one of my favorite Italian restaurants, is launching a pizza pop-up this weekend. It’s a spin-off of their Pizza Mondays and takes place in a beautiful hidden garden in the Design District in Shuwaikh.

A couple of days ago, I was invited to try some of the new pizzas during @chefbasmah’s friends and family night. The pop-up has eleven pizzas, up from the usual four at Cantina. I tried the fungi and the salami, and while the fungi was great, the salami (which also had mustard seeds) is now my favorite pizza in Kuwait. I also ordered the Margherita, which I always get at Cantina. Basmah’s pizzas are very crispy with no flop. She describes the style as “crispy Neapolitan,” and in true Cantina fashion, she’s using only the highest quality ingredients.

My favorite part of the pop-up though is the location. It’s tucked away in a secret garden area of the Design District, the same spot in Shuwaikh that houses Ovo, Cure and the Contemporary Art Platform. The garden has its own side entrance from the main road, a narrow corridor that leads you into a semi indoor and outdoor space that feels like a greenhouse. It’s temperature controlled, so even if the weather is warm, you won’t feel it inside.

The setup is super casual. You walk in, pick the pizzas you want and grab a seat at one of the two large communal tables. The menu is up on a board and it’s strictly pizza and soft drinks, nothing else. Also, no reservations needed, just show up.

The pizzas are small in size, so I’d recommend two per person, which is great because there are a lot of interesting flavors on the menu you’ll want to try anyway.

The Pizza Pop-up is happening only on weekends starting with this upcoming one. It’s open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6PM to 10PM, and will go on every weekend until it gets too hot. You can spot the entry corridor to the pop-up from the main road, it’s to the right of Cure, and you should see a “Pizza” neon sign hanging above. @cantina_kw.

If you’ve driven by the Kuwait Towers over the past couple of months, you might have noticed a huge funnel-like structure towering over Bay Zero. Yesterday, I got early access to check it out before the grand opening this weekend.

The large funnel is a new water slide that’s part of Bay Zero’s new Thrill Zone. The Thrill Zone features around eight different water slides, including this funnel, which the manufacturer calls “The Abyss.” It’s the largest funnel slide in the industry and looks super iconic, especially with its vibrant colors. The entire zone is very colorful, and all the slides look epic. Oh, and I have to mention, even though the slides look big from the main road, it’s only when you get up close that you realize just how gigantic they actually are. They’re seriously HUGE!

If I’m not mistaken, the new Thrill Zone was created by White Water, since the water slides at Bay Zero look very similar to their previous projects. White Water is the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of water parks, and they’re also behind Qatar’s Meryal Waterpark, which broke the record for the tallest water slide in the world.

When I visited, workers were still busy finishing up the landscaping around the new rides, but everything will be ready and open to the public from this Thursday, April 24. On April 25, there will also be a special event featuring a concert by @sonsofyusuf.

The new Thrill Zone doesn’t require a separate ticket, the standard park entry gives you access to all the new slides. If you want to stay updated on the opening, or need info like opening hours and ticket prices, just head over to their account @bayzerokw.

WK, the popular local burger spot, just opened their first dine-in location—and it’s styled like an old school diner.

The new branch is in Kaifan next to the stadium and has both indoor and outdoor seating, plus plenty of parking. As a bonus, there’s a matcha pop-up inside called @meetmatchas.

WK is available for delivery on all the popular platforms and also has multiple pickup locations across Kuwait, including Ardiya, Fahaheel, Jahra, Khiran, and Sabah Alsalem.

Here is the location on Google Maps and you can follow them on instagram @wkwk.965.

This isn’t a rumor, but rather an interesting observation from one of my readers. Tesla recently updated their careers page to include Kuwait as a location. According to the reader who regularly checks the Tesla careers page to see which new countries get added, Saudi Arabia appeared on the list around this time last year, and Tesla opened its first dealership there just this past month.

Now they’ve added Kuwait, so it could mean we’ll see a Tesla dealership opening here around this time next year.

To double-check his info, I used web.archive.org to pull up a snapshot of the careers page from two weeks ago. He was right, Kuwait wasn’t listed then which confirms it was just recently added.

Although Tesla is currently going through a rough patch in the US and Europe, the brand remains popular in our region, most likely because it’s always been desirable, yet unavailable here.

If you want to check the above yourself, head to tesla.com/careers/search

update: I’m being told this is actually happening, Tesla will be opening their first store in Kuwait by first quarter of 2026. They will be sharing details after August. This is going to be a direct investment by Tesla and the Kuwait government, so I’m assuming through KDIPA.

It looks like Tim Hortons has jumped headfirst into Kuwait’s ongoing Matcha craze with a new full line‑up of ICED Matcha drinks. They’re introducing 4 bold & fruity flavors:

Iced Strawberry Matcha: Sweet meets earthy. The ultimate match!
Iced Spanish Matcha: Rich, velvety, and a great twist on everyone’s favorite Iced Spanish Latte.
Iced Blueberry Matcha: Tangy, chill, and berry-licious.
Iced Mango Matcha: Tropical + refreshing = vacay in a cup!

Bonus: Add mango popping boba for extra texture and flavor—it’s a pop of summer in every sip.

The 4 Iced Matcha flavors are available now in stores or delivery.

If you want to keep an eye on whatever flavors they might drop next, follow them @timhortons.kuwait.

Last week someone recommended watching Paradise on Hulu. I already had it on my need to watch list but I guess I needed a push and I’m glad I got it because it was one of my favorite new shows I watched this year.

I don’t want to spoil it even slightly, but the first episode started off really slow until a big twist right at the end that kept me hooked for the remaining season. It’s one of those shows where I couldn’t wait to get back home so I could continue watching. Highly recommended and I have to say, Hulu has been really killing it with their content, it’s my favorite streaming service right now.

I also started watching the new season of Black Mirror, only two episodes in and so far it’s good. I also just got a notification that Rami Yousef’s new animated show #1 Happy Family USA came out today. So I guess I’m watching that this weekend as well.

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

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

New This Week:
825 Forest Road (5.0)
Absolution (5.2)
Black Bag (6.9)
Opus (5.0)
Sinners (8.0)
The Monkey (6.0)
The Rule of Jenny Pen (6.3)

Other Movies Showing:
A Minecraft Movie (6.0)
A Working Man (6.8)
Aladdin (classic) (8.0)
Bloat (3.8)
Mickey 17 (6.9)
Night at The Zoo (5.8)
Novocaine (5.8)
The Amateur (6.7)
The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (6.3)

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

Here are my favorite events taking place this weekend.

Thursday, April 17
The Washing Machine
Movie Night: Welcome to Dongmakgol

Friday, April 18
A Yellow Picnic on the Beach
Francophonie Bazar
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Red Bull Flying Day
Cacao Ceremony & Music Jam

Saturday, April 19
The Washing Machine
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
DAI StoryTime
KTTA Spring Bazaar
Korean Game Day

Ed Westwick, from the Netflix show White Gold is coming to Kuwait later this month to take part at Quantum Con. Ed was also on the show Gossip Girls as well as in the movies Children of Men and Son of Rambow.

If you haven’t watched White Gold, you should, it’s great. But also it’s super random that he’s coming to Kuwait.

Nova Cafe & Eatery is a new local concept that hopes to be your favorite destination for healthy, homemade goodness.

The cafe is located in Burj Jasim, right on the outskirts of the city (google maps). Nova is actually two different spaces with two different vibes. They have the cafe, which is located in the center of the complex and gets lots of daylight from the glass dome above it. But they also have the eatery, which is located adjacent to the cafe and is more secluded and private.

One of the things the owner wants is for people to spend a lot of time at Nova, so she made sure every table has a power socket as well as USB ports so that customers can plug in and not worry about battery levels. That way, if students or people in general want a space to sit and get work done, they’d feel comfortable doing so. She even made sure the seating was comfortable, creating cozy nooks with comfy bench seating, but even the regular tables have softly padded seats.

In addition to the coffee and pastries, the owner created a menu that focuses on organic and wholesome ingredients. There is a small grab-and-go menu for people in a hurry, but also a full-fledged breakfast and all-day dining menu.

Nova’s opening hours are also great, opening from 6:30 AM to 11:30 PM. Burj Jasim has plenty of parking, so if you’re looking for a spot to work from that has good coffee and food, Nova Cafe & Eatery is worth checking out. @nova.cafe.eatery

• Under the patronage of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Lt. General Salem Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah
• Al-Tayyar: Boutiqaat is one of the most proactive companies in prioritizing social responsibility
• Al-Tayyar: Strategic collaboration enabled Boutiqaat to work closely with key figures behind this leading initiative
• Al-Subhan: Boutiqaat’s sponsorship had a positive impact on the development of Traffic Week events
• Al-Subhan: The fruitful partnership was reflected in the opening exhibition that aimed to raise awareness of new traffic regulations

Boutiqaat continues to reinforce its leadership in community development through its distinguished sponsorship of the 38th edition of the Unified Gulf Traffic Week 2025. This year’s campaign is held under the slogan “Driving Without… a Phone” and is sponsored by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Lt. General Salem Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The initiative aligns with Boutiqaat’s ongoing efforts to promote road safety awareness and foster a culture of security and responsibility across all segments of society.

Unified Gulf Traffic Week is considered one of the most important traffic awareness initiatives organized annually by the Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Directorate of Traffic. Through its major sponsorship, Boutiqaat aims to increase public awareness around traffic safety and help build well-informed communities where road environments are safe and stable.

On this occasion, Boutiqaat’s Public Relations Director, Ali Al-Tayyar, stated that the company’s sponsorship of Traffic Week reflects its dedication to solidifying its leadership as one of the first companies to actively prioritize community service. He added that Boutiqaat’s support for initiatives like this helps enhance awareness around traffic safety and reinforces the principles of personal and public safety.

Al-Tayyar also noted that the sponsorship provided an ideal opportunity to deepen Boutiqaat’s longstanding collaborative ties with various government entities—particularly the General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior. He emphasized that this strategic partnership allowed Boutiqaat to work closely with leading figures behind this important initiative, in line with the company’s vision of leveraging its resources to support impactful national awareness campaigns.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Mohammed Dhaidhan Al-Subhan, Head of the Traffic Week Committee at the General Directorate of Traffic, praised Boutiqaat’s sponsorship, highlighting its significant role in supporting state-led initiatives and raising public awareness around traffic culture. He pointed out that such collaborations help create safer environments that protect lives and promote wellbeing.

Al-Subhan added that the successful partnership between the Ministry of Interior and Boutiqaat was clearly demonstrated during the opening exhibition of Traffic Week, held at The Avenues Mall on Sunday, April 13, 2025. The exhibition showcased the latest technologies used to detect violations that lead to accidents and also educated the public about key updates to traffic laws and penalties.

Boutiqaat remains committed to building more strategic partnerships aimed at raising awareness across various social causes, in line with its vision of channeling its capabilities to serve and uplift the community it belongs to. Link

Expo 2025 officially opened yesterday in Osaka, Japan under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” The event will focus on innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration, featuring pavilions from countries and organizations from around the world.

The Kuwait Pavilion is one of the most anticipated ones, designed by the architectural firm LAVA (Laboratory for Visionary Architecture). The structure is envisioned as a “Visionary Lighthouse,” symbolizing Kuwait’s embrace of Arab culture, arts, and social initiatives.

Kuwaiti chef Khaled AlBaker (@chefkb) is currently in Japan as the head chef for the Kuwait Pavilion, and he just sent me some photos he took. Khaled helped set up the menu for the pavilion’s restaurant, Sidra, which features classic Kuwaiti dishes like machboos and mourabian among other things. The restaurant is open to all visitors who want to try Kuwaiti food. According to him, getting everything ready wasn’t easy since most of the chefs there aren’t trained in Arabic cuisine, and sourcing the right ingredients was a challenge. But in the end, they managed to make it work.

The Kuwait Pavilion has four exhibition rooms that take you on a multi-sensory journey through Kuwait’s past, present, and future. The experience ends with a massive dome projection that’s supposedly pretty epic. Expo 2025 runs until October 13, so if you’re in Japan over the next six months, you can pass by and check it out.

For more details on the Kuwait Pavilion, you can head over to their Instagram @kuwait_expo2025

Expats will now be able to get a physical copy of their driving license. Sounds weird that this is something new but until recently the Ministry of Interior had stopped printing driving licenses for expats, we only had access to a digital copy. Not a big deal if you just drive in Kuwait but the digital copy wouldn’t be accepted anywhere else in the world. This means if you traveled you wouldn’t be able to rent a car which sucks.

Thankfully the MOI has now changed their mind and allowing us to get printed driving licenses again. Mine expires next month which is perfect timing. The only caveat is that we now have to pay 10KD to get a physical copy which I don’t think is an issue. Source

Service Hero recently revealed the results of its 2024 Customer Satisfaction Index, and the top brands in Kuwait have been named (based entirely on you).

If you’re not familiar with Service Hero, it’s the region’s only consumer-powered index, measuring how happy people are with the service they receive across different industries. It’s been running in Kuwait since 2010 and follows strict international research standards, so the results are credible and transparent.

Over 28,000 assessments were collected from customers across Kuwait, rating brands in categories like satisfaction, complaint resolution, loyalty, and more. This isn’t a popularity contest, it’s a data-driven reflection of how brands are actually performing. Here are the winners:

Entertainment: Vox Cinema
Islamic Banks: Boubyan Bank
Retail Banks: National Bank of Kuwait
New Car Sales: Toyota
Car Service: Chevrolet
Private Hospitals: Royal Hayat Hospital
Delivery Apps: Jahez
Restaurants: Mais Alghanim
Fast Food: Pick Yo!
Clothes: Centrepoint
Electronics: X-Cite
Health Clubs: Oxygen Health Club
Home Furniture: Home Centre
ISPs: Zain
Mobile Operators: Zain
Cafes: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Airlines: Qatar Airways
Supermarkets: City Hypermarket

I don’t think there is anything on the list above that felt out of place, it’s not like Aramex won best delivery courier or anything controversial like that. Link

Sealed is a new Kuwaiti dessert brand that specializes in molten cakes. When they sent the desserts over, the first thing that caught my attention was the ridiculously cool packaging. The desserts all arrived inside silver metallic boxes that were sealed in silver pouches that mimic air freight. The whole look fit right into my space, which has concrete floors and silver aluminum furniture. It’s a very futuristic look.

Once you open the boxes, the molten cakes are packed inside sealed containers with detailed instructions on how to heat them up. Sealed offers three main items:

Chocolate Molten
Cookie Molten
Chocolate Chip Cookies

The molten cakes come in two sizes: large and small. Instead of just writing “Chocolate” or “Cookie Molten” on the packaging, they use hand signs, which is a fun touch. The peace sign (✌🏻) is for the Original Molten, while the shaka sign (🤙🏻) is for the Cookie Molten.

I tried the desserts and they were actually really good, with the Chocolate Molten being my favorite. One of the boxes they sent over had a dozen small molten cakes in it, and I took them to family lunch yesterday—it was a hit. Heating up the cakes is super easy: you just unseal the packaging and then pop it into the microwave for 60 seconds. Really convenient.

Because of how cool the packaging looks and how good the molten cakes were, it’s going to be one of my new favorite desserts to take to gatherings. If you want to place an order, Sealed are available on delivery platforms like @jahezkuwait.

Last week I passed by SLO, the new spa at SVN. SLO is a grounding spa sanctuary designed to restore mind, body, and spirit. Until now, SLO had been reserved exclusively for SVN members, but starting last week, they officially opened its doors to the public (Ladies only).

SVN is already a calm and serene place, and SLO builds on that feeling even further. From the moment you step inside, you’re met with a space designed for tranquility. Warm tones, soft lines, and rock-like surfaces inspired by the Mediterranean come together to create an atmosphere of instant peace.

The entire experience is guided by mindfulness, intentional design, and a curated selection of premium treatments rooted in holistic wellness. Their offerings include lymphatic drainage, wood therapy, sculpting massages, and rejuvenating facials, all designed to support long-term wellbeing over short-term fixes.

To further elevate the experience, SLO partnered with Seed to Skin, a luxury skincare brand from Tuscany, Italy. Known for blending ancient herbal wisdom with cutting-edge biotechnology, their products deliver deep, lasting results through a molecular delivery system that transforms skin from within. For more on the brand, visit @seedtoskintuscany on Instagram.

SLO is located inside SVN but has its own access from the side. For bookings and inquiries, you can contact SLO Spa at 97369304 or visit @svn_kw for more information.