About The Globe
There are restaurants with views, and then there is The Globe. Located in the golden sphere that crowns Al Faisaliah Tower — the first skyscraper to rise from Riyadh's modern skyline, completed by Norman Foster in 2000 — this is not merely a restaurant with a view. It is a view that contains a restaurant. The three-storey glass dome, 24 metres in diameter, sits at 200 metres above sea level. Riyadh stretches to every compass point in uninterrupted desert grandeur.
What could easily become a tourist attraction coasting on its architecture instead earns its place among Riyadh's most acclaimed dining destinations through culinary seriousness. Since its acquisition by Mandarin Oriental, The Globe has operated as a proper fine dining establishment — modern European cuisine executed with the consistency expected of a luxury hotel group with genuine global standards.
The Room
Accessible by a dedicated lift to the 44th floor, then via a second lift to the sphere itself, The Globe creates an arrival experience that is entirely its own. The curving walls of glass leave no blind angles — wherever you sit, Riyadh performs. At sunset, the desert light turns the city amber, and the sphere itself catches and refracts that colour throughout the room. At night, the city's towers become a constellation at your feet.
Tables are well-spaced, service is precise and unhurried, and the ambient sound is a managed murmur that permits actual conversation. This is a room designed for occasions — proposals, landmark birthdays, the kind of client dinner that signals your taste exceeds your expense account.
The Food
The kitchen operates a contemporary European menu that changes seasonally and draws on French foundations without being constrained by them. Expect precision: clean flavours, thoughtful textural contrasts, presentations that reward attention. The seafood courses consistently draw praise — particularly the langoustine preparations and the fish of the day when sourced from nearby Gulf waters.
The tasting menu is the correct way to experience The Globe — it allows the kitchen to build across multiple courses and gives you the time in the room that the occasion demands. A la carte is available but represents a lesser use of where you are. Commit to the full experience.
Best For
The Globe is, unambiguously, Riyadh's pre-eminent proposal restaurant. The combination of ascent, height, panorama, and the intimate formality of the service creates conditions that make intention feel like theatre. It is equally valid for birthday celebrations that warrant scale — the sphere's drama accommodates milestone moments naturally. For client entertainment, The Globe sends a message: you move in a world where this is simply the table you book.
It is not the right choice for a casual dinner or for groups that need the freedom of a louder room. The Globe demands a certain quality of attention. Come with people who deserve it.
Practical Information
Address: Al Faisaliah Hotel, Al Olaya District, Riyadh 12211, Saudi Arabia. Within the Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah.
Getting There: Al Faisaliah Tower is on King Fahd Road in central Olaya. Valet parking available. The KAFD and Olaya Metro stations are within 15 minutes by taxi.
Reservations: Essential. Book 2–3 weeks in advance for weekday dinners; 4+ weeks for Thursday–Saturday. The tasting menu requires advance notice for any dietary requirements.
Dress Code: Smart to formal. Jacket recommended. No sportswear.
Opening Hours: Dinner Tuesday–Sunday from 7:30pm. Lunch on Fridays. Closed Mondays.
Guest Reviews
She said yes before the main course arrived. The room does half the work — the lift, the reveal, the city below. The kitchen does the other half. One of the most genuinely special evenings I have ever arranged.
Brought a delegation from London here for a closing dinner. The reaction to the sphere, the views, the quality of service — it set a tone for the relationship that has persisted. The Globe is a tool as much as a restaurant.
My fortieth. I wanted somewhere that matched the moment. The tasting menu was exceptional — the langoustine course in particular. But it is the room. Always the room. Nothing else in Riyadh compares.