From living rooms to eateries: Saudi homes being transformed into restaurants

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An old family home in Madinah that has been repurposed into a charming cafe; Tagmera. (Supplied/Saleh Shahini)
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Updated 04 April 2025
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From living rooms to eateries: Saudi homes being transformed into restaurants

  • Historic homes invite customers while retaining the charm of traditional family life
  • Saudi business owners are working to preserve heritage by repurposing buildings

RIYADH: Across Saudi Arabia, historic homes are undergoing remarkable transformations, turning into cafes and restaurants. These spaces are now inviting members of the public to dine in what were once private residences.

Restaurateurs spoke to Arab News about the challenges and rewards of repurposing historic homes, offering insight into the growing trend in the Kingdom.

Restoring an 80-year-old home: The journey of Tagmera

In Madinah, several family-run establishments have taken up this concept. For Saleh Shahini, the business partner of Tagmera, and his mother, Abeer Al-Masri, turning their historic property into a cafe was a way to preserve decades of heritage.

“The house was originally built 80 years ago by the Al-Maghadawi family, with the first floor constructed from volcanic stone. Years later, additional floors were added using wood and clay,” Shahini explained.

One of the biggest challenges they faced was the fragility of the upper floors, which posed safety concerns for visitors. “We had to remove the two additional levels while keeping the original stone foundation intact. It was a delicate process, but we wanted to ensure the space remained true to its origins,” he said.

Tagmera retained the intimacy of the original structure, ensuring that visitors felt connected to the home’s past.

“The narrow spaces and low ceilings create a sense of warmth and peace, making it easy for guests to engage in conversations and connect with their surroundings,” he added.

The cafe remains a family-run project, with Al-Masri and her seven children actively involved in welcoming guests and running operations.

The menu also reflects this family-focused ethos, with fermented dough, jams and traditional ingredients, prepared using time-honored homemade methods.

“Everything on our menu is made in-house, using old fermentation techniques and authentic ingredients— just like how we would prepare food at home,” Shahini said.

In Madinah’s Al-Magheesla district, a traditional home has been reimagined as Into Sushi, a Japanese restaurant run by Leen Kurdi and her family.

“The experience of transforming the house into a restaurant was full of challenges, as we wanted to preserve the soul of the home and the integrity of the volcanic stone structure,” Kurdi said.

The restaurant is a fusion of Japanese flavors with the warmth of traditional Madini hospitality. The restaurant kept the original entrance with a doorbell, allowing guests to feel as if they were stepping into a private home rather than a commercial space.

“What makes our place special is that my mother greets guests, we serve hospitality drinks of our own creation, including our signature pomegranate and Madini rose cocktail, and I personally prepare the dishes with the help of our team,” Kurdi said.

For Abdulrahman Al-Hejaili, owner of Kaboun, the idea of a home-turned-restaurant had been a long-time fascination. Inspired by family conversations about restaurants with homely atmospheres, Al-Hejaili sought to recreate the concept.

“We wanted to create a restaurant that felt like home — where guests could enjoy simple, comforting food in a warm setting,” he explained.

The transformation process required careful planning and redesign, ensuring that the home remained inviting and intimate while accommodating the practicalities of a restaurant.

“One of our biggest challenges was balancing the cozy, personal feel of a home with the professionalism and efficiency of a restaurant,” Al-Hejaili added.

His efforts paid off, as Kaboun has become known for its authentic home-style dining. “From the moment guests arrive, they feel like they are visiting family. We serve food just as it would be at home — simple, fresh, and without unnecessary additives or enhancements,” he said.

Even classic international dishes such as pancakes, omelets and French toast are presented in their original, homemade style, reinforcing the restaurant’s commitment to simplicity and authenticity.

Reyam Al-Ahmadi, a visitor to the Al-Hayy project in Madinah, described the sensation of stepping into one of these homes-turned-restaurants. “Not long ago, a video went viral of someone expressing their astonishment at these transformed homes, and I can’t blame them at all! I felt the same wonder when I visited Al-Hayy.”

She describes walking through an area rich with history, where homes have been transformed while their original character remains intact. “The doors to these places only open after a knock, just like in the past. It truly felt like stepping back in time,” Al-Ahmadi said.

One experience stood out to her the most — a 90-year-old home that had been converted into a spa. “It left me speechless. Could the original owners have ever imagined that nearly a century later, a girl would come to their home to get her nails done and have her hair styled?”

For many, dining in these spaces is about stepping into a story, a legacy, and a home that continues to be filled with warmth and connection.


Saudi Arabia condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir walks to visit the Damascus Gate to Jerusalem’s Old City in Jerusalem, May 26
Updated 5 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli officials and settlers under the protection of Israeli forces on Monday.

The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its condemnation of the continued flagrant violations of international law and brutal attacks on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Crowds of Israelis streamed through Jerusalem’s Old City, where some scuffled with residents and hurled insults at Palestinians, as annual celebrations of Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem took place on Monday.

Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, to mark the occasion.

Jerusalem Day, as the celebrations are known, commemorates Israeli forces taking east Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

The Kingdom affirmed its categorical rejection of anything that undermines the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and its holy sites.It called on the international community to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their ongoing violations against Islamic holy sites and innocent civilians in Palestine.


Dhul Hijjah crescent moon sighted in Saudi Arabia

The crescent moon for the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, during which the annual Hajj pilgrimage takes place, has been sighted.
Updated 27 May 2025
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Dhul Hijjah crescent moon sighted in Saudi Arabia

  • Day of Arafah to be observed on June 5
  • Eid Al-Adha will fall on June 6

RIYADH: The crescent moon for the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, during which the annual Hajj pilgrimage takes place, has been sighted, the Supreme Court announced on Tuesday.

This means that the pilgrimage — which all healthy and wealthy Muslims are required to undertake once in a lifetime — will start on June 4 with the pilgrims gathering in the Tent City of Mina. The day of Arafah will fall on June 5.

Muslims who are not performing the pilgrimage this year will celebrate Eid Al-Adha on June 6.

The Supreme Court urged Muslims across the Kingdom to look out for the crescent moon on Tuesday — Dhu Al-Qa’dah 29 — and report any sightings as soon as possible to their nearest court.

The Kingdom has announced a weeklong Eid holiday for both public and private sector workers.


Riyadh hosts first UK-Saudi Infrastructure Assembly meeting

Updated 27 May 2025
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Riyadh hosts first UK-Saudi Infrastructure Assembly meeting

  • ‘We want to create a better system for doing business together,’ says lord mayor

RIYADH: The Lord Mayor of the City of London Alastair King launched the first meeting of the UK-Saudi Infrastructure Assembly in Riyadh on Tuesday to enhance financial and professional cooperation between the two countries.

The initiative is in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment, the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, and the City of London Corporation.

“We want to create a better system for doing business together. What we are launching is the UK-Saudi Infrastructure Assembly — a platform bringing together various parties involved in infrastructure investment,” King told Arab News ahead of the meeting.

The new strategic partnership aims at boosting collaboration between the UK’s financial and professional services sectors and Saudi Arabia’s sustainable infrastructure developers.

King said the assembly would help Saudi and UK counterparts to prepare for more joint projects in the Kingdom.

“That means that the costs will go down because they do not have to go through all the mobilization costs. The cost of capital can fall if you have got those companies absolutely ready,” he said.

“I think that is a very exciting example of the sort of collaboration that we have between the UK and Saudi Arabia.”

The assembly has brought together leading Saudi and UK firms, policymakers, and industry experts to shape the future of sustainable infrastructure investment.

It has focused on projects such as the new Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company, led by the Public Investment Fund, and the Prince Faisal bin Fahad Sustainable Sports City, led by Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Privatization.

King highlighted other areas with potential for greater cooperation, including regulatory alignment, the insurance sector, and cultural exchange.

He said: “We see remarkable opportunities in sectors like asset management. It is something that we do very well. In the UK we have the second-largest investment management industry in the world.

“We have around £10.9 trillion ($14.7 trillion) under management in the UK. We’re looking for all kinds of collaboration with Saudi Arabia in that area.”

He added: “I think we would like to see more collaboration on the legal side as well. (Some) 80 percent of global contracts are under English law.”

King said that he would meet government ministers, regulators, family offices, and members of the insurance industry during his time in Riyadh.

When asked why he chose to visit the Kingdom at this time, King said: “It is a remarkable moment. We have got major developments in the UK that present a good set of opportunities for Saudi parties.”

King added that he would return to Riyadh in October for the Future Investment Initiative.


Security forces crack down on illegal Hajj entry

Updated 27 May 2025
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Security forces crack down on illegal Hajj entry

  • Hajj Security Forces at Makkah’s entrances arrested six residents and 14 citizens for transporting 99 individuals without Hajj permits
  • Ministry of Interior urged full compliance with Hajj regulations to ensure pilgrim safety

MAKKAH: The Ministry of Interior is continuing its efforts to prevent people without Hajj permits from entering or staying in Makkah and the holy sites, warning that violators and facilitators will be arrested and penalized.

Hajj Security Forces at Makkah’s entrances arrested six residents and 14 citizens for transporting 99 individuals without Hajj permits, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

In a separate incident, the forces arrested two citizens for transporting 15 individuals in violation of Hajj regulations and attempting to bring them into Makkah.

Penalties include imprisonment, fines of up to SR100,000 ($26,600), the public naming of violators, deportation of residents and a 10-year re-entry ban after sentencing.

The ministry also called for the confiscation of vehicles used in unauthorized transportation and fines of up to SR20,000 for those attempting Hajj without a permit.

It urged full compliance with Hajj regulations to ensure pilgrim safety and reminded the public that entering Makkah between April 29 and June 10 without a permit is prohibited.


Saudi project clears 1,504 mines in Yemen 

Updated 27 May 2025
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Saudi project clears 1,504 mines in Yemen 

  • Total included 1,459 unexploded ordnance, 40 anti-tank mines, four anti-personnel mines and one improvised explosive device
  • Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said that 495,855 mines have been cleared since the project began in 2018

RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 1,504 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week. 

The total included 1,459 unexploded ordnance, 40 anti-tank mines, four anti-personnel mines and one improvised explosive device, according to a recent report. 

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said that 495,855 mines have been cleared since the project began in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly. 

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada. 

The project trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid.