FACT First Look: Bagatelle Riyadh

We took an exclusive look inside the brand-new restaurant – and loved it. 

Bagatelle Riyadh has bought the spirit of St. Tropez to Saudi Arabia. With restaurants across the world, from Bahrain to Buenos Aires, it is now making its debut in the kingdom. Ahead of its grand opening, we were granted a first look inside the new restaurant.

Bagatelle Riyadh oozes joie de vivre in the bucket loads. While it might not have the sun, sea and sand, it boasts chilled vibes in the heart of the city. The designers know how to make an entrance as it includes black and white photos of icons ranging from Brigitte Bardot to Paul Belmondo.

Bagatelle Riyadh is a sophisticated spot situated in the vibrant Laysen Valley. Inside, you will find a relaxed elegance – the white tablecloths and white walls are punctuated by brightly coloured paintings. We fell for the artwork, many of which read “love” and are a nod to French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. 

Take your pick from long tables, round tables, wicker seats and curved banquettes. We love the attention to detail, from the plates with the brand’s logo to the brass mocktail shakers. Lookout for the shelves stacked with sculptures and books on Chanel, Dior and Vogue. The result: a chic spot. 

Bagatelle is famous for serving French Mediterranean food. The menu is divided up between sur le pouce, la mediterranee, salads, pates, la vianede, le poisson and pour accompagner vos plats. The signature dishes include the Eggplant Parmigiana, Riviera Salad and Whole Farm Chicken. Plus, special desserts have been added to cater to Saudi tastes.

Bagatelle Riyadh is headed up by Corporate Chef Rocco Seminara, Executive Chef Michiel Geldenhays and Executive Pastry Chef Manon Santini. During our visit, we met with the team behind the venture.

Seminara shared: “We have embraced the culture. Bagatelle Riyadh creates an experience, which is about joie de vivre. It’s like we are welcoming guests to our home. 

Manon added: “We kept the base of the dishes but we adapted with the market. We tried to make the same flavour and same visuals – but adapted. We have added ingredients from Saudi, from dates to sesame.”

Bagatelle was created by French entrepreneurs Aymeric Clemente and Remi Laba. Drawing inspiration from the South of France’s friendly, festive spirit, they created the concept for the first Bagatalle, which can now be found around the world. Bagatelle can also be found in Bahrain, Bodrum, Buenos Aires, Courchevel, Doha, Dubai, London, Los Cabos, Miami, Mykonos, Sao Paulo, St. Barths, St. Tropez and Tulum. 

Bagatelle Riyadh is open from 1pm to 1am. We’re swooning. 

GO: Visit https://bagatelle.com for more information.