The first Kimpton hotel in the region has opened in the Saudi capital.
Riyadh has no shortage of luxury hotels, but few arrive with the personality and pedigree of Kimpton. The newly opened Kimpton KAFD Riyadh brings the brand’s design-led, guest-first ethos to the Kingdom’s capital with all the flair and familiarity you’d expect from a name that has made its mark from New York to Tokyo.
Set in the heart of King Abdullah Financial District, the hotel rises across 16 floors with 212 rooms and suites. From the skywalk inside, you have immediate access to the Zaha Hadid-designed Metro station and the pedestrian-friendly web of KAFD. Rough-hewn arches from the lobby set the tone, as if the foundations have cracked and veins of liquid gold have pushed through the earth. The palette stays urban and tactile, punctuated with gleaming accents and soft light. It feels unmistakably Kimpton, yet grounded in place.
A chic city address
Our Essential Room on the 14th floor balances form and function. A king bed anchors the space, while a burnt-orange chaise longue by the window invites you to linger over blockbuster views of the capital. Mirrors and wardrobes rimmed in gold add a quiet glamour, and there are considered Najdi touches everywhere you look. Textured walls, pendant lighting, Saudi ceramics, and a curved wardrobe system frame a small writing desk, a Nespresso machine, and a compact minibar. The bathroom leans into concrete chic with a generous rainfall shower, separate WC and gold-capped faucets and fixtures. Amenities are by 19-69, the Kasbah line lending a warm, resinous scent that hints at Arabia’s old souks.
Kimpton’s “Come as you are” philosophy is not marketing copy, it is the operating system of the property. Staff are warm without being overfamiliar, quick with directions across KAFD’s skyways, and confident when recommending dishes or neighbourhood spots. Housekeeping is diligent and discreet. In-room, a mocktail kit encourages play, complete with a recipe for a Loomi Habaq that mixes aromatic Saudi black lime with basil and peach. A box of bonbons nods to KAFD’s bold geometry, with flavours that reflect a sense of place, from Klija inspired by Najdi traditions to a Saudi coffee confection perfumed with cardamom.
Destination Dining
Food is not an afterthought. It is part of the hotel’s fabric. Botanica, the airy all-day restaurant, is a calm tangle of greenery and timber where light pools across tabletops and a hand-painted mural riffs on desert botanicals and the district’s hard lines. Breakfast folds local and international seamlessly. Traditional Saudi breads arrive warm with local preserves, flaky croissants combine layers of lamination, and the menu stretches from a light halloumi omelette to bright, fluffy pancakes topped with Saudi condiments.
Lunch and dinner expand the offering with dishes such as margherita pizza salad draped with locally sourced stracciatella, a risotto folded with regional cheeses — jibneh baladi, akkawi and mish — and basil lifted from the restaurant’s garden, and Red Sea shrimp served in soft-shell tacos. The standout is a line-caught Gulf hammour, bathed in a silky almond sauce that complements rather than masks the delicate flavours. Desserts lean firmly into Saudi flavours, including a brownie with Saudi cherries that reimagines Black Forest without nostalgia, and a saffron and Saudi coffee tiramisu that proudly embraces local influences.
For a more casual cadence, Ziya stages coffee, sandwiches and composed salads beneath a cascading golden chandelier in the lobby. Kanza, the poolside offering, works best from golden hour to moonlight, with a menu built for grazing and a mood set to linger. The soon-to-open The Vinyl Ember is styled as a sultry American speakeasy, while keeping the grill at centre stage. Smoke and char are the headline acts, backed by a well-curated playlist.
Functional facilities
Beyond the plate, the leisure offerings impress. The pool deck offers a sunlit terrace with an easygoing vibe and water kept at just the right temperature. Loungers are comfortable, service is attentive, and the skyline takes care of the rest.
Whether you’re smashing out a HIIT session or winding down with some quiet stretching, the 24-hour gym is bright and well-equipped, from free weights to connected cardio, and every room includes a yoga mat for a mindful start or end to the day.
For business, flexible meeting rooms and a spacious ballroom bring high-tech capability and subtle cultural references.
The Verdict
The location of Kimpton KAFD Riyadh is perhaps its most appealing asset. Step out and KAFD is alive with public art and retail, while attractions like BLVD World, Diriyah and Kingdom Tower are an easy taxi ride away. If you are here to dine, you’re spoiled for choice with Chotto Matte, Il Baretto, Kuruu and Zuma right on your doorstep. There is even a Spinneys supermarket close by for quick fixes.
Backed by IHG, the region’s first Kimpton hotel plants a flag for personality-driven hospitality in a market that often equates luxury with scale. Kimpton KAFD Riyadh is intimate without feeling small, doubling down on character, comfort and thoughtful gestures. It is also a blueprint. With plans for Kimpton Dubai on the horizon, this opening shows how the brand can translate its global DNA to a Gulf context where culture, comfort and character matter.
GO: Visit www.ihg.com for more information.