A12 has created a sports bar experience.
A12, a new zero-proof bar, has opened in Riyadh, offering Saudi citizens an authentic taste of a traditional sports-bar experience. The venue serves draft hops, peanuts and live sports on big screens, mirroring the feel of a typical bar in the United Kingdom.
Located on Riyadh’s famous Tahlia Street, the bar is fast becoming a hotspot for both locals and tourists. It has already proved popular on social media, with videos circulating of the new zero-per-cent hops.
The hops, produced by the Warsteiner Brewery, originate from one of Germany’s largest and oldest breweries, founded in 1753. The version served in Saudi Arabia is, of course, completely alcohol-free.
Situated on one of the busiest roads in the capital, A12 Café has been packed since April this year, when it began serving alcohol-free draft hops poured into pint glasses and accompanied by peanuts.
The bar welcomes all guests — both men and women — signalling wider social changes taking place in the Kingdom. Under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has reopened cinemas, allowed women to drive and begun welcoming increasing numbers of foreign tourists. Alcoholic beverages remain prohibited, having been banned since 1952. However, in January 2024, the Kingdom opened its first liquor store in Riyadh, catering exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats.
Abdallah Islam, the manager of A12 Café, said: “The idea is to offer customers an original experience they can share on social media.” He hopes to recreate the atmosphere of a bar while remaining aligned with the Kingdom’s ethics and values.
Check in with FACT for the best things to do in Riyadh.
GO: Visit @a12cafe for more information.