“It makes me feel very proud to fill the shoes of my grandmother here in Tawlat Fayza,” Deema begins. And she has plenty to be proud of. Her restaurant Tawlat Fayza stands out as one of the best places in the region to experience authentic traditional Saudi cooking. And hearing her story, it’s no surprise the Oasis restaurant is one of AlUla’s most well-regarded – among visitors and locals alike.
“My passion for food started when I was little,” Deema recalls fondly, “and I always loved watching my grandmother cook. She is known for creating the best meals that she shares with everyone she loves. There's always a place for you on her table.”
Meaning ‘Fayza’s table’, Tawlat Fayza was named after Deema’s grandmother, who was born and raised in AlUla. They lived in an old farmhouse with their vegetables growing close by. Their home was always full of friends and family who were passing through AlUla, and you could always find a pot cooking over the stove. Even though they didn't have much, there would always be vegetables from the farm to cook that Fayza’s mother would ask her to pick.
“My passion for food started when I was little,” Deema recalls fondly, “and I always loved watching my grandmother cook. She is known for creating the best meals that she shares with everyone she loves. There's always a place for you on her table.”
Meaning ‘Fayza’s table’, Tawlat Fayza was named after Deema’s grandmother, who was born and raised in AlUla. They lived in an old farmhouse with their vegetables growing close by. Their home was always full of friends and family who were passing through AlUla, and you could always find a pot cooking over the stove. Even though they didn't have much, there would always be vegetables from the farm to cook that Fayza’s mother would ask her to pick.
A Return to Roots
A Return to Roots
The essence of this approach to cooking has been brought back to life in Tawlat Fayza, combining a welcoming, communal dining space with locally cultivated produce. “The abundance of farms,” Deema explains, “and the fertile soil makes it so much easier to have a variety of produce to use in the restaurant.” This naturally translates into food that is all the fresher and bursting with flavour.
“Here in AlUla,” Deema continues “because we’ve got so much local produce growing here, like right behind us now, the taste of the vegetables and fruit is really special. It feels different from when you go out and buy it to when you yourself get it from the ground. It tastes different, it smells different, it really is something delicious.”
Another important element that infuses the local cuisine is AlUla’s unique position on the Arabian Peninsula. “Historically AlUla’s location on the Incense Road means that it's a meeting point for people, for ideas, for exchange of flavour, of culture, of food,” Deema explains, “And modern AlUla is no different. You can feel that it's special.” As a crossroads, a rest stop and a permanent settlement through the ages, AlUla’s cuisine has been a melting pot for the region’s gastronomy.
“Here in AlUla,” Deema continues “because we’ve got so much local produce growing here, like right behind us now, the taste of the vegetables and fruit is really special. It feels different from when you go out and buy it to when you yourself get it from the ground. It tastes different, it smells different, it really is something delicious.”
Another important element that infuses the local cuisine is AlUla’s unique position on the Arabian Peninsula. “Historically AlUla’s location on the Incense Road means that it's a meeting point for people, for ideas, for exchange of flavour, of culture, of food,” Deema explains, “And modern AlUla is no different. You can feel that it's special.” As a crossroads, a rest stop and a permanent settlement through the ages, AlUla’s cuisine has been a melting pot for the region’s gastronomy.
A Gastronomic Destination
A Gastronomic Destination
Today its dining scene reflects an even greater global reach offering everything from French and Italian, to Thai and Japanese. AlUla is also attracting some of the finest culinary talent from around the world, such as owner of a trio of Michelin-starred restaurants, Jason Atherton, with the opening of Maraya Social. The result of it all is a gastronomic offering for visitors that improves year-on-year “I believe that AlUla is becoming the food destination to visit,” predicts Deema.
A modern-day return to sustainable farming is another echo from the past, and one that has become a cornerstone of food production in AlUla. And many restaurants here have been quick to take advantage of this important movement. “I think that people are more conscious now about what they're eating and the idea of sustainability,” Deema affirms, “and we wanted to bring that to Tawlat Fayza. We change the menu weekly based on what's fresh in the market and what's fresh in the farms.”
A modern-day return to sustainable farming is another echo from the past, and one that has become a cornerstone of food production in AlUla. And many restaurants here have been quick to take advantage of this important movement. “I think that people are more conscious now about what they're eating and the idea of sustainability,” Deema affirms, “and we wanted to bring that to Tawlat Fayza. We change the menu weekly based on what's fresh in the market and what's fresh in the farms.”
A Warm Welcome
A Warm Welcome
In this corner of the world, people are well known for their hospitality, and it is said that the origins of this custom stem from the willingness to welcome and feed desert travellers who are passing through. It’s still very much part of the DNA of the community in AlUla and one that manifests best in places like Deema’s restaurant. “It really feels like these people are visiting my home,” she smiles, “enjoying the food that I cooked for them at a place that everyone is welcome at. It's so special for me. It really warms my heart and makes my day.”
As much as the warm welcome that diners receive, another superb addition to the dining experience is that AlUla offers some of the most wonderful settings in which to enjoy a meal. You can dine surrounded by the lush palm groves of the Oasis, under the twinkling night sky, or atop any of a number of rooftop terraces affording panoramic views of AlUla’s dramatic landscape – Tawlat Fayza being one particularly well positioned for vistas while you eat.
But ultimately, what makes the food most special in AlUla is its strong ties with the town's heritage, its people and its past. “The first day we opened Tawlat Fayza was very emotional to me,” Deema recalls, “I couldn't hold my tears back. It was the idea of honouring my grandmother this way, going back to her roots.”
As much as the warm welcome that diners receive, another superb addition to the dining experience is that AlUla offers some of the most wonderful settings in which to enjoy a meal. You can dine surrounded by the lush palm groves of the Oasis, under the twinkling night sky, or atop any of a number of rooftop terraces affording panoramic views of AlUla’s dramatic landscape – Tawlat Fayza being one particularly well positioned for vistas while you eat.
But ultimately, what makes the food most special in AlUla is its strong ties with the town's heritage, its people and its past. “The first day we opened Tawlat Fayza was very emotional to me,” Deema recalls, “I couldn't hold my tears back. It was the idea of honouring my grandmother this way, going back to her roots.”
