KEY FINDINGS
- Across 281,857 written reviews, 40 of 82 cafes in Riyadh mention specialty coffee in 5 or more written reviews.
- The ranking is built on how often specialty coffee is mentioned in written reviews, not on the overall star rating.
- NORVI leads with 48 mentions of specialty coffee.
Introduction
When you are hunting for specialty coffee in Riyadh, a star rating alone will not tell you much. A place can carry 4.5 stars because the service is quick and the room is pleasant, even if specialty coffee was never the reason people came. So we tried a different angle: instead of ranking by stars, we ranked by how often visitors actually mention specialty coffee in their own written words. The result is a list that reflects where people go specifically for specialty coffee and then write about it afterward.
We analyzed 281,857 written Google reviews across Saudi Arabia. In Riyadh alone, 40 cafes out of the 82 we hold publicly mention specialty coffee in five or more written reviews — the minimum bar we set so that a ranking is never built on one or two passing mentions. This is not a list of "the best" in an absolute sense; it is a list of the most talked-about. That distinction matters, and we explain it plainly in the methodology section below.
Top 10 cafes by specialty coffee mentions in Riyadh — September 2026
#1 NORVI • 48 mentions • 4.3★ on Google
Tops the list. specialty coffee came up in 48 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 4.63 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4.3 across 269 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
#2 NAD Coffee • 31 mentions • 4★ on Google
specialty coffee came up in 31 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 4.16 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4 across 189 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
#3 AND COFFEE - & COFFEE • 25 mentions • 4.3★ on Google
specialty coffee came up in 25 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 4.12 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4.3 across 893 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
#4 9th Street Coffee Roasters • 19 mentions • 4.5★ on Google
specialty coffee came up in 19 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 4.68 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4.5 across 1666 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
#5 Camel Step • 18 mentions • 4.3★ on Google
specialty coffee came up in 18 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 4.56 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4.3 across 8192 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
#6 محمصة قهوة شفل | العليا • 18 mentions • 4.4★ on Google
specialty coffee came up in 18 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 3.67 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4.4 across 708 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
#7 & Coffee • 17 mentions • 4.4★ on Google
specialty coffee came up in 17 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 4.29 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4.4 across 1797 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
#8 مقهى ومحمصة وودز (العليا) • 15 mentions • 4.4★ on Google
specialty coffee came up in 15 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 4.07 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4.4 across 6763 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
#9 31Cafe • 15 mentions • 4.5★ on Google
specialty coffee came up in 15 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 3.6 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4.5 across 632 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
#10 Beanery cafe • 14 mentions • 4.6★ on Google
specialty coffee came up in 14 of this venue's written reviews, averaging 4.93 stars within those specific mentions. Its overall Google rating is 4.6 across 625 written reviews we hold. See its full profile on Raddod →
The full table
| Rank | Name | specialty coffee mentions | Avg stars in mentions | Google rating | Written reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NORVI | 48 | 4.63 | 4.3 | 269 |
| 2 | NAD Coffee | 31 | 4.16 | 4 | 189 |
| 3 | AND COFFEE - & COFFEE | 25 | 4.12 | 4.3 | 893 |
| 4 | 9th Street Coffee Roasters | 19 | 4.68 | 4.5 | 1666 |
| 5 | Camel Step | 18 | 4.56 | 4.3 | 8192 |
| 6 | محمصة قهوة شفل | العليا | 18 | 3.67 | 4.4 | 708 |
| 7 | & Coffee | 17 | 4.29 | 4.4 | 1797 |
| 8 | مقهى ومحمصة وودز (العليا) | 15 | 4.07 | 4.4 | 6763 |
| 9 | 31Cafe | 15 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 632 |
| 10 | Beanery cafe | 14 | 4.93 | 4.6 | 625 |
How we ranked this list
The ranking is based on the number of written reviews that mention specialty coffee for each venue in Riyadh within its category, with a minimum of five mentions. The "avg stars in mentions" column is the average rating of the reviews that specifically mention specialty coffee, while "Google rating" is the venue's overall score. We show both columns so you see the full picture and never lean on a single number. Read the full approach on our methodology page, and see the live, continuously updated ranking on the rankings page.
An honest caveat: mention count measures how much people talk about specialty coffee, not necessarily that it is the best, and we make no claim to be more accurate than Google. We do not build a competing rating; we read what reviewers actually wrote and present it transparently. An excellent newcomer may sit low simply because fewer people have written about it yet. Read the list with that in mind.
Tips for choosing
- Compare "avg stars in mentions" against "Google rating" — when both are high, confidence is stronger.
- Watch the written-review count; a venue with 5,000 reviews is steadier than one with 200.
- Open the venue's Raddod profile to read the reviews unsummarized.
- The best fit depends on your neighborhood and timing; use the rankings page to filter.
Frequently asked
Is this list ordered by "the best"?
No. It is ordered by how often visitors mention specialty coffee in their written reviews. That is a signal of how known a place is for it, not a final verdict on quality.
What does "mentions" mean?
The number of written Google reviews containing words related to specialty coffee for that venue, within the reviews we hold.
Why a minimum of five?
So a ranking is never built on a single passing mention. The floor cuts noise and keeps the places people genuinely talk about.
How many reviews were analyzed?
281,857 written reviews across Saudi Arabia, of which 40 venues qualify in Riyadh for this category.
Own a cafe in Riyadh?
On Raddod you can see exactly how your visitors describe you, where you stand against competitors, and which items they talk about most. Search for your business in the directory, or start free at raddod.com.