Il Baretto celebrates KSA National Day with unique partnership with acclaimed Saudi artist Abdulmohsen AlRowais

Known for its authentic Italian cuisine and welcoming hospitality, Il Baretto has quickly become one of Riyadh’s most popular and loved restaurants. Located in the city’s bustling KAFD, the London-born restaurant opened in 2021, marking a new era of dining in the Saudi capital. Celebrating its new Saudi home, Il Baretto is collaborating with Saudi artist Abdulmohsen AlRowais on a special and unique activation for KSA National Day 2023. Falling on 23rd September, the annual KSA National Day celebrates the achievements, history, present, and exciting future of the Kingdom, looking at how fast it has come and what lies ahead. 

The month-long collaboration will see celebrated artist put his own unique mark on the restaurant throughout September, with guests able to experience the artwork throughout the month. Abdulmohsen will paint his signature colourful shapes and motifs over existing displayed artworks and on glass windows – creating a head-turning mix of classic Italian photographs overlayed with colourful Saudi strokes. Abdulmohsen will also paint over the restaurant’s plates using his signature colours and strokes inspired by the Kingdom to create a visual feast. Guests can also enjoy a specially curated drink and dessert connected to the vivid colours of Abdulmohsen’s work.

Abdulmohsen’s work will see Il Baretto come to life with colour for the annual celebratory day, with all colours and shapes inspired by his surroundings and how certain shapes have developed over time. His strokes are inspired by the shapes of Saudi Arabia and colours by the country’s heritage: the green of Saudi’s date palm trees, earthy brown from the ancient Najd patterns, vivid orange of the Sadu and purple from the Kingdom’s beautiful and fragrant lavender fields. Strokes will also take inspiration from the architecture of Saudi, notably Jeddah’s Al-Balad, Diriyah and Rijal Almaa, and their local artisans. Il Baretto staff will be on hand to guide diners through each created piece and answer any questions. 

Il Baretto Riyadh has become one of the capital’s leading art destinations, with a collection of paintings, sculptures and photographs on show for diners to enjoy year-round. Key pieces include nostalgic Italian photographs of classic Ferraris, glamorous actors and actresses, food and movies, along with glass sculptures by Czech artists Ela Smerck and Jaroslav Prosek. Paintings by Gianni Politi also feature: colourful abstract creations made using recyclable materials and industrial and commercial canvases.

Along with collaborating with Abdulmohsen, Guests will also be able to browse luxury publisher Assouline’s beautiful Saudi collection of coffee table books, which pay visual homage to great cities like AlUla, Makkah and Madinah.

KSA National Day celebrations at Il Baretto Riyadh will run through September 2023.