The EDIT Reviews: Café L’Occitane

A postcard from Provence, addressed to Riyadh

The EDIT team was invited to spend an afternoon at Café L’Occitane in the Diplomatic Quarter, and it felt like stepping into a postcard from Provence. Honeyed light on lemon yellow walls, fresh blooms on the tables, a soft drift of citrus and herbs in the air, the room eased us into a slower rhythm before the first menu page was even opened. The team’s welcome was warm and unhurried, the kind of service that notices what you need and arrives a moment before you ask. The setting sits inside 1364 Mall, a bright corner of the DQ where the café brings the spirit of the South of France to Riyadh.

We began with the steak frites, a classic that the kitchen treats with respect. A well seared striploin arrived glistening under a knob of herb butter, the fibers relaxed and tender, the plate finished with a glossy house glazed sauce and a generous tumble of crisp fries. It tasted familiar in the right way, elegant and confident, a French café staple with a polished edge.

Bowls of gnocchi followed and changed the pace completely. Pillow soft potato dumplings shared the dish with Certified Angus short rib that had been slow cooked until it yielded at the touch of a fork, all glossed with brown butter, pan juices, and a quiet lick of balsamic. It read like comfort, yet it felt composed, the kind of savory you linger over while the conversation pauses.

Someone at the table ordered the raclette burger and smiles moved around the room. A turmeric brioche held a juicy patty with baby spinach, sun blushed tomatoes, and glazed onions, then the server poured a molten curtain of raclette at the table, a little piece of theatre that never feels forced here. The bun kept its integrity, the cheese settled into a mellow nuttiness, and the whole bite landed rich and balanced.

For pasta, the choice was the black truffle tagliatelle. Handmade ribbons were tossed in a parmesan emulsion, the sauce clinging rather than pooling, a veil of shaved truffle giving the dish its perfume without overwhelming it. It is a plate that respects simplicity and lets texture do the talking, silken and aromatic in equal measure.

Then came the part of the menu that every table around us seemed to be waiting for, the mocktails. Café L’Occitane treats them like little fragrance stories told in glass, and the presentation is lavish in a way that suits the brand’s sensorial soul. We began with Bubble Sky, a vivid blue pour built on a cold infusion of orange blossom and butterfly pea with a whisper of mandarin essential oil, bright and airy and made for photographs. Bicycle of the Sun arrived like a Provençal daydream, pineapple and lemon lifted with vanilla and the gentle floral note of immortelle. Nuage de Provence landed last, cloud soft and comforting, almond milk and elderflower under a cushion of almond coconut foam. Each one felt more like a moment than a drink, layered and theatrical without losing balance.

If you want something playful, order Magic Box and watch the table light up. Raspberry purée and mango meet coconut water under a matcha foam, and the surprise is a side of macarons that turns the sip into a tiny patisserie scene. It is joy in a coupe and it earns the second round easily.

Between courses, the room did its quiet work. Light shifted across the banquettes, the clink of cups and low conversation made a soft soundtrack, and plates arrived hot and polished. Coffee is treated with care, from classic espresso to artisan lattes scented with honey, rose, or lavender. Tea service is curated and tidy, a calm counterpoint to the color and ceremony of the mocktails.

Café L’Occitane does not chase novelty. It offers grace. Provençal flavors move through familiar forms, service feels human, and the experience invites you to stay a little longer. Come for a long lunch, begin with steak frites, share the gnocchi, say yes to the truffle ribbons, and leave space for a fragrance inspired mocktail that brings the afternoon to a gentle close. It is an easy recommendation, and a lovely addition to the city’s rhythm.