Revisiting the Kingdom Tower's Sky Bridge

On May 9, I'll be celebrating my five years in the Kingdom. Time, indeed, flies so fast! (Goodness, I landed in Riyadh when I was just 24... guess what's my age now? Don't! Lol!) I decided to revisit one of the most popular icons that is symbolic of living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia... The Kingdom Tower's Sky Bridge.

The Kingdom Tower, the most famous building in Riyadh

Any Filipino newbie in Riyadh would say that Batha is the first place they visit when they arrive in Riyadh but statistics say that the Sky Bridge is also worth visiting. Er, I might have made up that statistics, haha, but still, the Sky Bridge is a tourist spot itself. However, I admit that it took me a year and a half before I visited it for the first time in November 2009. That's already a rare feat compared to my father who's been here in Saudi Arabia for 22 years and have never set foot in that Sky Bridge. Like ever. Shoegarfreeruby, who wrote about the Sky Bridge in January 2009 shared the same experience (or non-experience) with her dad. What's up with the Riyadh oldies veterans seasoned expats not wanting to visit tourist attractions? KJ! Lol, just kidding. 

I think the price sets them aback. I already found the SR 25 fee in 2009 expensive. Imagine my shock when I found out its SR 35 now. Does it come with a free coffee now?! Nope. The price is quite steep when all you can do in the Sky Bridge is gaze below, test your fear of heights, consider how it would feel to jump from it (not recommended) and take photos. There's no maximum time limit in being at the Sky Bridge so if you want to stay there for half a day just because it would make the SR 35 sulit (worth it), then by all means, stay until you realize there's nothing new to see anymore.

The Kingdom Tower, developed by the Kingdom Holding Inc., is the tallest skyscraper in Riyadh and the second tallest in Saudi Arabia (the first is the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel). At 302.3 meters, it stands as the #16 tallest building in the Middle East and #65 tallest in the world. Construction started in 1999 and the tower was completed in 2002. It has 99 floors with only 40+ levels occupied. If you're wondering why they made a keyhole in the building, it's not for small airplanes to perform exhibitions with. The keyhole aka necklace is created to conform to city laws that don't allow occupied floors above a certain height.

To the 99th floor, please.

Sitting atop the Kingdom Tower, on its 99th floor, is the Sky Bridge. The elevators that take you to the Sky Bridge is described as the "ride of a lifetime." I think it's more of a ride of a lifetime that doesn't feel like a lifetime. It's only 90 seconds... that's the fastest lifetime you'll ever have. Amazing for its speed, yes.

Entrance to the Sky Bridge elevator is at the Kingdom Centre Mall, that small space near Loewe, Lacoste and Marc by Marc Jacobs. Two elevators will take you to the top. The first elevator which will take you to the transfer level (and Spazio Restaurant) at 180 meters above ground level takes 50 seconds. You can entertain yourself with the lift's planetarium interiors. It has "stars" and "wishing stars".

Find a constellation in the elevator... or make up one! :P

The night sky all around you (on the lift, okay?)

The second elevator ride takes less than 40 seconds. Upon alighting, you'll find yourself 300 meters above ground level. Smoking is not allowed in the Sky Bridge. The ticket and sign also says No Photography. But that must be a joke because every one is taking their pictures in the Sky Bridge which is awesome (hello, SR35 ticket?!)! The only area off limit to your camera is the one in the center where the best view of the city and Faisaliah Tower is. There is an official camera and cameramen for it. There's also a small coffee stand at the other end. Grab a coffee and sit down at the edges of the Sky Bridge and enjoy the views!!!

Bet there's someone in The Globe who's taking your (or the Kingdom Tower's) photo too.

The Faisaliah Tower in the distance

To the right: King Fahd Road and the Al-Maather and Takhasussi areas.

To the left: The traffic road of Olaya and the Suleimania area

The other side: Maseef area

Every Riyadhizen must experience the Sky Bridge, kahit na once in your lifetime lang. Or twice... visit during daytime and during nighttime. The Sky Bridge is open from 10:30am to 11:30pm from Saturday to Thursday while on Fridays, it's open from 4:00pm to 11:30pm. 

R, let's drag our fathers to see the Sky Bridge one of these days! Haha! For those who can't stand the height, there's always the lower The Globe Experience of Faisaliah Tower... ~ Sundrenched

Top 5 Sosyal V-Day Date Places in Riyadh

When I suggested this entry, Eyecandy quipped, "Baka magalit na sa'tin ang mga asawa ng readers natin ha!" Lol. From shopping to dining to making lakwatsa... we suggest them all. And sometimes, our readers, mostly ladies, tend to bug and nag their husbands to heed our suggestions. Well, that's just great! Haha! (Women empowerment, woot! :) We didn't know we've become so helpful to fellow ladies out there! Lol. All we're saying is, guys, please indulge your wives and girlfriends once in a while. After all, you love them right? *wink with an extra bat of gorgeous eyelashes*

For this year's Valentine's Day, we suggest sosyal dining places that will melt your wife's heart and make her fall in love with you again. We're addressing this to husband and wife only because you all know by now that gf and bf can't go out together in public. At least when you're husband and wife, the religious police will see this as a normal dining out scenario and will not accuse you of celebrating the red-letter day, even if you are indeed out to celebrate it. So going back to the sosyal part... well, there's no harm in indulging once in a while, right? Right?! Even if it's not Valentine's these places will create a fantastic place to date. Romance is definitely in the air...

For dinner, fancy schmanzy hotel restaurants will probably be in your mind. Truth be told, we had this connotation about hotel restaurants: they're no good. The food is expensive and overrated. Well, some are. That's why, we're suggesting places we've already dined in. The food are relatively okay but what caught our attention in these places are the ambiance and the privacy they deliver. After all, when eating, especially on a date, all the senses must be heightened. Here are some hotel restaurants we've tried:

1. Radisson SAS' Brasseries On Four
Enjoy authentic pan-Arabian and global fusion cuisine at the Brasserie on Four restaurant in Riyadh. Indulge in a casual and light dining experience with the à la carte menu, or choose from the lavish spread of lunch and dinner buffets. Brasserie on Four also hosts the hotel's Super Breakfast Buffet, which includes fresh breads, delicious cuts and homemade pastries.

Shrimps galore!

Dinner starts 7pm in BOF. We enjoyed the seafood buffet and desserts. The shrimps and squid are grilled while you wait. Waiting is not an issue though because there are other dishes right in front of you. We heard Shogun, the Japanese restaurant in Radisson SAS is also a good choice.

2. Sheraton Hotel's La Piazza Gather everyone for the sumptuous buffet and specialties. An exclusive ambiance, mouthwatering cuisine, and personal service create a great dining experience.

La Piazza's chocolate fondant
(Ever since Duo, we've been on the lookout for other chocolate fondant in the city and so far, nothing came at par... well, except Cafe Ceramique's which appealed greatly to our Filipino taste buds.)

The La Piazza is Sheraton's Italian restaurant and they do look like one in a tiny village in Italy offering the authentic experience. There's even private dining areas where you'll have total privacy and yet you'll still feel the earthy, rural Italian village atmosphere. Dinner starts 4pm and goes on until midnight. We love the pizza and the lamb chops.

3. Kingdom Tower's Spazio 77
Plates are served to taste, but also to enjoy every bite! The various savors and wide range of signature Mediterranean dishes made from the best ingredients and always keeping in mind the authenticity of each flavor.

What better way to enjoy dinner than to eat at the 77th floor of Saudi Arabia's tallest building? Delicious food and amazing views, that's what you get from Spazio 77. Perfect for a lovely date! Your journey starts at the amazing elevator, which looks like a planetarium with its "stars", that zips you up to the restaurant floor. Then the meals, which is great. (S ate there on a buffet and she remembers there was a lot of salmon and a pasta that is cooked right in front of you.) You can also opt to go to the Oxygen Room, which is one-of-a-kind in Riyadh. Very interesting!

You might want to consider Al Faisaliah Tower's The Globe too. We haven't eaten there so we can't vouch for it but if you're looking for spectacular city views while eating modern European cuisine then you'll be in a treat at The Globe. You can also visit The Experience, Faisaliah's public observation gallery, after your hefty dinner. Fancy a cigar? Then the Asir Lounge is for you. Now, who wanna be a billionaire so effin' bad?!

After a hefty dinner, you'll probably crave for a fabulous dessert. Enter two in our must-list:

4. Cafe Lenotre

Located in Centria Mall, Cafe Lenotre is a restaurant and a dessert place in one. If you're there for the latter only, then we'd suggest you pick a table outside. The terrace, overlooking the Olaya and King Fahd Road, is lit with romantic candles and made cooler by water sprinklers. Try their Lavazza coffee and apple pie. Also their chocolate fondant and macarons. Oh, phone in a reservation okay. They don't accept walk-ins. They're sosyal that way. Lol.

5. Laduree Cafe

Also in the same mall you'll find a quaint, dainty cafe by French icon Laduree. Again, this is a reservation only cafe (and they're strict about it). You'll enjoy mouthwatering macarons, cakes and pastries... if you can pronounce them in their French names. Lol. Have their flavored coffees and ice cream too.

Laduree's famous macarons *nibble, nibble*

So, did we give you a good list or what? Don't lose the romance this coming red-letter day! Pop-in a delightful surprise to your wife (or okay, husband)! Have a romantic dinner in the city of Riyadh! :)