Mama Ghazzel

Mama Ghazzel calls itself your destination in the heart of Makkah, and the flagship branch takes that literally. It sits inside the Clock Towers complex with tables looking straight down onto Masjid al-Haram, so a plate of traditional cooking comes with one of the best dining views in the city.

The kitchen leans into Arabic heritage cooking, local dishes done properly rather than reinvented, from slow-cooked rice plates to grills and the kind of home-style stews you would find at a Saudi family table. It runs around the clock, which makes it a genuine option after Fajr or long past midnight when most sit-down restaurants have closed.

There are three branches across Makkah, at the Clock Towers, Makkah Company and Jabal Omar, so whichever side of the Haram you are staying on, one is usually within reach.