Cost of designing and setting up a coffee shop in Riyadh: A practical guide before starting the project
The success of a restaurant or café project doesn’t depend solely on the decor. Before construction begins, the owner needs to coordinate several elements simultaneously: design, space layout, electrical and mechanical work, air conditioning, lighting, finishing, facades, and operational requirements. Therefore, the real question isn’t simply: “Who is the right contractor to finish the restaurant?” but rather: “How do I find a suitable contractor or engineer for my project and compare multiple proposals before making a decision?” The owner can present the restaurant or café project once, clearly outlining its requirements, and then receive proposals from contractors and engineers whose work aligns with the project’s nature, comparing them before making a final selection.
What should a restaurant or cafe finishing project include?
Interior design
The layout includes space planning, customer experience, seating area, counters, circulation paths, and the choice of materials, colors, and lighting. Good design should balance aesthetic identity with ease of use.
Electrical works
Such as electrical outlets, lighting, distribution panels, electrical loads, point-of-sale systems, and equipment fittings.
Air conditioning and ventilation
It is considered one of the important items, especially in restaurants and kitchens that contain thermal equipment, smells, and high operational loads.
Plumbing and drainage works
It includes water and drainage extensions for the kitchen, sinks, toilets and operating equipment.
Floors, walls, and ceilings
The type and specifications of materials should be clearly defined in the price quote, and not just general terms like “luxury finish”.
facade and signs
The facade of a restaurant or cafe is a key element of brand identity, and may include glasswork, cladding, paintwork, lighting and signage.
Why do restaurant finishing offers vary so significantly?
The project owner might receive three offers that look like this: 280,000 riyals, 330,000 riyals, and 410,000 riyals. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the lowest offer is the best. One of the offers might not include air conditioning, kitchen equipment, some electrical work, signage, furniture, permits, debris removal, or some materials. Therefore, the scope of work should be compared before finalizing the price.
How do you compare contractor bids?
Compare offers based on: scope of work covered, materials and specifications, excluded work, execution period, payment schedule, contractor’s experience in restaurants and cafes, similar previous projects, guarantees, price before and after VAT, and mechanism for handling additional work.
Should I choose a design and implementation company, or separate the design from the implementation?
Both models are possible. In a Design & Build model, one party is responsible for both design and execution, which may reduce coordination between parties. In a separate model, a designer or engineering firm is hired first, and then the plans are presented to contractors for bids. The choice depends on the project size, the owner’s needs, and the required level of detail.
Present your restaurant or coffee shop project to me
Instead of contacting numerous companies individually, you can submit your project to Rasi, specifying the city and location, project size, type of activity, current site condition, whether a design is available, required scope of work, timeline, and any attachments or plans. Then, you can review and compare proposals before making your decision. Rasi does not execute the project or select a contractor for you; it simply helps you organize the bidding, contacting, and comparison phases.
Frequently Asked Questions
The completion time varies depending on the project area, scope of work, site condition, required installations, and the readiness of drawings and materials. Therefore, the execution period stated in each proposal should be compared against the included scope of work before making a decision.
Yes. You can start by providing a project description, site area, current site photos, type of business, and basic requirements. We can then determine whether the project requires design and drawings before execution begins.
No. The lowest price does not necessarily mean the best proposal. First, make sure that the scope of work, specifications, materials, exclusions, execution period, and warranties are comparable. Then compare prices based on a similar scope.
Have a restaurant or café project in Riyadh
Do you have a restaurant or café project in Riyadh? Post your project with RASI, receive proposals from suitable contractors and engineers, and compare your options before signing a contract.
