Madinah (Medina) is the second holiest city in Islam and the home of Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque. It lies in the Hejaz about 400 km north of Makkah and is the capital of the Al Madinah region. The city is open to all visitors, but non-Muslims may not enter the Prophet's Mosque and its marked precinct. This guide covers the mosque district, Quba, Uhud and the other ziyarah sites, where to stay and eat, and how to get around.
Madinah has no nightlife in the usual sense. Alcohol is banned everywhere in Saudi Arabia, there are no bars or nightclubs, and the Prophet's Mosque is closed to non-Muslims. Evenings revolve around Isha prayer, coffee shops and tea lounges, late dinners, family walks in parks and shopping at the malls.
After Isha prayer, worshippers leave Masjid an-Nabawi and fill the cafes and restaurants of Bada'ah. Several specialty coffee shops open late or around the clock, and Sultana Street and the King Abdullah Road malls stay busy until about midnight.
At a glance
- Peak hours
- 20:00 to 24:00; busiest on Thursday and Friday evenings and throughout Ramadan nights
- Average drink
- Coffee or tea about SAR 15-30 (~$4-8); fresh juice SAR 15-30 (~$4-8) (estimates)
- Dress code
- Modest dress with shoulders and knees covered; men wear thobes or long trousers, women wear an abaya or loose clothing and a headscarf.
- Cover charge
- Alcohol is illegal and there are no bars or clubs in Madinah. Night-time options are cafes, hotel lounges, mall food courts and parks.
Nightlife districts
Where the action happens after dark.
Bada'ah (around Masjid an-Nabawi)
Row Cafe, Brew92 and Kiffa are all a short walk from the mosque.
Best for: Coffee and pastries after Isha prayer
Sultana Street
Namq Cafe in Sultana Gardens Mall and Cho Chocolate Cafe on Sultana Road serve into the early hours.
Best for: Late desserts and coffee
Quba
Quba Square beside Quba Mosque has cafes, shops and seating; Row Farm, a palm-terrace cafe, is about five minutes by car from the mosque.
Best for: Evening walk after visiting Quba Mosque
Bars & pubs
Where locals drink.
Row Cafe
Compact 24-hour specialty coffee shop a four-minute walk from the mosque, serving espresso drinks, drip coffee and French toast.
Known for: Specialty coffee and French toast
Near Madin Hotel off Abu Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah Street, Bada'ah, Madinah
Brew92
Specialty coffee shop and roastery about a three-minute walk from the mosque, popular for an evening cup after Isha.
Known for: Specialty coffee, Spanish latte and matcha
Near Yaqueni Hotel, Bada'ah, Madinah
Kiffa Coffee Shop and Roastery
Specialty roastery and coffee shop close to Gate 333 with outdoor seating.
Known for: Spanish latte, cortado and desserts, with outdoor seating
Near King Fahd Road and Gate 333, Bada'ah, Madinah
Cho Chocolate Cafe
Late-opening dessert cafe popular after Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan.
Known for: Chocolate drinks, waffles and fresh juices
Soultana (Sultana) Road, northern Madinah
Namq Cafe
Cafe reported open around the clock, inside Sultana Gardens Mall.
Known for: Coffee and cake
Sultana Gardens Mall, near the Islamic University of Madinah
Shahd Lounge
Hotel lobby lounge serving hot and soft drinks, five minutes on foot from the mosque.
Known for: Hot and soft drinks
Sofitel Shahd Al Madinah lobby, King Fahd Road, Al Madinah 42311
Clubs
For dancing into the early hours.
No nightclubs in Madinah
Madinah has no nightclubs, bars or venues serving alcohol. Alcohol is prohibited in Saudi Arabia, and Madinah's central haram district is reserved for Muslim pilgrims and worshippers. Evening social life centres on cafes, malls, parks and prayer times.
Al-Rashid Mega Mall evening entertainment
The closest local equivalent to a late-night entertainment venue: a mall funfair with bumper cars, rides and an ice rink that stays busy after Isha prayers.
Cover: No cover charge; rides and rink ticketed separately
Hours: Mall hours, usually until late evening (verify)
Cho Chocolate Cafe late-night sessions
Dessert cafe open until 3 am, the usual meeting point for groups of friends who want a late social evening without alcohol or a dance floor.
Cover: No cover charge
Hours: Daily 06:00-03:00; Friday 14:00-02:00 (listing; verify)
Live entertainment
Music, theatre, and performance venues.
King Fahd Central Park
Large lit park with walking and cycling paths, play areas and seating; busy with families in the cooler evening hours. Soul Specialty Coffee sits right outside.
Al Noor Mall
Evening shopping and dining for families, with Al Baik, Herfy, Kudu, KFC and Bait Alqahwa for Saudi coffee and sweets.
Nightlife tips
Stay safe and have fun.
Plan dinner after Isha prayer; many restaurants fill from 20:00.
Confirm closing times locally; hours shift in Ramadan and on Fridays.
Carry cash in riyals or use mada and international cards; most cafes accept cards.
Taxis, Uber and Careem are available late; confirm the fare before long trips.