Ramadan in Makkah: Iftar & Suhoor Food Guide
رمضان في مكة: إفطار وسحور
2 min readUpdated 30 Sept 2026
Spending Ramadan in Makkah is a dream for many Muslims. The Haram is at its fullest, especially in the last ten nights, and daily life shifts completely: the city is quiet during the fasting hours and comes alive after Maghrib until Fajr.
This guide explains how eating works in Makkah during Ramadan — iftar, suhoor and everything in between — and how to plan meals so you can focus on worship.
How Ramadan changes the daily schedule
Many restaurants reduce daytime hours or open only in the afternoon, then stay open late into the night. Out of respect, eating and drinking in public during fasting hours is not allowed for anyone in Saudi Arabia.
The busiest times are the hour before Maghrib, when people pick up iftar, and after Taraweeh, when families go out to eat.
Iftar at the Haram
Every evening, long iftar spreads (sufra) are laid out in and around Masjid al-Haram. They typically include dates, Zamzam water, Saudi coffee, bread and laban. Arrive early if you want a place inside, as the mosque fills well before Maghrib.
Following the Sunnah, many people break their fast with fresh or dried dates and water, pray Maghrib, and have a full meal afterwards.
Traditional Ramadan foods in the Hejaz
- Sambousek — fried pastry triangles filled with meat or cheese.
- Shurbat freekeh or lentil soup.
- Harees and jareesh — slow-cooked wheat dishes.
- Mutabbaq — crispy stuffed pastry, a Hejazi Ramadan favourite.
- Sobia — a sweet, spiced Hejazi drink made from bread or barley, sold everywhere in Makkah during Ramadan.
- Kunafa, qatayef and basbousa for dessert.
Suhoor: eat to last the day
Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal before Fajr. Choose foods that release energy slowly and help you stay hydrated through a long, hot day.
- Complex carbohydrates: ful, oats, wholegrain bread.
- Protein: eggs, cheese, laban, yoghurt.
- Water-rich fruit and vegetables: watermelon, cucumber, tomato.
- Avoid very salty or fried food, which increases thirst.
- Drink water steadily between iftar and suhoor rather than all at once.
Ordering iftar and suhoor to your hotel
Queues at food outlets before Maghrib can be very long, and leaving the Haram after Taraweeh takes time in the crowds. Ordering to your hotel saves both. On Feast Makkah you can choose 'After Maghrib' or 'After Isha' at checkout so the food arrives when you are back.
During the last ten nights, streets around the Haram are extremely crowded and some roads close to traffic, so allow extra time for delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Are restaurants open during Ramadan in Makkah?
Yes, but many change their hours — often opening in the afternoon or before Maghrib and staying open until suhoor. Eating in public during fasting hours is not permitted.
Is iftar free at Masjid al-Haram?
Yes. Free iftar spreads with dates, Zamzam water, coffee and light food are laid out daily in and around the Haram during Ramadan.
What is sobia?
Sobia is a traditional Hejazi Ramadan drink, lightly sweet and spiced, made from fermented bread or barley. It is sold across Makkah and Jeddah during the holy month.
