No boys are allowed – at least not behind the bar at the new Tonic Bar in the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, which has made history by hiring Saudi Arabia’s first all-female bar team.
Opening its doors to the public this week, the Tonic Bar is described as an “intimate yet striking retreat” that’s also reimagining and reshaping Saudi Arabia’s social scene by being the first country-wide to staff the bar with an entirely female workforce.
Everything taking place behind the bar in Riyadh is being decided and driven by women, whether it’s a drink (that’s shaken or stirred), the placement of garnish, the wiping of the counter-top, and even the emotional conversations with guests. Of course, all drinks, including signature cocktails, are alcohol-free.
The all-female bar affair is an example of how far Saudi Arabia has come in terms of women’s rights. In case you missed it, in recent years, Saudi Arabia has relaxed its strict dress regulations for women and abandoned mandatory gender segregation. The Kingdom has abolished a ban on women drivers and amended its guardianships system, allowing women to travel without a male family member.
In the work force, Saudi Arabia has made significant advancements towards gender equality, and even recently made a push for more women to apply for various roles, including train drivers. With an all-female bar staff, Saudi Arabia continues to empower women to take space in the job market, particularly in customer-facing roles, and even lead their own teams.
“Tonic Bar is more than a new venue, it is a celebration of the modern spirit of Riyadh, blending tradition, innovation, and empowerment in a space designed to connect and inspire,” said Guenter Gebhard, Regional Vice President and General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh. “We are proud to introduce a bar experience that is truly unique, from our homemade signature tonics to our pioneering all-female bar team.”
Beyond women’s rights and independence, Tonic Bar’s approach to all-female staffing is an indicator of how quickly Saudi Arabia’s entertainment scene is growing, particularly amongst tourists. Late last year, the Kingdom hosted Azimuth, one of the world’s biggest music festivals with over 600,000 attendees.
