Dubai’s Best Coffee Shops

Dubai is a true paradise for coffee lovers, and every couple of months, a new concept venue with exclusive beans emerges in the city. Great List has selected seven of Dubai’s best coffee shops that deserve your full attention.

The Barn Coffee Roasters

This branch of the renowned Berlin coffee shop has found a home in the building of a former cultural center, situated in the cozy municipal park Al Khazzan. Outside, you’ll find tables under a beautiful sprawling ghaf tree and hoopoes walking around the lawns. Inside, it is one of Dubai’s best coffee shops, boasting the most attentive sales staff who are always ready to help you choose specialty beans. The Barn features a kitchen with a nice selection of classic breakfasts, such as omelets, salads, and sandwiches, and offers freshly baked pastries and desserts throughout the day. You can place your order by phone by simply taking a seat at one of the tables and scanning the QR code menu. It is the best venue in the neighborhood, where you can work in peace or relax over a cup of signature cold brew.

Mokha 1450

This is the store of the country’s premier specialty coffee brand and a coffee shop decorated in Middle Eastern style. It is one of the few in Dubai dedicated to promoting the local coffee culture and its growth. The shop offers limited and rare coffee beans from Ethiopia, Guatemala, Yemen, and Jamaica, which can be tasted and purchased on-site. It features an extensive selection of classic coffee drinks, from espresso to long black, as well as alternative coffee brewing methods such as Aeropress, funnel, siphon, and Jezve. This is undoubtedly one of the region’s best and most interesting coffee shops and is well worth a visit.

Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters

Dubai’s main branch of the Australian chain of specialty coffee shops occupies an entire mansion in Jumeirah 2. It is one of the city’s most important venues for coffee lovers, featuring a so-called “laboratory” that frequently hosts tastings and other coffee-inspired events. It is also a very beautiful café with delightful breakfasts, excellent pastries and desserts, and intriguing signature drinks. The best classic drinks are the Cortado and Toby’s Latte. The local Aeropress and funnel coffee as well as almond and oat/coconut shakes are also exceptional.

The Espresso Lab

A coffee shop, coffee lab, coffee rarities boutique with subscription, city café, and school for baristas—The Espresso Lab is a comprehensive coffee education center, one of the most popular in Dubai and all of the UAE. It’s the perfect place to visit with colleagues for a coffee break or to buy a unique Jasmin cup for brewing coffee that features an automatic aeration mechanism. The cup was developed and patented right here. In addition to various types of coffee and coffee-based beverages, all branches of The Espresso Lab offer desserts such as Basque cheesecake, doughnuts, crème caramel, petite Victoria sponge cake, and more, as well as tea and signature shakes.

Bageri Form

A specialty café, coffee shop, pastry shop, and artisanal bakery in the Design District. It’s the best breakfast spot in the entire D3 quarter. It offers original sandwiches and toast, along with a variety of savory pastries such as perfect Danishes with feta and spinach or eggplant and goat cheese, or Pain Suisse with turkey, all complemented by excellent coffee. Everything sold at Bageri Form, including desserts, homemade jams and spreads, and signature coffee drinks, like the cold brew mixes, can be beautifully packaged and taken home. Don’t miss the New York-style bagels with sesame seeds, focaccia with rosemary, and Dubai’s best cardamom buns.

The Grey

A minimalist coffee shop with a serious kitchen. The Grey is perfect both for breakfast and lunch, especially if you crave some favorite Asian flavors. You can also make a quick stop for seasonal specialties, such as Thai milk tea or the signature espresso with cream, and desserts like the date pudding, which is popular year-round. For coffee enthusiasts, The Grey offers funnel coffee with a selection of beans, along with excellent classic coffee options. This is the best venue around Safa Park.

Nomad Day Bar by Nightjar Coffee

 

A coffee shop with all-day breakfasts in an egalitarian co-working space format. It was opened by the team behind the Nightjar Coffee Roasters project, one of Dubai’s most important initiatives for popularizing craft coffee and alternative brewing methods. This bar caters to digital nomads, guests of the neighboring 25hours hotel, staff of the fashionable One Central office center, and regular coffee enthusiasts. In addition to the social space, it features one of the district’s best stores offering exclusive coffee beans.

Dubai’s Best Asian Cuisine Restaurants

In Dubai, Asian cuisine is showcased in a variety of cafés, casual restaurants, and fine dining establishments that are gaining popularity worldwide. Great List has selected seven most interesting restaurants with excellent Japanese, Chinese, and pan-Asian cuisine that are worth visiting right now.

Mimi Kakushi

Jumeirah’s most opulent Japanese restaurant is located at the Four Seasons Resort. In addition to a formidable à la carte menu, featuring classical dishes of contemporary Japanese cuisine with eye-catching presentation, Mimi Kakushi also offers an omakase bar for six guests. At the omakase bar, exclusive dinners under the personal management of chef Go Nagano and bartender Manja Stankovic are held from Monday to Wednesday and require advance booking. This is Dubai’s best Asian cuisine restaurant for special occasions, offering refined interiors, a bohemian atmosphere, and luxurious food.

Uchi

This small Japanese gastro bar and sushi restaurant is a perfect place for an intimate dinner and serves some of city’s most interesting food. Anyone who appreciates quality Asian fusion and the creator’s perspective on contemporary multicultural culinary traditions should visit Uchi at least once. Highlights of the menu include sushi with crabmeat and cucumber gel, beef and tarragon gyoza dumplings, and beef ribs with pea ravioli. On Wednesdays, the restaurant hosts special dinners featuring Wagyu beef dishes accompanied by Japanese whiskey. Advance booking is required.

Zuma

This is a branch of the renowned chain of contemporary Japanese cuisine restaurants located in the heart of DIFC. It is a reliable choice for when you need excellent quality Asian food and exceptional service. In its 15 years of operation, the restaurant has earned the reputation of being one of Dubai’s most respectable establishments and literally the best venue for business dinners in the city’s financial center. The menu features classic sushi and nigiri, including the signature Zuma nigiri with Wagyu beef, as well as the restaurant’s international bestsellers, such as the miso-marinated black cod and a whole roasted lobster with shiso ponzu butter.

Mott 32

This restaurant specializing in contemporary Chinese cuisine originates from Hong Kong. It is located on the 73rd floor of The Address Beach Resort at JBR and boasts the neighborhood’s best terrace for breakfasts, offering breathtaking views of the gulf and the islands. The menu is centered around the culinary traditions of the Guangdong province, but it also features popular dishes from Beijing and Sichuan cuisines. Notably, the restaurant offers one of the world’s best made-to-order Peking ducks, which is smoked over applewood and carved in a special manner “fit for the royals.” The slices of crispy skin are served separately with a recommendation to dip them in cane sugar, while a signature mix of peanut and sesame sauces along with house-made hoisin sauce is prepared for the meat. Other bestsellers include dim sum dumplings, signature smoked black cod, beef ribs in honey BBQ sauce, and the Xiao Long Bao almond-and-chocolate dessert.

Kinoya

This is Dubai’s premier ramen shop, which consistenly earns prestigious culinary awards and grows in popularity each year. The perfect noodles prepared daily at the restaurant are accompanied by other traditional Asian izakaya fare, including appetizers, sushi, sashimi, Robata grill dishes, tempura, and more. The A5 Wagyu Koju Beef skewers and lamb chops are the best top items on the Robata grill menu. In addition to the main menu, Kinoya frequently offers special dishes, such as noodles, gyudon, or desserts. It is always a good idea to ask the waiter about dish of the day.

Shanghai Me

This smart casual restaurant in DIFC serves contemporary Asian cuisine. The menu boasts a vast selection of dim sum and other types of dumplings, spring rolls, and a large à la carte offering that includes meat, fish, noodles, rice, a small selection of sushi and sushi rolls, and an extensive array of desserts. It is the financial district’s top venue for a business lunch. On weekdays, between noon and 3:30 pm, the restaurant offers several lunch specials, including the “quick” lunch with duck pho soup and katsu sliders. In the evenings, Shanghai Me transforms into an elegant restaurant suitable for any occasion. Advance booking is required on weekends.

Otaku

This specialty coffee shop featuring Japanese and European cuisine is an excellent spot for an Asian-style breakfast in the Design District. The menu offers delightful Japanese souffle pancakes with Nutella, strawberries, or caramel syrup, chicken katsu sando, signature curry with prawns, Wagyu beef croquettes, and other appealing dishes inspired by classic Japanese comfort food. There is also a good selection of coffee, including alternative brewing methods, and a small coffee bean shop.

Dubai’s Best Breakfast Spots

Breakfast is the favorite culinary genre for Dubai residents who prefer to start their days early and hold business and social meetings before the heat becomes unbearable. Great List selected the city’s top 7 establishments offering perfect breakfasts for any occasion and any taste.

21 Grams

Dubai’s best breakfast spot, a perennial leader in all the local ratings and a favorite among both locals and expats, offers a menu that features the legendary bestselling Balkan breakfast (scrambled eggs in tomato, pepper, and onion relish with grilled beef chorizo, and soft cheese. The menu also includes a good selection of unique egg dishes, the sunny-side-up egg on homemade flatbread with cheese and the omelet with Wagyu coppa and kashkaval cheese being the best among them. There are also crepes, granola, and numerous add-ons available for any of the options. The venue also boasts a repeatedly praised panoramic view of the city, including Dubai’s two principal towers.

Terra Eatery

This beautiful project by Emirati restaurateur Rashed Al Tayer features Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine within a pleasant minimalist interior. The breakfast offerings include hummus with freshly baked pita bread, frittata with mushrooms, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes, scrambled eggs with various add-ons such as mushrooms, truffles, and smoked salmon, French toast with ice cream, and other European comfort food. The drinks menu offers a respectable selection of classic beverages, from espresso to filter coffee, as well as some signature lemonades and shakes, including an excellent homemade peach iced tea. Breakfast is served daily from 8 am to 2 pm, but if you plan to visit around noon, it’s best to reserve a table about 40 minutes in advance. If the weather permits, the best tables are located in the restaurant’s green inner patio.

Hoof

This minimalist specialty coffee shop offers an original selection of breakfast options and is one of Dubai’s few spots recommended for fans of hot cereals and puddings. In addition to the superb signature oatmeal with coconut, turmeric, and berries, consider the French toast with ice cream, egg sando, and bao bun with chicken and spicy mayo. And then there are the pastries: don’t miss the baklava-like croissant with pistachios and the carrot cake – best enjoyed on a hot day with the cold version of their signature chocolate-and-orange twist.

La Maison Ani

This original project from one of Dubai’s most popular chefs Izu Ani, who gained fame from the Greek cuisine restaurant Gaia, is devoted to France and its classical culinary heritage. Breakfast at La Maison Ani offers a variety of egg dishes—from scrambled eggs with truffles to shakshuka—totaling 14 options. The menu also includes homemade flatbreads with various fillings such as meatballs, chicken sausage, and halloumi and zaatar, savory croissants with Emmental cheese, salmon, turkey, or mushrooms, as well as waffles, granola, and the freshest Viennese pastries. It is one of the best options for le petit déjeuner at the Dubai Mall.

Tom & Serg

An upbeat Australian café where breakfasts are served around the clock, featuring portions that are generous even by Dubai standards. The local Eggs Benedict, also known as Aussie Benedict, is officially recognized as the city’s best and most popular. It includes braised Wagyu beef, gribiche Hollandaise sauce, and smoked onion relish, providing a meal substantial enough to keep you full for the entire day. If you also order the pancakes with macadamia praline, blueberry cream, and honeycomb, you might find it difficult to leave the table. The breakfast menu offers 20 items, including several vegetarian options, and 12 additional sides for savory dishes. The café is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm, extending its hours until 6 pm on the weekends. This is the best family restaurant in the Al Quoz district.

Arabian Tea House

UAE’s premier Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant in Dubai is the top destination for experiencing a classic Arabic breakfast. Their Emirati breakfast features balaleet, made from fragrant vermicelli noodles, along with various dips. A more substantial option includes beef liver braised with vegetables, served with hummus and tanoor bread. In addition to the breakfast sets, the menu offers simpler but equally authentic options. We recommend that you try the tanoor flatbread with a mix of local cheeses, the crispy ragag bread with cheese and honey, or the Emirati khameer flatbread stuffed with halloumi. The drinks menu provides a wide selection, but we especially recommend the date milkshake, Indian Karak iced tea, and Turkish coffee.

Josette

Enjoy a Parisian breakfast amidst the fairytale interiors designed by British artist Luke Edward Hall. Every day, from 9 am to 11 am, the newly opened DIFC-based Josette brasserie serves a spectacular menu featuring the finest highlights of contemporary French aristocratic cuisine. Indulge in a crabmeat and Hollandaise sauce omelet, a croissant with scrambled eggs and black truffles, a brioche toast, crepes with a variety of fillings, and an opulent fruit plate. There is also a selection of classic Viennese pastries, fresh juices, coffee, and hot chocolate with Chantilly vanilla cream. This is the perfect setting for a romantic morning date and eye-catching Instagram stories.

Dubai’s Best Smart Casual Restaurants with a Magnificent View

Whether you find yourself high above the city or at sea level, a stunning view can transform any lunch or dinner into a memorable experience. Great List has selected the top seven smart casual restaurants that provide a relaxed atmosphere, exceptional cuisine, and the finest views of Dubai and its coastline.

Urla

This seafood restaurant with a bar and lounge is situated on the ground floor of the Address Downtown Dubai hotel, offering a view of the city’s main water attraction. It is officially one of Dubai’s most beautiful restaurants, boasting an exceptional view of the Burj Khalifa and the nighttime dancing fountain show. It also has the best terrace for capturing sunset-colored selfies in downtown Dubai. Another ideal Instagram spot is the famous round bar counter, which is specially illuminated in the evenings. Urla is a perfect location for celebrating important occasions or simply partying the night away.

Tasca

One of Dubai’s most intriguing smart casual restaurants is dedicated to contemporary Portuguese cuisine. It is located on the 6th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah hotel and boasts the district’s best views of both the Persian Gulf and downtown. If you come in the evening, book a table by the city-facing windows. The excellent panoramic views are complemented by innovative cuisine from one of Portugal’s most renowned chefs José Avillez with a focus on the regional specialties of Algarve region, as well as by an excellent menu of Portuguese wines.

21 Grams

A popular city bistro serving Balkan cuisine is located on the second floor of the Meyan Mall shopping center. This is one of Dubai’s best and most successful casual dining establishments, featuring a spacious terrace with a panoramic view of the city, including the iconic Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab towers. Both locals and expats love this place for breakfast and lunch as it offers comforting, home-like food that is anything but boring, in a friendly, Instagrammable space filled with light.

Mott 32

This Dubai branch of the international chain of Chinese restaurants features an elegant but not stuffy atmosphere, impeccable Cantonese cuisine, and exhilarating views. It is located on the 73rd floor of the Address Beach Resort hotel in the beach zone of the JBR district, so the restaurant’s terrace overlooks the Persian Gulf, Bluewaters Island with the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel, the Palm, and the Dubai Marina. During the cool season, from November to April, it is best to book a table outside, regardless of the time of day. The terrace is under a roof, providing excellent protection from sun both in the morning and in the afternoon.

Tagomago

This is a beach club and restaurant that offers everyday home-style Spanish food, decorated in a Balearic style and named in honor of the notorious private island off the east coast of Ibiza. The terrace of this villa restaurant, along with the adjacent beach, provides one of the most comforting yet distinctly Dubai views of the blue waters, the eastern part of The Palm Jumeirah, and the Burj Al Arab tower. It is the best option for a relaxed family weekend or a dinner in the atmosphere of a carefree Spanish vacation.

Zuma

One of the world’s best Japanese restaurants offers a picturesque view of the city with the Burj Khalifa in the background. It is located in the DIFC district and occupies two floors in one of the Gate Village buildings. The first level is home to the restaurant, which hosts generous and crowded brunches on Saturdays, while the second level features a lounge bar that comes alive in the evenings. With low sills, wood, stone, metal, and an energetic cosmopolitan atmosphere from morning till night, first-class contemporary Japanese cuisine is the cherry on top.

Loren Ristorante

This is a classic Italian cuisine restaurant decorated in the 1960-1970s style with gold, mirrors, marble, and abundant plants. In the evenings, the ambiance transforms with warm lighting and white tablecloths. The large terrace offers a view of one of Dubai’s most popular beaches, Palm West Beach, along with the skyline of the Dubai Marina. The location is unparalleled as the establishment is situated within The Club, the most beautiful and luxurious beach resort on The Palm Jumeirah. The dress code is smart casual.

Dubai’s Best Seafood Restaurants

Dubai boasts hundreds of excellent seafood restaurants, catering to a variety of tastes and budgets. Great List has selected seven of the best restaurants that prioritize both the quality of their products and a creative approach to gastronomy.

The Maine

This is Dubai’s most exquisite seafood restaurant and brasserie located in the Magnum Opus tower, designed by Zaha Hadid. Wood, marble, crystal, and leather create the perfect ambiance for the Classic Two Tier dish, featuring a dozen oysters, shrimp, crabmeat, and salmon and tuna tartare, ideal for sharing at lunch. For dinner, enjoy a whole lobster caught in the Northern Atlantic off the coast of Maine, served with signature mac-and-cheese and a glass of sparkling wine. The branch at Business Bay is also renowned for its excellent selection of meat dishes such as classic beef steaks and carpaccio, intriguing vegetarian options, and an exceptional bar.

Hōseki

One of the most successful omakase bars in the Emirates is managed by third-generation sushi chef Masahiro Sugiyama. At Hōseki, they use the highest-quality fish and create unique menus daily based on the best products, selected by the chef through his personal broker in Japan, as well as on the preferences and tastes of the guests. During lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers different tasting menus. Each includes 5 to 7 appetizers, desserts, and a collection of sushi, including premium specimens.

Ossiano

This is Dubai’s premier seafood fine dining establishment, renowned for its panoramic views of the giant aquarium that surrounds the restaurant. The kitchen is headed by French chef Gregoire Berger who practices early 21st-century haute cuisine and continues to amaze guests with oysters immersed in clouds of liquid nitrogen, bread made from kudzu powder, and theatrical presentations of dishes. It is one of the best restaurants at Atlantis The Palm hotel.

3 Fils

One of the city’s most popular restaurants, known for its contemporary Japanese cuisine, egalitarian atmosphere, and truly original food, is 3 Fils. The main menu is evenly divided meat and seafood, but it is the classic cold appetizers such as Hamachi and salmon carpaccio, Hokkaido scallops with ponzu, and bass ceviche, along with the signature sushi, sashimi, and hand rolls that have earned 3 Fils the reputation of having the best seafood kitchen in the Jumeirah port zone.

Tagomago

A traditional Spanish take on seafood. The menu features marinated anchovies, whole grilled seabass, Bluefin tuna carpaccio, fresh oysters, salad with lobster, and a luxurious paella de marisco with a classic mix of shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari, and langoustine. The restaurant offers an exceptional view of The Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab tower from its terrace, and interiors that resemble a Bohemian villa in the Balearic Islands.

Urla

The best seafood restaurant downtown focuses on Aegean Sea cuisine. The menu features an expertly curated fusion of Spanish, Greek, and Turkish dishes, with a good selection of fresh fish and seafood cooked on a coal grill. Appetizers include seabass ceviche, scallop and langoustine carpaccio, and tuna tartare. The menu also offers various comfort food for two, such as paella with clams and calamari and manty dumplings with shrimp. Guests can enjoy an amazing view of the Burj Khalifa and the nighttime show of dancing fountains.

Tasca

This contemporary Portuguese cuisine restaurant is managed by renowned chef José Avillez. Its main focus is on the specialties of Portugal’s southernmost region, Algarve, known for its stunning Atlantic Ocean beaches and fishing villages where you can buy freshly caught fish and seafood. The main highlights of the menu are the Algarve shrimp ceviche, garlic-and-lemon cod pie, and the Portuguese version of paella with blue lobster. For a more profound experience, we recommend ordering the Taste of Tasca set, where fish and seafood are perfectly balanced with meat and vegetables.