This is now in your Top Picks!

Login or create an account to save your favourites and receive personalised recommendations.

LoginRegister

Login to like

Sign in or register to like this content

LoginRegister

Food & Drink

Cat cafes, rider pit stops and barbershop coffee houses: Dubai's quirkiest cafes

Tue, January 9, 2024

Stop by these unconventional hotspots in Dubai for coffee and conversation, with a side of creativity.

Stop by these unconventional hotspots in Dubai for coffee and conversation, with a side of creativity.

1

Lulu & The Beanstalk

bookstore and cafe

Lulu & The Beanstalk in Dubai is a unique café in ICD Brookfield Place created by filmmaker-sisters Wafa and Amirah Tajdin. Inspired by their grandmother, Mama Lulu, a renowned storyteller and cook from Lamu, Kenya, the colourful cafe was created in her legacy. The space is designed as a cosy retreat to sip a cup of high-quality coffee and get lost in a good book (the venue features a collection of over 1,000 rare volumes). The menu presents a celebration of Indian Ocean cuisine with Chef Uzair's comfort food given an upscale twist.

2

Comptoir 102

Comptoir 102 Healthy Cafe and Concept Store Dubai

A French concept store and organic cafe, Comptoir 102 in Jumeirah is home to an array of fashion and interior designs, as well as nutritious bites. A go-to for Dubai's health-conscious, the cafe offers raw, gluten-free and vegan options, as well as organic juices and smoothies. Afterwards, browse through the store's curated selection of apparel, accessories and home decor that's classic, chic and always on trend.

3

Roseleaf Cafe

garden

Roseleaf is a well-known coffee lover's haven using speciality beans, exclusively roasted for the cafe. Tucked away in the FitLab gym at Emirates Golf Club, you can enjoy delicious home-cooked food with cultural influences from the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand amid a lush backdrop of greenery. The feel-good menu is affordable and sumptuous, offering everything from nourishing soups and salads, to large cake slices and daily lunch specials.

4

The Sum of Us

dubais-quirky-cafes-sum-of-us-9

From the team behind Tom & Serg comes an artisan space that is full of creativity. Located in the north of the city, The Sum of Us attracts the trendiest crowd of locals and expats, who come to experience a diverse menu full of flavour. Their specials change regularly, with gluten-free options and local produce from nearby desert farms. This bakery and cafe also features an in-store roastery, where their expert staff can advise on the best beans.

5

SEVA

/GatherContent/poi/s/seva/fallback-image/healthy-food-in-dubai-seva

This cafe is nestled within a Jumeirah wellness centre and concept shop. The cafe's comfortable seating options are perfect for an afternoon gathering over one of their vegan-friendly treats. The garden oasis ambience is peaceful, with plenty of leafy greens, wooden furniture and pergolas for cover. All dishes are free from sugar, gluten and dairy, without compromising on taste. Choose from a variety of desserts, smoothies and main courses that are just bursting with flavour.

6

Culinary Boutique

dubais-quirky-cafes-culinary-boutique-5

When walking into the Culinary Boutique, you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve mistakenly wandered into a furniture store. With comfy throw pillows against a warm brass and aqua colour scheme, the interiors of this Jumeirah cafe is incredibly trendy. Part cafe, part cooking school, Culinary Boutique is a hive of activity, and very serious about food. The menu features bestsellers such as the Arabic breakfast with hummus, halloumi salad and locally-sourced eggs.

7

Cafe Rider

Cafe Rider is the perfect spot for motorcycle enthusiasts, or anyone looking for a quiet spot to enjoy some quick refreshments. Situated in Al Quoz near Alserkal Avenue, this cafe combines two of life’s greatest kicks – coffee and custom bikes. Mingle with other riders or browse the in-store collection of apparel and accessories, while sipping on carefully-sourced local and international coffee prepared by the cafe's award-winning head barista. All the bikes on show are for sale and include choppers and old-school vintage creations, making this a great pit-stop for motorheads.
8

PDL Dubai

Men, if you’re looking for a fun (and practical) stop for refreshments, head to PDL Dubai in Al Safa. Touted as a ‘modern-day man cave’, it is an unusual combination of a barbershop and coffee house all-in-one. It is a great place to hang out over espressos or try out a whole new look – the experts at PDL offer everything from trendy razor shaves to hair styling. Popular with the city’s cycling community, there are also a selection of massages to help you unwind, including targeted treatments for sportsmen.
9

Ailuromania Cat Cafe

Ailuromania is Middle East's first cat cafe. It's based on similar cat-therapy concepts in Japan and Taiwan, where it is believed that one is instantly calmed in the presence of furry felines. We wholeheartedly agree. Located in Umm Suqeim, the cafe has several resident cats, which are a mix of pedigree, stray and rescue, with names such as Mocha, Cappuccino, Mylo, Yoda and ET the hairless sphynx. It gets busy on weekends, so you may want to arrive early for a cup of coffee and a cuddle.

10

La Nena

If you can’t resist an aesthetically pleasing cafe, La Nena should be on your list. The Spanish coffee shop and concept store is as pretty as it is relaxing, with beautiful decorations, some of which are available to purchase. It’s dog-friendly too, so you might make a four-legged friend on your visit.

11

Charade

Charade

If you are into board games then heading to Charade at Wasl 51 will definitely be the right move. Jump on the trend for old-fashioned rounds of Scrabble and chequers while snacking on wings, tacos and salads. Cool interiors complement the theme with fans spending hours sharpening their game. Proving this is more than a passing craze is the fact that there are a plethora of other board game cafes in Dubai too, including Unwind in Al Barsha, Hive in The Greens, and The SIX at Downtown Dubai.

10

La Nena

If you can’t resist an aesthetically pleasing cafe, La Nena should be on your list. The Spanish coffee shop and concept store is as pretty as it is relaxing, with beautiful decorations, some of which are available to purchase. It’s dog-friendly too, so you might make a four-legged friend on your visit.

Happiness Meter