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Dubai’s top 8 late-night cafes
Mon, November 8, 2021
Looking for a midnight snack in Dubai? Satisfy your cravings at one of the city’s all-hours snack stops.
Looking for a midnight snack in Dubai? Satisfy your cravings at one of the city’s all-hours snack stops.
1
Al Mallah Restaurant
Serving Lebanese-inspired fast food for more than 30 years, Al Mallah is no ordinary restaurant. Beginning as a juice shack on a street corner in Dubai in 1984, today Al Mallah has several branches in the city and more than 150 items on the menu. You’ll find plenty of local comfort food at the restaurant's Satwa brand, close to the Etihad Museum, including shawarma, falafel, grills and fresh juices. Each branch, however, has its own character – for instance, at the Al Twar one, you can sit in the comfort of your taxi, ask the driver to sound the horn and have a waiter come to the car to take your order.
2
Aspen Cafe
Open all day and night, this slick restaurant inside the five-star Kempinski Mall of the Emirates hotel is a popular choice for late-night shoppers. The cuisine is modern European and while it’s not a budget option, the food never disappoints. Browse the iPad menu while you snack on freshly-baked bread rolls and choose between tucking into the lobster bisque or beef cheeks with saffron risotto. The coffee is great too, if you need a little extra fuel to see the night through.
3
Zaroob
If you’re after hearty wraps and fresh juices, look no further than this hotspot on Sheikh Zayed Road. Open until 4am, the hip eatery features a charming terrace strung with lanterns. Inspired by the street food vendors across the Levant region, Zaroob’s interior is adorned in eye-catching decorations and vintage artefacts. Don’t leave without trying the succulent chicken shawarma sandwich and Nutella wrap.
4
Turkish Village
Open until 1am, the restaurant is famed for serving deliciously authentic Turkish cuisine in a memorable setting. Choose a table on the terrace for iconic views of skyscrapers along Sheikh Zayed Road in the distance, or order treats to-go and stroll to the nearby La Mer beach. One of the bestsellers here is the Metre Kebab, a metre-long ground lamb kebab with flavours inspired by Adana and Urfa, the ancient cities of Turkey. The Turkish pide pizza is another superb choice, topped with gooey cheese and fresh vegetables.
5
Last Exit
The perfect pit stop for late-night treats, Last Exit food truck parks are a hive of activity at all hours. There are four locations in Dubai, each with its own distinct theme. Visitors can choose from dining at Al Qudra’s equestrian wonderland, Jebel Ali North’s post-apocalyptic setting, Al Khawaneej’s lush greens and the ever-popular Jebel Ali South, which presents its own spin on 1950s America. Every Last Exit houses speciality vendors serving everything from bite-sized snacks and sweet treats, to Arabic fare and made-to-share meals.
6
Keif Restaurant
Located by the atmospheric Dubai Water Canal, this popular Lebanese outlet serves a tantalising array of international and Lebanese dishes 24/7. The menu really does have it all from salads, sandwiches and pastas, to fresh grilled kebabs and mezze. For a tasty snack, try the kibbeh, a bite-sized treat made with bulgur, minced onions and spiced meat. For mains, tuck into the chicken shish tawook, lamb kebabs or spicy sausage rolls.
7
Zaatar w Zeit
With outlets all over the city, including at Dubai Marina Walk, most residents have this 24-hour fast food-style Arabic cafe on speed-dial. The baked Lebanese manakish or flatbreads are the restaurant’s most popular menu item, topped with everything from gooey white cheese, sausage, creamy labneh or zaatar spice with herbs. The beloved breads are traditionally eaten for breakfast but are available 24/7, as are the hearty wraps that are worth every bite.
8
SALT
Sometimes, all you crave are perfectly-grilled burgers. Fortunately, Dubai's famed food truck turned burger restaurant SALT is open well into the night at Kite Beach. Enjoy their signature butter-bun sliders until 3am on weekdays and, on weekends, from 5am onwards. The menu may seem concise but it covers the classics, including wagyu beef sliders and the in-demand crunchy chicken with Cheetos burger. See you on the sand!
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