The best cafes in Dubai are more than just coffee stops. They've long played an important role in the city's culture, acting as places to meet, gather, socialise and celebrate. Dubai’s cafe culture has come a long way since Starbucks and Tim Hortons ruled the roast along Sheikh Zayed Road. The number of homegrown spots doing it right has grown extensively over the past decade, making it possible to find great coffee at any hour of the day. But how to choose? It’s not just about the most exotic beans or most knowledgeable baristas (although, of course, that helps); the space, service and menu also help make a spot truly stand out in a crowded market. With that in mind, here are our editor-approved picks of the best cafes in Dubai, whether you are looking to grab a quick takeaway cup or spend a leisurely morning catching up with friends.
Cherry House
Cherry House is the newest opening from the founders of oh-so-popular homegrown spots Feels and Saddle, and is undoubtedly their most serious-about-coffee spot yet. Inside this deceptively large Sheikh Zayed Road opening, coffee beans are transported straight from the in-house roastery to baristas via clear pipes crisscrossing the ceiling. Blends come from Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ethiopia, with a range of signature espressos, V60S and everything in between. But it's not just coffee done well here. The in-house bakery creates everything fresh to order – with fresh fillings only added to pastries after they've been ordered. Go hungry; you'll want to try everything, but our advice is to pick one savoury and one sweet pastry to get the best of both (if you're feeling really fancy, the caviar croissant is for you). Whatever you order, make sure it comes with the bread and butter experience on the side – a platter of four creative whipped butters (think cinnamon, raspberry, coffee), served with an equally exciting basket of freshly baked sourdough. The cinnamon butter slathered on the coffee and date loaf is reason enough to visit.
Address: Matloob Bldg, 2A St, Al Safa First, Al Safa
ONA
Opened in Jumeirah 1 in 2026, Australian-born ONA is a beautiful, light-filled cafe for serious coffee lovers. Inside, terracotta tones, greenery-filled corners and a glass domed ceiling offer a greenhouse-esque feel, while a bakery counter displays the day's fresh batch of pastries and cakes. When it comes to coffee, baristas are on hand to offer bean suggestions based on your preference, and are happy to offer tasters before committing to a cup. Beans are sourced from across the globe to offer a truly impressive range of blends, from Guatemala to Ethiopia, Panama to Honduras, but there's also plenty of playful creations for those who prefer their coffee sweeter, from tiramisu and pistachio lattes to an entire menu dedicated to coconut-based concoctions. The breakfast menu features all the classics, many of which are served with a playful twist (the Turkish eggs come topped with decadent lamb ragu), but it's the loaded toast where the menu really shines. For savoury lovers, the spiced honey-glazed halloumi toast comes generously topped with avocado, slabs of salty-and-sweet, honey-coated halloumi and crispy onions. For sweet fans, don't miss the strawberries and sweet cream-topped toast. A classic reinvented.
Address: 41A Street, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
Lowe
Michelin-lauded yet utterly relaxed, Lowe in KOA Canvas pulls off the rare trick of being both a serious restaurant and an everyday cafe. Its sleek open kitchen and concrete-and-wood interiors open onto a leafy courtyard, where you’ll find regulars and families lingering over flat whites and wood-fired sourdough. Drinks range from kombucha to cold brew, matcha lattes to freshly pressed juices, while the daytime menu (served Friday to Sunday) should not be missed, think coconut sesame French toast, crab omelette with smoked cream, and the signature Lowe breakfast with perfectly blistered flatbread. Tamara Wright
Address: KOA Canvas, Al Barari
One Life
“The only place competing with both Zuma and McDonald’s,” reads the menu at One Life… and somehow, it’s not wrong. The food, by chef Kelvin Kelly, is seriously good – the kind of good that stops conversations; always fresh, sustainably sourced and generous enough to satisfy the greediest of cravings. This homegrown cafe swings from freshly-baked goods to healthy bowls and indulgent burgers, with single-origin, speciality-grade coffee roasted on-site. Born in Dubai Design District, it now has outposts in Jumeirah Village Circle and Alserkal Avenue (the latter complete with its own farm upstairs). It’s effortlessly cool – part-cafe, part-creative hub – and always humming with the city’s most interesting crowd. TW
Address: Dubai Design District; Jumeirah Village Circle; Alserkal Avenue
Daughter and Dad Coffee
For a slow, peaceful morning in a nature-filled setting, Justin and Lia’s Daughter and Dad Coffee is a plant-led community cafe surrounded by greenery at the Meliá Desert Palm Estate. Around a 30-minute drive from the city, it’s a dog-friendly oasis for animal lovers and nature seekers, where you might even spot horses from the nearby stables. Come for the delicious coffee, from their family roastery Orbis Coffee, and you’ll likely find yourself lingering long into the afternoon over Turkish eggs, yoghurt bowls or a slice of freshly-baked cake. TW
Address: Meliá Desert Palm Estate
Alica Bakery
On the waterfront at Port de La Mer, this family-run cafe and bakery is as pretty as its pastries and one of Dubai’s most romantic morning spots. The design-focused space, inspired by the rituals of baking, blends warm woods, stainless steel and rice lamps with pieces by regional artists, including homegrown ceramist Cole and Cinder and Lebanese painter Ahmed Amer. The farm-to-table menu champions local ingredients, from warm croissants and cinnamon rolls to daily specials like homemade pastas, sandwiches and steak frites. It’s calm, beautiful and very hard to leave. TW
Address: Port de La Mer, Jumeirah 1
A Normal Day
Tucked inside Dar Wasl Mall, A Normal Day is a homegrown all-day dining space created by a team of locally raised creatives, designed to feel more like going to a friend’s house than a cafe. The idea is simple and well executed: good food, served without fuss, in a space filled with personal touches and collected art. Chef Illia Andriushyn serves a creative, generous menu, from reimagined breakfast classics to comfort food done beautifully, like mortadella eggs Benedict with kimchi hollandaise, caviar scrambled eggs, date-buttered brioche, cacio e pepe, steak sandwiches and spiced watermelon salad. TW
Address: Dar Wasl Mall
Cassette
Arguably one of Dubai’s most dependable all-day cafes, Cassette sits inside The Courtyard, Al Quoz, one of the city’s oldest creative districts. Despite being in the heart of Dubai, wandering through The Courtyard feels like stepping back in time: water features, stained glass, leafy alleyways and façades pieced together from salvaged materials once used in Old Dubai. Cassette is its centrepiece. Creative, music-focused, with vinyl spinning in the corner, here, you'll find an infectious buzz for getting work done and friendly service. Coffee uses single-origin beans from local roasters, while the French-leaning menu spans from waffle duck confit to French beef dip sandwiches. It’s buzzy enough for a brainstorm, relaxed enough for a solo breakfast, and beautiful enough to bring visitors to. TW
Address: The Courtyard, Al Quoz 1
Koncrete
True to its name, this Umm Suqeim spot is a concrete-clad space that blends coffee culture with a curated concept store. More than just a cafe, it’s a hub for artisanal finds and homegrown collaborations. A central enclave invites laid-back conversations, while surrounding tables cater to work sessions. The food menu is minimal, serving just five toasties including BLT and tuna melts. But the drinks are why people return – think matcha with cold foam, dirty chai lattes and their signature Belgium brown, a double shot with chocolate, cold foam and cocoa. Zahra Surya Darma
Address: 787 Jumeirah St, Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai
Orto Cafe
Once a quiet, under-the-radar gem in Jumeirah 3, Orto has since gone viral – yet its charm remains intact. Whether nestled into plush cushions indoors or enjoying the breezy canal-facing terrace, it’s the perfect escape from the hustle of Downtown just beyond. This Emirati-owned cafe is known for its minimalist designs, making it an ideal spot to work from during the day and for catch-ups with friends in the evening. Coffee is sourced from Brazil and Colombia, with inventive twists like crème brûlée lattes and espresso tonics. Matcha lovers can choose from classic, ginger-infused or vanilla bean varieties. The menu leans into brunch staples – think avo toast, PB&J sandwiches, stuffed croissants, and eggs Benedict. ZSD
Address: 395 Al Athar Street - Jumeirah - Dubai
Onda Replenishment Bar
Nestled in Al Wasl, this neighbourhood spot blends eclectic mid-century modern with a brutalist vibe – exposed concrete walls meet vibrant pops of colour straight out of the '70s. A dream for those with a sweet tooth, its extensive dessert menu includes date and orange pudding, banana bread with passionfruit curd, brûléed French toast and four flavours of laban (fermented milk) ice cream. Savoury options range from rice bowls to burgers and toasties. The standout though? A matcha latte selection topped with cloud-like foam in flavours like blueberry, strawberry, banana, and lavender. ZSD
Address: Canal House, Al Wasl - Dubai
Bageri Form
If the scent of freshly baked bread hits you, you’re in the right spot. Bageri Form, in Dubai Design District (D3), is a minimalist, greenery-filled bakery focused on Scandi-inspired bakes. Its philosophy? No yeast – just a ten-day sourdough fermentation process. Expect cardamom and cinnamon buns, berry or herby-filled danishes and rustic breads. The all-day breakfast menu features tartines, sandwiches and porridge. Pair it with a coffee or the must-try salted maple iced matcha latte, and settle in for a slow morning or a work-from-cafe day. ZSD
Address: Building 4 - Dubai Design District - Dubai
Roseleaf Cafe
Formerly housed in the conservatory at the back of Dubai Garden Centre, this stalwart cafe – independently funded and run by the ethereal Aussie/Kiwi/Arab Rose Zeini for more than 11 years – has moved upfront and sideways, now taking up double the space in the same building (renamed The Garden Concept). This bright and airy cafe mixes vintage continental diner vibes with a contemporary Antipodean aesthetic, and the kitchen – led by chef Ved, formerly head chef at hit Melbourne restaurant Tonka – churns out deceptively simple yet delicious breakfast and lunch dishes. House beans are sourced up the road from Nightjar Coffee Roasters, and there’s a fresh bakery offering, with artisanal cakes hand-crafted in small batches using all-natural ingredients. The Victoria sponge in particular is sublime.
Address: Garden Concept Stores, 733 Sheikh Zayed Rd, Al Quoz Industrial Area 3
21grams
A destination eatery within an unassuming mall, this delightful homegrown establishment – and 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmard recipient – is Balkan-inspired in both décor and menu. Despite moving to a larger location in 2022, it has retained its cosy atmosphere thanks largely to owner Stasha Toncev’s effervescent personality. Expect beautifully executed Goldbox Roastery coffees, from flat whites to piccolos, and a menu (crafted by fellow Serb chef Milan Jurkovic) that's far more sophisticated than that of the average cafe. The Balkan mezze with ajvar (red pepper relish), chicken liver pate and grilled chilli peppers is a highlight, but the daily-baked phyllo pies are 21grams’s signatures for a reason.
Address: Meyan Mall, Al Thanya St, Umm Suqeim 2
Nightjar Coffee Roasters
The brainchild of Dubai’s coffee bean raconteur Leon Surynt, Nightjar Coffee Roasters is often described as a mix between a coffee house and a late-night dive bar within the hip cultural enclave of Alserkal Avenue. Its speciality beans – directly sourced from producers and small-lot holders in Rwanda, Brazil and Colombia to ensure consistency – are roasted and brewed on site. With creative libations, including cold brew teas and coffees on tap, nitro-infused geekery, exposed breeze block walls, a DJ booth and camel skin hides cushioning wood and steel banquettes, Nightjar attracts the city’s understated cool crowd. Food is hearty, from freshly roasted chicken from the rotisserie to towering pancake stacks. Look out for a new branch opening in City Walk in 2023.
Address: Alserkal Avenue Arts and Cultural District, Warehouse G62, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1
Nette
Housed within Al Quoz’s wildly aesthetic Matcha Club, Nette is part of Dubai’s most stylish wellness community, which includes two yoga studios and several outdoor padel courts. Nette’s courtyard is filled with shiny, happy people sipping on iced matcha latte – a mix of Lululemon-clad yogis and remote workers making the most of shady spots and sockets. The food leans towards Japanese ingredients, with avo toast served on sourdough with baby rocket, yuzu and roasted sesame seeds, seaweed salad sandwiches and miso seared tuna salad bowls.
Address: Matcha Club, 20 8 Street, Al Quoz
Tom & Serg
When Tom & Serg opened in the Al Quoz industrial zone in 2014, it was a revelation. The original Antipodean cafe won over Dubai’s foodies with its casual but well-run diner, revivifying all-day breakfasts, peddling its house-roasted coffee to an eager crowd and spawning a new era of Australian-style eateries. Today, it continues to turn out high-quality house blend coffee – using its own-branded Encounter Roastery – and excellent Melbournian fare within its huge two-level warehouse space. Friendly aproned staff weave between tables bringing plate after plate of wholesome all-day food, including its famous gado with kaffir lime-infused quinoa, peanut sauce, eggplant, bok choy and fried egg, Aussie Benedict with braised beef Wagyu, and fish tacos with coconut crumbled sea bream.
Address: Al Joud Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road
Pekoe
Craft coffee may have been hogging most of the attention in Dubai, but now tea – its low-key, less-caffeinated sister – is also picking up steam. Pekoe is a tea, bread and butter lover’s paradise, tucked away in the courtyard of Alserkal Avenue. This is the kind of bakery-meets-cafe where the tea-ristas are meticulous in the way they brew each cup, paying special attention to the temperature and how long they steep the leaves. Teas are sourced straight from fields in Japan, China, India and Nepal, and you can purchase bags of high-quality loose leaf to brew at home. While the tea is steeping, master baker Karen Ye is busy baking creative artisanal breads, from pumpkin sourdough with maple and pecan butter.
Address: Unit 59, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz
The Grey
With a car park filled with Bentleys, Broncos and Maseratis, The Grey is about as high-end as cafes come. Occupying part of an angular bungalow close to Safa Park, it’s also one of the city’s most sharply designed coffee spots. A contrasting monochromatic colour palette and sleek, grey terrazzo bar complement a soft grey oak floor in nod to the cafe’s name. During the week, remote workers huddle over laptops as they sip on iced Americanos, espressos and cortados expertly prepared from the central open bar counter where head barista Julius works his magic, and come weekends, friends catch up over long, leisurely breakfasts. All-day dishes are categorised between good morning, eggs and breads and in a bun, with the indulgent truffled scrambled the best-seller. All of the pastries are made in-house at sister cafe Society, from the charcoal hazelnut croissant and zaatar labneh cruffin, to a twice-baked almond croissant.
Address: 9A Street, Al Wasl, Al Safa 1
Lulu and the Beanstalk
Located in the towering $1 billion ICD Brookfield complex in DIFC, Lulu and the Beanstalk is the only licensed cafe on our list. Founded by two sister filmmakers – and named after their beloved grandmother, who they say loved to tell tales as tall as a beanstalk – this small yet warm cafe-bar is an antithesis to the slick, shiny Central Business District atmosphere outside its door. By day, DIFC workers and freelancers find solace on cosy sofas within its high walls, but by night, the mezcals pour heavy and a line-up of resident DJs take over.
Address: ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC
Tashas
When upscale South African cafe Tashas brought its chic interiors, fresh cuisine and warm hospitality to Dubai in 2014, it soon became a spot of choice. So much so that owner Natasha Sideris swiftly began opening up other iterations in Al Barsha, Mirdif, Al Jalila and Dubai Marina Mall, in between writing her highly sought-after Tashas Café Classics cookbook. The OG, located in Al Wasl’s Galleria Mall, continues to be a hit with both Emiratis and expats who are drawn to its uncomplicated comfort food, fresh mocktails and 14 coffee varieties.
Address: Various locations, Dubai
Amongst Few Cafe
A trendy, industrial-chic concept store, barbershop and cafe located in a huge villa in Umm Sequim, this homegrown spot applies the same cool lens to its food and drink menu as it does its clothing line. Innovative takes on traditional breakfast dishes and global street food, often with a vegan, healthy-leaning twist, make it a unique dining experience. For the coffee, Amongst Few Cafe features premium organic fair-trade brews sourced directly from Ethiopia’s Kaffa province and locally roasted in the UAE.
Address: Bahwan Complex, Villa 3, 966 Al Wasl Rd, Umm Suqeim 1
Splendour Fields
Continuing EatX’s mission to sprinkle some Melbourne magic across Dubai, this spacious Aussie cafe in Jumeirah Lakes Towers – from the same team that brought us Tom & Serg – brews up some terrific stuff at their speciality coffee bar. The wraparound terrace overlooking JLT’s park is particularly lovely in winter, while the inside feels calm and bright. On weekdays, you're likely to find an army of remote workers camped out with laptops and lattés, while on weekends it’s a family affair.
Address: The Park, Jumeirah Lake Towers
Maisan15
Concealed in the depths of Barsha South, this inimitable Emirati-owned cafe features a garden cluttered with mismatched furniture, a tiny community library, art from local artists lining the walls, an open kitchen with diner-style booths and old vinyl records drifting from speakers. A humble affair, Maisan15 mixes cosy art studio vibes and a serious attitude to food and coffee, with an equally alluring Antipodean-meets-Arabic-style menu featuring dishes such as a chicken shawarma pizza, Yemeni shakshouka, and a wonderful mashallah burger.
Address: Al Barsha, Al Barsha South