Alternative Guide to Breakfast and Lunch in Dubai
For those who appreciate food made with love, homegrown concepts and places with personality.
Prime location by La Mer Port, Alicia has a slow living approach and carefully planned seating arrangements which offer communal dining and solo space options. There is a small menu of staple breakfast and lunch options, accompanied by a wide selection of freshly baked pastries, croissants and breads. My personal favorite go to being the folded eggs with chilli oil and sourdough or the granola with raspberry miso jam. To round everything off there is a specialty coffee menu, making this somewhere you can easily get comfy and spend hours enjoying all the offerings at your own pace.
What I love most about One Life is how chilled out and unpretentious it is, with friendly staff who remember you each time you return this place has an upbeat vibe. A communal space with everyone in mind it has plenty of seating options to suit workers, those who want a quiet coffee alone and groups of friends catching up. One life is also licensed which is a bonus, especially early afternoon or evening enjoying a drink sat outside in the sun. There are so many great choices food wise but my personal favourite is the ‘poke me up before you go bowl’ with seared salmon. If there is room for dessert then you have to order their lotus cheese cake, dripping in caramel lotus sauce it is heavenly.
For anyone who has visited 21 Grams cafe then you may have tried their Phyllo pies, a staple item on their balkan inspired menu. This was the origin of the Pie Haus concept from the same founders. The trendy new location in the heart of alserkal avenue has a small menu centered around sweet and savoury phyllo pies with small side dishes to accompany. You will find excellent flavour pairings such as the goats cheese, bacon, honey and thyme or for sweet lovers, the strawberry with clotted cream and rosemary oil. Finally the coffee is also worth a mention with the cold brew being a great choice. Expect the same amazing service as 21 grams. Seating outside or on high stools facing the by folding window is best to soak up the atmosphere on the avenue.
For bakery lovers, Bageri Form the scandinavian inspired concept, offers a relaxed setting in Design District with a selection of freshly baked treats and sandwiches to choose from. There is limited seating outside and a mix of communal and small group tables inside. Additionally you can to sit on stools right by the action watching the skillful pastry chefs at work. The menu has seasonal inspired specials and regular staples with something for both savory and sweet tastes. I would suggest a hot sandwich such as the kimchi tuna melt or chicken paillard both on toasted brioche, saving room for a sweet treat. Choosing from the baked croissants, pastries, cake specials and cookies is where it gets difficult. I have tried the custard cream and forest berries danish which was delicious.
Ergon is a welcome addition on the boulevard in downtown, with their variety of 72 hour sourdough breads being the highlight, baked fresh onsite daily. I often visit early morning at the weekend to pick up their turmeric sourdough and monkey bread which is a delicious chocolate and coffee flavour pastry bun. In addition to the bakery, mediterranean inspired menu and gelato bar, Ergon sells a range of artisanal Greek products. The iced freddos instantly transport you back to Greece along with the fresh produce and local flavours such as the kalamata olive tapenade and assorted spreads.
Ka’ak is an immersive Lebanese restaurant which encompasses a bakery, patisserie and boutique retail space. Naturally Kaak (the popular lebanese street bread) is a favourite on the menu offering plenty of options. Besides this there are plenty of great hot and cold mezza options which make sharing a good option. For me the Bulghari Cheese Crispers with sweet fig dip are a must order. From the drinks menu I would highly recommend one of the iced tea coolers, made from freshly brewed tea with plenty of flavours to choose from.
Tucked away in Arjan, you could easily miss the unassuming wonder that is Maison 15 cafe. An arty little space with a tranquil outdoor courtyard featuring a water fountain as the center piece. Emirati owned, this place is truly a hidden gem which has become increasingly popular and busy due to rave reviews for their seasonal menu and specialty coffee. During the hotter months you can opt for diner booth style seating downstairs, with views of the open kitchen watching the chefs prepare their signature dishes. Its hard to narrow down but if I had to recommend any dishes to try they would be; yemeni shakshooka, Ramis breakast or the peanut butter and choc chip pancakes complete with caramelized banana and house ice cream. To accompany I would suggest the peach earl gray iced tea for a refreshing cooler.
If you are wanting to experience culture and heritage then either branch of the family run Mazmi Cafe are perfect choices. Each location has its own charm and personality so it is really worth finding the time to visit both. The original location is my personal favourite, right by the Dubai creek waters, at the old souq it is the perfect place to sit and people watch, with sunset being a particularly special time to visit. The Al Fahidi cafe is housed in a restored heritage villa and gives a glimpse of the history of the UAE. I often tie in a visit when I am exploring the old souqs or showing family members around. There are a a selection of photo books to browse through which showcase the development of the UAE from inception to modern day. I usually stop by for the homemade gelato and a refreshing drink like the fresh mango juice or mojito mocktail, although there are plenty of offerings if you choose to come for breakfast or lunch.
I have already mentioned 21 Grams and its new concept Pie Haus in previous posts but I love their food so much I cant not give it the credit it deserves. Definately one of my favourite breakfast spots in Dubai with an equally amazing lunch menu. The team are super attentive and welcoming, always on hand to offer recommendations or explains if you are struggling to decide what to order. I love how they combine locally produced ingredients to drum up balkan inspired dishes with bold flavours. Perhaps not somewhere for people who are looking for classic breakfast items, as 21 Grams is renowned and award winning for its creativity and layered ingredients. I have enjoyed everything I have tried here, but if I had to recommend I would suggest the komplet egg, homemade pita bread or the granola, also homemade with a delicious peach compote and berries. The cherry phyllo pie with custard is also a must order !
Lowe isn’t your every day breakfast or lunch spot, more of a high end dining experience, which you will also see reflected in the prices. However it is still well worth a visit if you are looking for somewhere upmarket which offers a contemporary menu centered around fresh seasonal produce and experimental dining. The restaurant is set in Al Barari which is a luxury community, which feels completely hidden away from central Dubai, offering a green and tranquil setting. I personally prefer their post breakfast menu as there are lots of small dishes perfect for sharing. The woodfire sesame bread paired with the burnt aubergine dip is an excellent starter, along with the charred cauliflower. For dessert or a treat alongside coffee the freshly baked and still warm madeleines accompanied by passionfruit curd are heaven. Lowe does feel like a bit of a treat or worth saving for a special occasion in my opinion.
Paus; has grown over the years to become a major hub for community and wellness, offering a wide range of workshops, fitness classes and feel good food at their onsite cafe. Some of these activities include strength training, Pilates, even boasting their own padel court. Foodwise there is a good selection of options to suit all tastes and time of day. The smoothie menu deserves a mention with a colourful variety of plant based options such as the Ariel which combines, strawberries, banana, almond milk, almond butter and acaia honey. I love their acai berry bowls and plant based fry up (classic fry up also available). The vegan pancakes with maple syrup and mixed berries is also well worth ordering. A great place to go on your own with a good book or podcast and just relax in a tranquil space surrounded by greenery.
It is almost impossible to live in Dubai without visiting Arabian Teahouse at some point. This longstanding establishment first opened in 1997 in Al Fahidi to showcase Emirati culture and cuisine. There are now several branches dotted around Dubai all offering the same famous menu featuring their arabic breakfast trays which includes 8 small sharing dishes. There are three different trays to choose from which are made up of items such as scrambled eggs, mixed olives, rose jam, zaatar with olive oil, labneh, fava beans and cream with honey. These are accompanied by unlimited servings of hot fresh tanoor bread – A traditional flatt bread commonly enjoyed in Asia and the Middle East, cooked by slapping dought on to the hot clay or stone oven walls.
Tom & Serg was one of the original specialty coffee concepts on the scene in Dubai’s now trendy Al Quoz district. Since inception in 2013, the focus has always been on serving top quality coffee alongside an Australian inspired menu of fresh, homecooked food with options for everyone including veg/vegan, gluten free, or allergies without ever compromising on the flavor. The industrial style, open plan warehouse setting creates a welcoming space for friends to gather and connect over good coffee and food. The menu is broken down with all day breakfast, salads/bowls and mains to choose from. There is so much to choose from and every item is perfectly presented. an assortment of colours and flavours paired. I would say the fish tacos are one of the best I have tried anywhere or from the breakfast menu the smoked salmon crumpets or big keto breakfast offer something different to the fail proof avocado on sourdough.
A humble space where the focus is all about honest, homecooked food made with love, combining traditional Lebanese and Syrian recipes.
