Top Places to Experience Arabic Coffee and Tea

The United Arab Emirates has a well-deserved reputation for opulence and extravagance. The UAE has everything from incredible skylines and outstanding architecture to incredibly unique experiences. 

The UAE’s luxury, opulence, and extravagance are also reflected in the coffee and tea traditions. 

In short, if you are a coffee or tea enthusiast, you must come to Dubai and experience the coffee and tea culture. 

In this article, we’ve curated a list of our top spots to enjoy coffee or tea like a true Emirati. 

Le Café at Emirates Palace Hotel

To experience true Emirati luxury, you must go to Le Café at the Emirates Palace Hotel. Afternoon tea at this iconic Abu Dhabi landmark will leave you breathless and stunned. But to enjoy their cappuccino topped with gold flakes, and great snacks, you need to reserve your afternoon tea well in advance and pay for it in full at least 24 hours before your scheduled reservation. 

Sahn Eddar in Burj Al-Arab

For another luxurious and opulent Emirati coffee and tea experience, enjoy your afternoon tea at Sahn Eddar, located inside the Burj al-Arab. This is a particularly good option if you enjoy having your afternoon tea with a side of Alaskan king crab, caviar, Blinis with a touch of gold, and foie gras.

However, it should be noted that this experience is both costly and hard to get. You will need to book in advance and don’t be surprised if you are not permitted to enter for dress-code violations. 

The Lounge at Burj Khalifa

The Lounge at Burj Khalifa gives a new meaning to high tea, as it serves its afternoon tea on the 152nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, over 575 m in the sky. Believe it or not, there’s even an outdoor terrace where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Dubai and beyond while you sip your tea or coffee and enjoy finger sandwiches. 

The Coffee Museum at Al Fahidi

For a more immersive and hands-on coffee experience, visit the coffee museum in Dubai’s historic Al Fahidi district.

This unique coffee experience offers a relaxing atmosphere, surrounded by traditional architecture and an exceptionally large selection of coffees from around the world. They even provide demonstrations for live brewing Ethiopian, Egyptian, and Emirati-style coffee.

Ratios in Sharjah

Ratios is a coffeehouse that prides itself and always prepares coffee in the correct ratio, hence the name. They serve high-quality, Single Origin coffee beans from Kenya, Panama, and Colombia, brewed in Arabic. Although this coffee house is not located in Dubai, the coffee is so tasty that enthusiasts are willing to make the trip to Sharjah to enjoy it. 

Arabian Tea House Restaurant at Al Fahidi

The Arabian tea house is the coffee and tea spot to enjoy if you’re looking to experience the old-world charm of Dubai before the opulence and mega skyscrapers. This charming café and restaurant has been a Michelin star-rated destination and praised by Martha Stewart. At the Arabian tea house, the Saudi-style gawha is a must-try.

Em Sherif Café at Al Manzel Hotel

The Em Sherif Café is a must-try café, especially if you have a weakness for Lebanese cuisine. This bright and airy café inside the Al Manzel has a refreshing and cool aesthetic, with an outstanding view of the Burj Khalifa.

They serve exceptional Turkish coffee and some amazing Lebanese dishes, such as their tangy Fattoush salad, creamy hummus, and their famous “merry cream” ice cream.

Karam Beirut at The Mall of Emirates

Karam Beirut, located inside The Mall of Emirates, is another Lebanese restaurant and café that serves outstanding and delicious traditional Lebanese cuisine alongside incredible Arabic coffee.

The restaurant has an outdoor patio overlooking the mall’s extravagant fountain show – the interior showcases beautiful conventional Arabic architecture with walls adorned with traditional Arabic artwork. 

Bab Al Mansour in Downtown Dubai

Bal Al Mansour and downtown Dubai offer incredible Arabic style, coffee, and tea alongside an à la carte menu featuring authentic Moroccan cuisine. The restaurant features traditional Arabic architecture ornamented with traditional Arabic blue mosaics. Even the beautiful wares are decorated in blue kaleidoscope patterns, giving the entire restaurant a calming vibe.

Siraj in Downtown Dubai

In downtown Dubai, Siraj is a restaurant specializing in Emirati Levantine cuisine. The focus of this restaurant is to show the beautiful mosaic of international cuisines present in the United Arab Emirates.

The restaurant serves Arabic and Turkish coffee and a number of teas and infusions. They also serve several delicious appetizers, main courses, and desserts. At Siraj, you can end the night with a warm cup of tea or Shisha.

Al Beiruti at The Palm Jumeirah

Al Beiruti, located on The Palm, is another restaurant and café showcasing the wonderful cuisine of Beirut, Lebanon. The restaurant features traditional Arabic artwork with a modern twist and has an incredible outdoor patio that overlooks Palm Jumeirah and the world’s largest fountain show.

Despite the restaurants’ excellent ambiance, the food and drink will steal the show. Al Beiruti features a menu with incredible breakfast, soups and salads, hot and cold appetizers, grill platters, sandwiches and mains, and fabulous desserts. It is one of the best places to try authentic Arabic coffee and tea. 

Bebabel in the Dubai Mall

Bebabel, located inside the Dubai Mall, is a chic, casual café and restaurant featuring Lebanese cuisine. Bebabel has a beautiful stone facade interior with sleek lines juxtaposed by stone arches.

Their outdoor terrace has a lovely view of the Dubai mall fountain show and the Dubai skyline. The menu has a preset lunch option for four and an à la carte menu with soups, salads, hot and cold appetizers, and a large variety of mains. The menu also has many teas and several coffee options, including white coffee, Turkish coffee, creamy Arabic lattes, and more.

Bon Appetit!

Or in Arabic, “Sa7tein” (pronounced “Sah-tein”). 

Now that you have a general understanding of the best spots to enjoy Arabic coffee and tea in and around Dubai, let us know which spots you plan on visiting on your next trip!