Sea views
Outdoor seating looks across the beach and Burj Al Arab, with indoor tables available when you prefer to sit inside.
Al Samar Lounge
Al Sufouh
Al Samar Lounge in Al Sufouh is a relaxed spot for tea, desserts and shisha, with outdoor seating overlooking the sea and Burj Al Arab. Its afternoon tea and live evening entertainment are the main draws when you want to linger rather than rush a meal.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
119 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Afternoon tea
The afternoon tea can include refillable food and drinks, and one review recommends pairing it with a private abra experience.
Live music
Reviews mention live bands, piano and Eastern oud-and-tabla performances, adding an evening entertainment element to the lounge.
Desserts
Cakes, pastries and plated desserts are repeatedly praised, including a detailed dessert selection enjoyed after a chicken avocado wrap.
Walk-ins
One review says the lounge accepts walk-ins and has no minimum spend, useful if you only want tea and a place to relax.
Valet parking
A review reports complimentary valet service for lounge guests, with the washroom and prayer room close by.
What to Eat at Al Samar Lounge How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Al Samar Lounge, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
These items at Al Samar Lounge got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 8
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Almond latter Net +1
“Was having my almond latter today (AED 44 only, super reasonable for 5 star properties in Dubai)”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Was having my almond latter today (AED 44 only, super reasonable for 5 star properties in Dubai)”April 2022
-
Beef pastrami Net +1
“Main course chicken wrap and beef pastrami was also delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Main course chicken wrap and beef pastrami was also delicious.”July 2024
-
Caesar salad Net +1
“Very tasty Caesar salad, atmosphere and service are also excellent.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Very tasty Caesar salad, atmosphere and service are also excellent.”August 2025
-
Chicken avocado wrap Net +1
“Shared a tasty chicken avocado wrap so there was room to try the desserts.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Shared a tasty chicken avocado wrap so there was room to try the desserts.”March 2025
-
Chicken soup Net +1
“Starters - Chicken soup and kale salad was very tasty, big portions.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Starters - Chicken soup and kale salad was very tasty, big portions.”July 2024
-
Club sandwich Net +1
“The club sandwich was very tasty and the deserts fantastic.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The club sandwich was very tasty and the deserts fantastic.”October 2024
-
Kale salad Net +1
“Starters - Chicken soup and kale salad was very tasty, big portions.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Starters - Chicken soup and kale salad was very tasty, big portions.”July 2024
-
Pasta arrabiata Net +1
“The pasta arrabiata was scrumptious , will definitely be back again asap.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The pasta arrabiata was scrumptious , will definitely be back again asap.”August 2024
Drinks 3
-
Afternoon tea Net +3
“The afternoon tea is delightful! With refillable food and beverages, the outdoor seating is the perfect choice to chill out and enjoy bite-sized portions and a selection of tea and coffee.”
Positive 4Negative 1
Review excerpts
“The afternoon tea is delightful! With refillable food and beverages, the outdoor seating is the perfect choice to chill out and enjoy bite-sized portions and a selection of tea and coffee.”November 2020
“One of the most magical experiences ever! By far, one the best afternoon teas in Dubai. 100% recommended the private abra experience along with the afternoon tea. The ambiance and the food both were spectacular.”January 2024
-
Cappuccino Net +2
“A beautiful and luxurious lounge perfect for a cappuccino or tea with a delicious pastry and take the time to relax and enjoy the beautiful view.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A beautiful and luxurious lounge perfect for a cappuccino or tea with a delicious pastry and take the time to relax and enjoy the beautiful view.”April 2024
“Lovely atmospheric and view, the staff are very friendly and welcoming, came back twice, but wasn’t lucky with my dessert I choose tiramisu but it was more creamy taste than the coffee flavor, both beverages were good latte and cappuccino.”July 2024
-
Latte Net +2
“Great venue , great music and great Latte !”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Great venue , great music and great Latte !”April 2023
“Lovely atmospheric and view, the staff are very friendly and welcoming, came back twice, but wasn’t lucky with my dessert I choose tiramisu but it was more creamy taste than the coffee flavor, both beverages were good latte and cappuccino.”July 2024
Honorable mentions (3)
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High afternoon tea Net +1
“You can always upgrade to the high afternoon tea with bubbly too 😊”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“You can always upgrade to the high afternoon tea with bubbly too 😊”November 2019
-
Iced caramel latte Net +1
“The iced caramel latte was better than anything I had before (I ordered 2 🙊).”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The iced caramel latte was better than anything I had before (I ordered 2 🙊).”June 2018
-
Passion fruit iced tea Net +1
“The tea was particularly tasty especially the passion fruit iced tea.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The tea was particularly tasty especially the passion fruit iced tea.”October 2018
What to Avoid (3)
Food 2
-
Seebas with caviar Net −1
“Everything was ruined by the seebas with caviar, the dish was not fresh”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Everything was ruined by the seebas with caviar, the dish was not fresh”August 2025
-
Tiramisu Net −1
“Lovely atmospheric and view, the staff are very friendly and welcoming, came back twice, but wasn’t lucky with my dessert I choose tiramisu but it was more creamy taste than the coffee flavor, both beverages were good latte and cappuccino.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Lovely atmospheric and view, the staff are very friendly and welcoming, came back twice, but wasn’t lucky with my dessert I choose tiramisu but it was more creamy taste than the coffee flavor, both beverages were good latte and cappuccino.”July 2024
Drinks 1
-
Masala tea Net −1
“We ordered masala tea which was a pot of hot milk.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ordered masala tea which was a pot of hot milk.”January 2024
Tips for a Better Visit
Check timing. Ask when live entertainment starts before visiting at night; one regular said a schedule change made the band difficult to attend.
Book tea. Book afternoon tea ahead and confirm the serving window, as a past guest was refused tea after waiting and being told a booking was required.
Mention allergies. Confirm dietary handling directly before booking afternoon tea, especially for nut allergies, because one guest received conflicting information.
Choose outdoors. Request an outdoor table for beach, sea and Burj Al Arab views, particularly if sunset atmosphere is your priority.
Use valet. Ask about the complimentary valet when arriving for the lounge; a reviewer found it easier than searching for a parking space.
Try walk-in. If you only want tea, consider a walk-in: one reviewer said there was no minimum spend for a relaxed visit.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Lobby Level, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam - Jumeira St
Madinat Jumeirah - Al Sufouh 1, Dubai
| Mon | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Tue | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Wed | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Thu | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Fri | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Sat | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| Sun | 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Slow service
Several reviews describe long waits, including more than 30 minutes before service and a one-and-a-half-hour wait for abra food.
Afternoon tea issues
One birthday visit reported poorly explained tea items, a missing chips order and full-price billing after the complaint.
Refund delay
A storm-cancelled afternoon tea refund had still not arrived almost three months after the hotel promised a four-week timeframe.
Food freshness
One review enjoyed the Caesar salad but said the seabass with caviar was not fresh.
Table upkeep
An outdoor visit found dirty areas and tables that had not been cleared after previous guests left.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
AED 44
almond latter
“Was having my almond latter today (AED 44 only, super reasonable for 5 star properties in Dubai)”Google review · April 2022
38 aed
cup of tea
“With a cup of tea at 38 aed you at least expect good service”Google review · December 2019
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Al Samar Lounge in Al Sufouh is built around lingering: order tea, coffee, desserts or shisha, settle into the terrace and look across the water towards Burj Al Arab. The setting is the strongest consistent theme in the reviews, especially for sunset, while indoor seating gives you another option. Live bands and, at times, Eastern oud-and-tabla music add more atmosphere in the evening.
Afternoon tea is the headline experience. One guest describes refillable food and beverages, while another calls the combination of afternoon tea and a private abra experience especially memorable. Cakes and pastries also receive steady praise; lunch dishes mentioned positively include the chicken avocado wrap, Caesar salad, pasta arrabiata and baby chicken.
A reported almond latte cost AED 44, giving a useful reference point, though another review describes the lounge as expensive. Service is often described as warm and attentive, but the experience is not uniformly smooth. Guests have reported waits of more than 30 minutes, unserved items and a one-and-a-half-hour delay for abra food.
Confirm afternoon-tea timing, allergy arrangements and cancellation terms before booking. Walk-ins and no minimum spend were reported, and complimentary valet was mentioned for lounge guests.