Freshly prepared
Afternoon tea is prepared to order, with reviewers noting outstanding freshness and quality in both savoury bites and pastries.
Aspen Cafe
Al Barsha
Aspen Cafe is a restaurant in Al Barsha, set inside Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates. It is best known for its afternoon tea, with fresh pastries, savoury sandwiches and scones, while breakfast and broader café dining make it useful beyond tea time.
Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
255 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Tea variety
The tea selection is a major draw, with guests praising its range and the option to try tea tasting.
Balanced spread
The afternoon tea combines sweet and savoury items well, including cakes, scones and small sandwiches.
Excellent scones
Scones are repeatedly highlighted, including a serving with clotted cream and jam that one reviewer called perfection.
Calm setting
The elegant, relaxed atmosphere works for post-shopping breaks, business conversations or a quiet coffee.
Live piano
Some visits include live piano music, adding a relaxed element to the afternoon tea setting.
Attentive service
Reviews describe the service as warm and attentive, including careful help with menu questions and dietary needs.
What to Eat at Aspen Cafe 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 Aspen Cafe, 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 Aspen Cafe got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 1
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Scones Net +7
“We ordered the tea selection which came with cakes, scones and small appetizer sandwiches. Everything tasted amazing.”
Positive 7Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered the tea selection which came with cakes, scones and small appetizer sandwiches. Everything tasted amazing.”February 2026
“The scones and savoury bites were my favourites.”December 2025
Honorable mentions (11)
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Arabic sunrise breakfast set Net +1
“I had the Arabic sunrise breakfast set and it was simply delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the Arabic sunrise breakfast set and it was simply delicious.”February 2024
-
English breakfast Net +1
“It was hard to decide, but I still went for the classics and ordered an English Breakfast. Everything was delicious) closer to 12 pm there were more people, but this did not make it worse, since there is enough space and the staff tried to seat visitors more freely so that everyone is comfortable.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“It was hard to decide, but I still went for the classics and ordered an English Breakfast. Everything was delicious) closer to 12 pm there were more people, but this did not make it worse, since there is enough space and the staff tried to seat visitors more freely so that everyone is comfortable.”May 2023
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Lobster roll Net +1
“Then came the Lobster Roll, a generous, overflowing creation packed with sweet, succulent lobster meat nestled in a soft, yielding brioche. This wasn't a stingy scattering; this was a proper celebration of lobster.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Then came the Lobster Roll, a generous, overflowing creation packed with sweet, succulent lobster meat nestled in a soft, yielding brioche. This wasn't a stingy scattering; this was a proper celebration of lobster.”May 2025
-
Mini cookies Net +1
“On my request she even gave me extra mini cookies 😁 which were delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“On my request she even gave me extra mini cookies 😁 which were delicious.”February 2021
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Passion fruit tarte Net +1
“The selection of savory and sweet bites was impressive, with the passion fruit tarte being a standout.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The selection of savory and sweet bites was impressive, with the passion fruit tarte being a standout.”July 2024
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Quinoa and avocado salad Net +1
“The Quinoa and Avocado salad was a vibrant affair, genuinely bursting with fresh, clean flavours – a perfect antidote to, say, a morning spent grappling with shopping bags.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Quinoa and Avocado salad was a vibrant affair, genuinely bursting with fresh, clean flavours – a perfect antidote to, say, a morning spent grappling with shopping bags.”May 2025
-
Smoked tomato soup Net +1
“We embarked on a culinary journey starting with the Smoked Tomato Soup. Let me tell you, this was no ordinary bowl of blended tomatoes. It had a depth of flavour, a subtle smokiness that was entirely unexpected and utterly delicious. I’d happily return just for another serving of this revelation.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We embarked on a culinary journey starting with the Smoked Tomato Soup. Let me tell you, this was no ordinary bowl of blended tomatoes. It had a depth of flavour, a subtle smokiness that was entirely unexpected and utterly delicious. I’d happily return just for another serving of this revelation.”May 2025
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Spinach and lobster salad with truffle Net +1
“We enjoyed a delicious spinach and lobster salad with truffle, followed by perfectly grilled steak and a lovely dessert.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We enjoyed a delicious spinach and lobster salad with truffle, followed by perfectly grilled steak and a lovely dessert.”May 2025
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Steak Net +1
“We enjoyed a delicious spinach and lobster salad with truffle, followed by perfectly grilled steak and a lovely dessert.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We enjoyed a delicious spinach and lobster salad with truffle, followed by perfectly grilled steak and a lovely dessert.”May 2025
-
Tiramisu Net +1
“We rounded off this rather splendid meal with the Tiramisu, which pleasingly delivered a bold, strong coffee kick, none of your overly sweetened affairs here – precisely as it ought to be.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We rounded off this rather splendid meal with the Tiramisu, which pleasingly delivered a bold, strong coffee kick, none of your overly sweetened affairs here – precisely as it ought to be.”May 2025
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Truffle risotto Net +1
“The Truffle Risotto was everything a good risotto should be: creamy, luxurious, perfectly al dente, and fragrant with the earthy aroma of black truffles.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Truffle Risotto was everything a good risotto should be: creamy, luxurious, perfectly al dente, and fragrant with the earthy aroma of black truffles.”May 2025
Drinks 2
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Afternoon tea experience Net +21
“We came here for the Afternoon Tea experience, and it was absolutely worth it.”
Positive 21Negative 0Neutral 1
Review excerpts
“We came here for the Afternoon Tea experience, and it was absolutely worth it.”July 2026
“Had a wonderful afternoon tea experience at Aspen by Kempinski! The food was absolutely delicious – beautifully presented and full of flavor. The tea selection was perfect, and the atmosphere was cozy and elegant.”July 2025
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Pink afternoon tea Net +2
“Loved the Pink Afternoon Tea at Aspen Lounge! Everything was so pretty, chic and delicious. The pastries were super fresh, the savory bites were surprisingly good, and the whole setup felt very luxe.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Loved the Pink Afternoon Tea at Aspen Lounge! Everything was so pretty, chic and delicious. The pastries were super fresh, the savory bites were surprisingly good, and the whole setup felt very luxe.”December 2025
“Loved the Pink Afternoon Tea at Aspen Lounge! The setup was super cute, everything came in the prettiest pink theme, and the pastries were delicious. The scones and savoury bites were my favourites.”December 2025
Honorable mentions (5)
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Copenhagen sparkling tea Net +1
“We went there for "afternoon tea", we were welcomed with a very exciting beverage, Copenhagen sparkling tea!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We went there for "afternoon tea", we were welcomed with a very exciting beverage, Copenhagen sparkling tea!”February 2025
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Latte macchiatto Net +1
“Huge selection of tea, coffee. Latte macchiatto is very tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Huge selection of tea, coffee. Latte macchiatto is very tasty.”July 2024
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Peppermint tea Net +1
“Followed by our choice of tea, we chose peppermint tea and pomegranate tea. Both perfect!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Followed by our choice of tea, we chose peppermint tea and pomegranate tea. Both perfect!”February 2025
-
Pistachio truffle tea Net +1
“Try their pistachio truffle tea.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Try their pistachio truffle tea.”February 2023
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Pomegranate tea Net +1
“Followed by our choice of tea, we chose peppermint tea and pomegranate tea. Both perfect!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Followed by our choice of tea, we chose peppermint tea and pomegranate tea. Both perfect!”February 2025
What to Avoid (1)
Food 1
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Omelette Net −1
“I had ordered an omelette that came out a little small, and without me saying a word, he noticed my expression and came straight over to check if everything was alright. I told him it was just a bit small, and he immediately arranged for a second portion, reassuring me that next time he would make sure it was just right.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I had ordered an omelette that came out a little small, and without me saying a word, he noticed my expression and came straight over to check if everything was alright. I told him it was just a bit small, and he immediately arranged for a second portion, reassuring me that next time he would make sure it was just right.”July 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Reserve ahead. Consider booking afternoon tea in advance, particularly if you have a fixed schedule or are visiting at a busy time.
Allow time. Leave roughly 30 minutes for the afternoon tea set to be prepared rather than planning it as a quick stop.
Coordinate drinks. Ask for coffee or tea to arrive with the stand if you would rather not finish your drink before the food is served.
Avoid peak hours. For a quieter visit, avoid busy Mall hours, when one breakfast guest found the area too loud.
Try tasting. Ask whether tea tasting is available; one afternoon tea guest enjoyed sampling the selection alongside the food.
Use mall link. If you are already shopping, the direct connection to the shopping centre makes Aspen convenient for a post-shopping break.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Ground Floor, Mall of The Emirates - Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates - Sheikh Zayed Rd
Al Barsha First - Al Barsha, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Tue | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Wed | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Thu | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Fri | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Sat | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Sun | 12:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Preparation wait
Afternoon tea can take around 30 minutes to arrive; one visit waited about 40 minutes for freshly prepared food.
Drink timing
Coffee may arrive before the tea stand, meaning you could finish it before the food and order another drink.
Busy noise
The lounge can feel less quiet during busy Mall of the Emirates hours.
Breakfast tea
One breakfast review found the tea choices more limited than the separate tea area suggests.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Aspen Cafe is a restaurant in Al Barsha, set inside Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates. It is chiefly a calm, polished stop for afternoon tea, with pastries, savoury sandwiches and scones, while breakfast and broader café dining give it use beyond the tea service. The afternoon tea is the clear draw: reviewers mention fresh, carefully presented bites, excellent tea variety, floral herbal tea, tea tasting, and scones with clotted cream and jam.
The Pink Afternoon Tea adds a pink-themed presentation, while coffee is also well regarded. Service is repeatedly described as friendly and attentive. Breakfast reviews point to multiple choices, including an English Breakfast and Arabic sunrise breakfast set.
One guest also praised the smoked tomato soup, quinoa and avocado salad, lobster roll, truffle risotto and tiramisu from the summer menu. The lounge suits a post-shopping pause, business meeting or quiet conversation, with some reviews noting live piano and a direct link to the shopping centre. It can get lively during busy mall hours, and tea choices were described as limited at breakfast.
Afternoon tea is prepared to order, so allow around 30 minutes; reservations are worth considering.