Coffee Quality
The flat white was described as perfectly made, while cortado, Spanish latte and specialty coffee are recurring favourites.
Barista Lab
Al Garhoud
Barista Lab is a specialty coffee shop in Al Garhoud with a calm, carefully styled interior and a breakfast menu. Reviews point to drinks such as Spanish latte and cortado, alongside desserts including date pudding, making it a useful stop for coffee, a light meal, or quiet work.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
262 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Breakfast
Breakfast has drawn praise for dishes such as French toast, avo egg croissants, shakshuka and egg with brioche bread.
Quiet Setting
Several reviews describe the café as peaceful or quiet, including one visitor who worked and took calls there.
Desserts
Date pudding, chocolate croissant, mango dessert and other sweets appear in positive reviews, although the range is not extensive.
Parking
Reviews mention plenty of parking outside, and one visitor noticed coffee being delivered to cars parked just outside.
Relaxed Atmosphere
The modern, clean interior is repeatedly described as beautiful, cosy and peaceful, with earlier reviews noting Greek-inspired décor.
Tips for a Better Visit
Try Cortado. For a lighter coffee, ask for a piccolo; for a morning drink, one reviewer enjoyed a cortado with oat milk.
Ask About Beans. If ordering Spanish latte, ask which beans are being used: one review strongly preferred the Ethiopian version over Brazilian beans.
Use Parking. Parking is available outside, though one review describes it as paid; the café has also been used as a convenient drive-by stop.
Plan Quiet Work. For calls or laptop time, choose a quieter visit; one customer found the ambiance quiet enough to work and take calls.
Check Selection. If food variety matters, check the current menu first: a reviewer found fewer options than shown in older photos.
Plan the visit
Practical details
21 53 St
Al Garhoud, Dubai
Popular Mentions
Barista Lab frappe
The house frappe is specifically recommended by a regular who has been visiting for about a year.
Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is singled out by a reviewer who enjoyed the café's furniture, colours and drinks.
Common Concerns
Small Portions
One review found the AED 28 cup only three-quarters full, while another described a hot Spanish latte as less than 190ml.
High Prices
At least one customer considered the café expensive, and another objected to paying AED 28 for a small, partly filled cup.
Uncomfortable Seating
Multiple reviews say the attractive chairs are uncomfortable, with one visitor saying they could not sit for five minutes.
Limited Desserts
Reviews mention a limited dessert selection, and one customer rated the pistachio croissant poorly.
Noise Levels
The café is often described as calm, but one visit was specifically reported as very noisy.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
AED 28
small cup
“Another rip off coffee place! AED 28 for this 3/4 filled small cup”Google review · September 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Barista Lab is a specialty coffee shop in Al Garhoud that suits a coffee stop, relaxed breakfast or a short work session. Customers mention Spanish latte, cortado, flat white and creative drinks, while breakfast favourites include French toast and avo egg croissants. Date pudding and chocolate croissant are among the better-reviewed sweets.
The room is a major part of the appeal. Reviews describe a clean, modern and peaceful interior, with older visits recalling Greek or Santorini-inspired blue-and-white décor. One airport pickup visitor found it quiet enough to work and take calls, and another noticed coffee being brought out to cars.
Parking is available outside, although one review specifies that it is paid. There are a few practical cautions. Seating has repeatedly been called uncomfortable, and the café can feel noisy despite its otherwise calm reputation.
Portions may be small: one customer described a hot Spanish latte as under 190ml, while another objected to an AED 28 cup being only three-quarters full. Dessert and food variety may also be narrower than older online photos suggest. If you order Spanish latte, asking about the beans could help; one reviewer rated the Ethiopian-bean version far above the Brazilian-bean iced one.