Burj view
Outdoor seating can give you a striking Burj Khalifa backdrop, including views of the lightshow.
Bastakiah Cafe
Downtown Dubai
Bastakiah Cafe is a cafe-restaurant in Downtown Dubai known for shisha and its Burj Khalifa outlook. Reviews also mention fresh juices, coffee and desserts, with indoor and outdoor seating for relaxed visits.
Reputation Score
4.1
★★★★☆
130 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Shisha variety
Shisha is a central draw, with one long-time reviewer noting a broad range of flavours.
Quiet setting
The outdoor area has been described as unusually peaceful despite being in the centre of Downtown Dubai.
Fresh juices
Fresh juices are specifically praised alongside the drinks and shisha offering.
Coffee desserts
Coffee and dessert received a direct positive mention from a customer.
Outdoor option
The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating, giving visitors a choice of setting.
What to Eat at Bastakiah 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 Bastakiah 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 Bastakiah Cafe got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 4
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Cheese saj Net +1
“The food is impeccable, we had the cheese samosas - Crispy and tasty, Cheese Saj is absolutely devine, the humous with Lamb was probably the best humous I've ever tried and the lamb was lovely and tender too.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is impeccable, we had the cheese samosas - Crispy and tasty, Cheese Saj is absolutely devine, the humous with Lamb was probably the best humous I've ever tried and the lamb was lovely and tender too.”October 2016
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Cheese samosas Net +1
“The food is impeccable, we had the cheese samosas - Crispy and tasty, Cheese Saj is absolutely devine, the humous with Lamb was probably the best humous I've ever tried and the lamb was lovely and tender too.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is impeccable, we had the cheese samosas - Crispy and tasty, Cheese Saj is absolutely devine, the humous with Lamb was probably the best humous I've ever tried and the lamb was lovely and tender too.”October 2016
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Humous with lamb Net +1
“The food is impeccable, we had the cheese samosas - Crispy and tasty, Cheese Saj is absolutely devine, the humous with Lamb was probably the best humous I've ever tried and the lamb was lovely and tender too.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is impeccable, we had the cheese samosas - Crispy and tasty, Cheese Saj is absolutely devine, the humous with Lamb was probably the best humous I've ever tried and the lamb was lovely and tender too.”October 2016
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Manageesh Net +1
“Tasty manageesh but bad decoration , small restaurant , sheesha is available and the Service is good”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Tasty manageesh but bad decoration , small restaurant , sheesha is available and the Service is good”July 2016
Tips for a Better Visit
Confirm seating. Ask which outdoor or front tables are genuinely available before settling in, since several reviews mention unused reserved tables.
Choose outdoors. If the view and quieter atmosphere matter, request outdoor seating; an older review specifically describes it as peaceful.
Check ventilation. If you are sensitive to smoke, ask about ventilation and seating first; one review called the ventilation terrible.
Allow time. Build in extra time if ordering food, as one customer specifically reported delayed food service.
Plan parking. Parking is available at Al Manzl Mall; the first two hours were reported free, followed by 20 per hour.
Plan the visit
Practical details
The Old Town
Burj Khalifa - Downtown Dubai, Dubai
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Sat | 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
| Sun | 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Table policy
Several recent reviews say front or outdoor tables were marked reserved while appearing empty, affecting access to the view.
Service complaints
Recent customers describe unfriendly or discourteous interactions, including one report of being pushed outside by a waiter.
Food value
A review found the menu overpriced for average food quality and presentation, while another called local favourites bland.
Ventilation
Smoke ventilation has been criticised, and one customer described it as terrible.
Service delays
Food service has sometimes been slow, even when the view was considered good.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Bastakiah Cafe is a shisha-focused cafe-restaurant in Downtown Dubai, mainly worth considering for the Burj Khalifa backdrop and a relaxed outdoor sit. Customers have ordered shisha, fresh juices, coffee and desserts, while older reviews also mention milkshakes and mocktails. The outdoor area has been described as surprisingly quiet for central Downtown, and some visitors use it to watch the Burj Khalifa lightshow.
Food feedback is uneven. A detailed older review praised the cheese samosas, Cheese Saj and hummus with lamb, but other customers found local favourites bland or the food average for its price. Drinks and desserts have attracted more consistently positive individual comments.
Food service has also been slow for at least one visitor, so this is not the place to choose when you need a rushed meal. The main practical caution is seating. Several recent reviews say front or outdoor tables were labelled reserved, leaving customers in less favourable spots and sometimes blocking the view.
Service feedback is similarly mixed, ranging from attentive and friendly to complaints about rude treatment. Smoke ventilation has also been criticised. Parking at Al Manzl Mall was reported as free for the first two hours, then 20 per hour.