Shisha
Shisha is a major draw, with reviewers praising both traditional-style sessions and an unusual iced, menthol-like version.
Cartel Restaurant and Cafe
Al Sufouh
Cartel is an indoor-garden restaurant and café in Al Sufouh serving Continental and Asian food. Reviews make it especially appealing for house-style Lagman, generous portions and shisha, with a relaxed setting suited to meals, coffee or an unhurried catch-up.
Reputation Score
4.8
★★★★★
933 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Lagman
Lagman is a standout for many regulars, with one reviewer calling it the best they had ever tasted.
Garden Atmosphere
The leafy indoor setting has a calm, home-garden feel that suits relaxing after work or chatting with friends.
Large Portions
Several reviews describe the portions as generous, making some dishes practical to share or take home.
Menu Choice
The menu covers different cuisines and includes options reviewers considered reasonably priced.
Flexible Requests
Staff have accommodated specific requests, including serving a course without oil and with a non-standard side.
Tips for a Better Visit
Visit Off-Peak. If you want smoother service, consider a quieter period; one reviewer found staff less organised once the restaurant filled up.
Adjust Spice. Ask for spice changes when ordering; a spicy coconut soup was prepared less spicy for a diner and child.
Use Validation. Ask about parking validation at the suite hotel apartment before leaving your car there.
Choose Your Zone. If smoking matters to you, check the seating area: the restaurant has separate smoking and non-smoking zones.
Share Dishes. Consider sharing larger dishes, as one delivery review said a serving was good for two people.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Sidra Tower
Al Sufouh - Al Sufouh 1, Dubai
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sat | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
| Sun | 9:00 AM – 2:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Busy Service
Service can become less organised during busy periods, with one reviewer saying staff seemed to lose track.
Slow Lunch
A quiet lunch still took around 20 minutes for a chicken and mushroom risotto to arrive.
Summer Heat
One summer daytime visit was uncomfortably hot indoors, with a complaint about the air-conditioning.
Lagman Consistency
One regular found the Lagman unusually sticky, bland and unsalted compared with earlier visits.
Salad Prep
A takeaway Chargrilled Chicken Salad contained hard stems and oversized pieces that were difficult to chew.
DXB
LOCAL
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The Bottom Line
Cartel is an indoor-garden restaurant and café in Al Sufouh serving Continental and Asian food, with reviews repeatedly pointing to Lagman, generous portions and shisha. It works for a relaxed meal, a catch-up, or a post-work unwind: one diner liked that the room was quiet enough to chat, while another described the atmosphere as feeling like a home garden. The menu has some clear standouts.
Reviewers mention spicy wok-fried Lagman, garlic beans, Homemade Tofu Chang Dou Fu, Chargrilled Chicken Salad and desserts including Raspberry Cheesecake and lava cake. Shisha is a major draw, including an unusual iced version described as menthol-like. Portions are often large enough to share, and reviewers have also praised the risotto, fajita wrap, shakshuka and African herbal tea.
Service is usually described as warm, attentive and accommodating, including handling a less-spicy soup and a no-oil food request. There are caveats: food took about 20 minutes even during a quiet lunch, and several comments say service becomes less dependable when busy. One Lagman visit found sticky, bland noodles, so consistency may vary.
In summer, a reviewer found the daytime indoor temperature too hot and asked for better air-conditioning. Parking validation at the suite hotel apartment was reported, and the venue has separate smoking and non-smoking zones.