Ribeye steak
The ribeye was ordered medium-rare with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables; the portion was generous and the presentation clean.
City Café - Al Barsha at the Mall
Al Barsha
City Café is a hotel café in Al Barsha with a buffet, breakfast and dinner service. Reviews point to tasty, well-presented food, a calm atmosphere near the mall, and attentive hospitality, with the ribeye steak standing out as a particularly detailed recommendation.
Reputation Score
4.8
★★★★★
150 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Buffet dining
The café’s buffet is repeatedly described as a convenient option for breakfast, dinner and iftar.
Tasty food
Reviews describe the food as presentable, delicious and often healthy, with dinner and soups receiving particular praise.
Calm setting
The restaurant is described as quiet, clean, cosy and close to Mall of the Emirates and nearby shops.
Evening music
One review specifically mentions evening music as part of a relaxed dining experience.
Study-friendly
A reviewer found the café suitable for studying outside breakfast hours.
Tips for a Better Visit
Ask ahead. If you are staying several days, ask what breakfast choices are available, as one guest found the morning food repetitive.
Request options. Vegetarians can ask the kitchen for a specific dish; one diner requested daal and received it within minutes.
Try dinner. Dinner has drawn especially strong feedback, including generous portions and delicious soups, so it may be a better choice than a routine breakfast.
Check buffet. For Ramadan dining, check the buffet selection and consider the mutton biryani, fish fillet and desserts that one review recommended.
Evening visit. If you enjoy a calmer meal with music, consider an evening visit; one reviewer specifically praised the evening atmosphere.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Al Barsha Rd - behind Mall Of Emirates
Al Barsha First - Al Barsha, Dubai
| Mon | 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Tue | 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
Popular Mentions
Mutton Biryani
Mutton biryani was one of the recommended dishes in a Ramadan buffet review.
Fish fillet
Fish fillet was also singled out among the recommended Ramadan buffet dishes.
Coffee
Coffee served at the café received a specific compliment in a review about the food and hospitality.
Common Concerns
Limited breakfast
A long-stay guest found the breakfast repetitive and asked for more choices.
Few protein options
One breakfast review says calorie-conscious diners may struggle to find sufficiently protein-rich choices.
Uneven dishes
A Ramadan review praised some buffet dishes but found the rest average and said the lamb ouzi needed improvement.
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The Bottom Line
City Café is a hotel café in Al Barsha where you can have breakfast, dinner or a buffet meal in a setting reviewers describe as clean, cosy and quiet. Its location near Mall of the Emirates and nearby shops makes it convenient after shopping or for guests staying nearby. The food is generally the main draw.
Reviews mention tasty, presentable dishes, generous portions and healthy choices, while the ribeye steak received an unusually detailed recommendation: medium-rare as requested, served with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. Dinner soups, mutton biryani, fish fillet and desserts also appear in positive comments. Coffee served at the café gets a specific mention too.
Service is consistently described as kind, attentive and quick, and one review found the café suitable for studying outside breakfast hours. There are a few cautions. Breakfast can feel repetitive for longer stays, with limited variety for diners seeking higher-protein options.
Ramadan feedback was mixed as well: the mutton ouzi needed improvement, while several other buffet dishes were recommended. For a special dietary need, ask the kitchen directly; one vegetarian guest requested daal and received it within minutes. If you want the strongest food-focused experience, dinner appears to be the safer bet.