Breakfast Spread
The breakfast buffet covers fresh eggs, pastries, fruit and juices, with enough variety for different tastes.
Dunes Cafe
Trade Centre
Dunes Cafe is an all-day dining restaurant in Trade Centre, located in the Shangri-La hotel. Breakfast is the main draw, with a broad buffet covering fresh pastries, eggs, fruit and juices, while themed dinners include seafood nights and Iftar buffets.
Reputation Score
4.6
★★★★★
286 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Open Kitchen
An open kitchen lets diners watch chefs prepare dishes fresh and explain what is being cooked.
Dietary Choice
One review specifically highlights a diverse selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes within the buffet.
Indoor Outdoor
Both indoor and outdoor seating are available, giving breakfast and dinner guests a choice of setting.
Asian Stations
The breakfast buffet has included fresh dim sum and noodle stations, alongside Middle Eastern, Western and Desi sections.
City Views
Some seats provide views of Dubai's skyscrapers and the Burj Khalifa.
Celebrations
Guests have reported complimentary birthday cake, making the restaurant useful for a birthday meal.
What to Eat at Dunes 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 Dunes 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.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Dunes Cafe, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 1
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Sushi Net +2
“Especially, Japanese Sushi Chef,Wunna,his sushis are so amazing and his friendliness and serving make me feels like home.”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Especially, Japanese Sushi Chef,Wunna,his sushis are so amazing and his friendliness and serving make me feels like home.”November 2024
“I loved the sushi (I think that was specially added for this lunch event) usually they don’t have sushi for lunch buffet.”May 2023
Honorable mentions (15)
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Birthday cake Net +1
“We got complimentary birthday cake.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We got complimentary birthday cake.”July 2022
-
Breakfast noodle soup Net +1
“I ordered myself a lovely bowl of breakfast noodle soup, spiking it with some fiery chilli sauce for that little extra wake me up.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered myself a lovely bowl of breakfast noodle soup, spiking it with some fiery chilli sauce for that little extra wake me up.”June 2019
-
Business lunch buffet Net +1
“Enjoy the special menu evenings or very rich business lunch buffet at only 98 AED.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Enjoy the special menu evenings or very rich business lunch buffet at only 98 AED.”June 2024
-
Cheeses Net +1
“They have a good range of cheeses to munch on.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“They have a good range of cheeses to munch on.”November 2022
-
Complimentary cake Net +1
“We had our Anniversary Dinner here and all the staff are so accomodating and aside for the fact that the starters and mains are superb! Maybe more improvement on Dessert? But our complimentary cake is to die for 😋😋😋”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had our Anniversary Dinner here and all the staff are so accomodating and aside for the fact that the starters and mains are superb! Maybe more improvement on Dessert? But our complimentary cake is to die for 😋😋😋”September 2022
-
Crispy pastries Net +1
“The buffet offered a wide selection of fresh and flavorful options—from perfectly cooked eggs and crispy pastries to healthy choices like fresh fruits and juices. Everything was well-presented and delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The buffet offered a wide selection of fresh and flavorful options—from perfectly cooked eggs and crispy pastries to healthy choices like fresh fruits and juices. Everything was well-presented and delicious.”August 2025
-
Croissants Net +1
“However, the bakery section stood out — the croissants and pastries were especially fresh and delightful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“However, the bakery section stood out — the croissants and pastries were especially fresh and delightful.”September 2025
-
Fish Net +1
“I would like to thanks chef Hosam for introducing to the sea food and change my mind about it, I've had the best fish cooked by a very professional and kind chef.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I would like to thanks chef Hosam for introducing to the sea food and change my mind about it, I've had the best fish cooked by a very professional and kind chef.”February 2025
-
Fresh dim sum Net +1
“Fresh dim sum and noodle stations were just two of my favourite spots along the winding buffet.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Fresh dim sum and noodle stations were just two of my favourite spots along the winding buffet.”June 2019
-
Ice cream Net +1
“And in terms of dessert, you can scoop the ice cream of the flavor you want, and even add toppings that you want in their selection.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“And in terms of dessert, you can scoop the ice cream of the flavor you want, and even add toppings that you want in their selection.”November 2022
-
Iftar buffet Net +1
“Fantaaaaastic Iftar buffet with a very wide variety to please the palate.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Fantaaaaastic Iftar buffet with a very wide variety to please the palate.”April 2024
-
Lunch buffet Net +1
“Today I went there with a friend for lunch buffet with unlimited house beverages from 12:30pm to 3:30pm (Saturday and Sunday, also on weekdays) in a very affordable price. The food was well-served and was so delicious.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Today I went there with a friend for lunch buffet with unlimited house beverages from 12:30pm to 3:30pm (Saturday and Sunday, also on weekdays) in a very affordable price. The food was well-served and was so delicious.”July 2022
-
Noodles Net +1
“I really loved the noodles, on which you can season just the way you want.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I really loved the noodles, on which you can season just the way you want.”November 2022
-
Seafood night Net 0
Mixed feedback
“The food spread was amazing for the sea food night. The food quality was super and the deserts were plentiful!”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“The food spread was amazing for the sea food night. The food quality was super and the deserts were plentiful!”February 2023
-
Seafood buffet Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“The seafood buffet night that happens only three nights at Shangrila. I must say, it’s good they have a spread of seafood but I would expect maybe a bit more variety such as having sashimis or having a bigger space for the fresh seafood to be added. I felt the seafood wasn’t stocked up as often as it should be. I was eyeing for the oysters but it was topped up few times and then after that didn’t see any top up at all. The oysters were quite small. Other fresh seafood size was relatively small too. The cooked dishes had some variety of seafood to choose.”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 3
-
Coffee Net +1
“From the aromatic coffee to the delicious pastries and hearty breakfast options, everything was top-notch.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“From the aromatic coffee to the delicious pastries and hearty breakfast options, everything was top-notch.”November 2025
-
Fresh apple and orange juice Net +1
“Ban, was very attentive and offered us a great tasting mix of fresh apple and orange juice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Ban, was very attentive and offered us a great tasting mix of fresh apple and orange juice.”July 2025
-
Special juice Net +1
“A special thanks to Bam, who made us a delicious special juice and brought such positive energy to our dining experience.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“A special thanks to Bam, who made us a delicious special juice and brought such positive energy to our dining experience.”June 2026
What to Avoid (1)
Food 1
-
Oysters Net −1
“I was eyeing for the oysters but it was topped up few times and then after that didn’t see any top up at all. The oysters were quite small.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I was eyeing for the oysters but it was topped up few times and then after that didn’t see any top up at all. The oysters were quite small.”January 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Check Themes. Call ahead before dinner because themed nights change; the review specifically mentions themes running almost every night.
Use Parking. For easier access, use the parking at the backside of the hotel, which one reviewer found convenient.
Try Bakery. At breakfast, make time for the bakery section: one review found the croissants and pastries especially fresh.
Ask Buffet Details. If it is your first visit, ask the team about the displayed dishes; a diner said staff explained the food section by section.
Check Inclusions. Ask what is included in the buffet before paying: one review noted that coffee was not part of the drinks selection.
Expect Seafood Limits. If seafood variety is your priority, keep expectations measured: one visit found fresh items small and replenishment inconsistent.
Plan the visit
Practical details
1 Sheikh Zayed Rd
Trade Center First, Dubai
| Mon | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Tue | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Wed | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Thu | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Fri | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Sat | 6:00 AM – 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Sun | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
Common Concerns
Seafood Variety
A Seafood Night review found the Dubai selection less varied than the Abu Dhabi version and increasingly limited.
Slow Clearing
One breakfast visit found used plates left on the table for quite a while, weakening the otherwise premium feel.
Unsafe Chairs
A review flagged the chair design as hazardous because the back leg slopes outward and can catch people walking past.
Seafood Restocking
During one seafood buffet, oysters were topped up only a few times and were described as small.
Limited Lunch
A past review noted that the lunch buffet was no longer available and the remaining a la carte choice was limited.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
98 AED
business lunch buffet
“Enjoy the special menu evenings or very rich business lunch buffet at only 98 AED”Google review · June 2024
AED 475
Lobster, Seafood and Wagyu Beef Buffet
“Dunes has themed nights for dinner almost every night, the crown jewel of which is their surf and turf Lobster, Seafood and Wagyu Beef Buffet which at AED 475 minus drinks isn’t cheap but I hear its excellent”Google review · June 2019
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Dunes Cafe is the Shangri-La’s all-day dining restaurant in Trade Centre, and breakfast is where the reviews are most consistently enthusiastic. You can start with a buffet of eggs, pastries, fruit, juices and other breakfast staples; earlier menus also featured fresh dim sum and noodle stations. The bakery deserves attention, with croissants and pastries singled out as especially fresh.
Dinner brings changing themed buffets, including Seafood Night and Iftar. The restaurant also has an open kitchen, where diners can watch chefs prepare dishes fresh, plus indoor and outdoor seating. Vegetarian and vegan choices are specifically mentioned, and some seats look towards Dubai’s skyscrapers and the Burj Khalifa.
Families and celebrations are well represented in the reviews, including a reported complimentary birthday cake. There are a few things to check before you go. Call ahead to confirm the current theme and buffet format, as one older review noted that the lunch buffet had stopped and a later seafood visit found less variety and patchy replenishment.
Parking at the backside of the hotel is described as convenient. Service is usually attentive, but one breakfast guest waited a while for used plates to be cleared, and another flagged a hazardous chair design.