Zafran Tea
The saffron tea is a standout, with reviewers describing a rich aroma, velvety texture and strong saffron flavour.
FiLLi Cafe | Dubai Sports City - Dubai
Dubai Sports City
FiLLi Cafe is a casual tea-and-snack stop in Dubai Sports City, located within the ICC Academy. Customers mainly come for the Zafran Tea and Indian bites such as crisp samosas, while the relaxed setting also suits a quick meal or catch-up.
Reputation Score
4.2
★★★★☆
361 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Crisp Samosas
Samosas are repeatedly praised for their crisp exterior and classic spicy potato filling, making them a reliable tea-time pairing.
Relaxed Setting
The ICC Academy branch has a quiet, unpretentious atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating for a casual break.
Menu Variety
Beyond tea, reviews mention satisfying options including paneer rolls, sandwiches, burgers, shakes and foodles.
Order Support
One complex Talabat order was handled smoothly with customisation, suggesting the team can be helpful when instructions are clear.
Easy Parking
A review of the branch noted plenty of parking, which is useful when visiting the ICC Academy location.
Tips for a Better Visit
Confirm Hours. If visiting late, check the branch directly rather than relying on Google: multiple reviews report turnaways before 11:30 PM.
Try Tea First. For a first visit, start with Zafran Tea and a samosa; reviewers are more consistently positive about the tea than some food and juice items.
Request Less Sugar. Ask whether a less-sweet preparation is available if standard chai is too sweet for you; one review specifically requested this option.
Check Deliveries. Count items and confirm substitutions when ordering through delivery apps, since a review received five rather than six momos and an unrequested replacement.
Use Parking. The ICC Academy location was reported to have plenty of parking, making a dine-in visit practical if you are driving.
Try Filli Lite. If you want a less sugary tea, ask about Filli Lite, which a review described as the branch’s less-sugary variant.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Al Hebiah Fourth - Dubai Sports City, Sports Village - Dubai
Al Hebiah Fourth - Dubai Sports City, Sports Village, Dubai
| Mon | 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Tue | 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Wed | 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Thu | 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Fri | 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Sat | 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
| Sun | 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM |
Popular Mentions
Paneer tikka wrap
The paneer tikka wrap is described as soft, cheesy and packed with smoky tikka flavour.
Papdi chaat
Papdi chaat is noted for its crunchy texture and balanced tang from yogurt and chutneys.
Butter chicken momos
These momos stood out for a filling described as juicy chicken pieces in butter chicken gravy, rather than just a dip.
Manchurian Chicken Noodle
Manchurian Chicken Noodle is a regular delivery choice for one reviewer, who also praised the drink packaging.
Common Concerns
Early Closing
Several visitors say the branch turns customers away before the listed 11:30 PM closing time, including around 11:15 PM.
Uneven Service
Reviews range from courteous service to reports of ignored customers, rude responses and missing basics such as tissues or cup sleeves.
Food Inconsistency
Food quality can vary: one reviewer found the vada pav poor, while others reported watery foodles or stale bread.
Delivery Errors
Delivery reviews mention missing portions and unannounced substitutions, including five momos instead of six.
Value Concerns
Some customers feel portions and quality do not justify the price, including a complaint about a half-filled noodles box.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
6 AED
tea
“budget friendly and you can have tea for 6 AED and enjoy the place and the free WiFi for one hour after 1 hour you need another order to keep using WiFi but you can set and enjoy the place”Google review · August 2023
22 AED
bread masala omelette and Desi egg bhurji with bread and tea
“food is very nice and cheap I got I bread masala omelette and Desi egg bhurji with bread and tea for 22 AED”Google review · August 2023
DXB
LOCAL
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The Bottom Line
FiLLi Cafe at the ICC Academy in Dubai Sports City is a casual stop for chai, Indian snacks and quick comfort food. The clearest draw is Zafran Tea, often paired with samosas; reviews describe the tea as saffron-forward and the samosas as crisp with a spicy potato filling. Paneer tikka wraps, papdi chaat, shakes and butter chicken momos also get specific mentions.
The setting is small, relaxed and unpretentious, with indoor and outdoor seating. It works for a quick bite, a tea break with friends or some informal laptop time; one review also noted plenty of parking. The cricket-academy surroundings add a distinctive touch, and visitors might see players nearby during practice, though that is not guaranteed.
Service and food quality are not completely consistent. Some customers praise courteous, helpful staff and smooth customised delivery orders, while others report ignored orders, rude interactions, stale bread, watery foodles and incorrect delivery portions. The branch has also been criticised for closing before its listed 11:30 PM time.
Check hours before a late visit, and inspect delivery orders on arrival. Pricing feedback is mixed, with complaints about small portions and a mocha frappe reported at 28 AED, so tea may be the safer first order.