French pastries
Croissants, éclairs and freshly baked bread are recurring favourites, with reviewers praising their flaky texture and range.
PAUL Bakery & Restaurant
City Centre Meaisem
PAUL Bakery & Restaurant in City Centre Meaisem is a French restaurant and bakery for breakfast, coffee, pastries and fuller meals. Reviews especially point to freshly baked croissants, French toast and a calm, Parisian-style setting; free Wi-Fi and mall parking also make it useful for a work-friendly coffee stop.
Reputation Score
4.4
★★★★☆
984 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Breakfast choice
Breakfast has plenty to explore, including French toast with fresh berries, vanilla ice cream and iced coffee.
Calm setting
The Parisian-style décor and quiet atmosphere suit a relaxed breakfast, coffee break or family meal.
Work friendly
Free Wi-Fi, free mall parking and a usually quiet shopping centre make it practical for working over breakfast.
Coffee and cake
Coffee and cakes remain reliable picks, including a late-evening visit where both were described as excellent.
Fresh bread
The bakery section is useful for takeaway purchases, with regulars specifically coming in to buy fresh bread.
What to Eat at PAUL Bakery & Restaurant 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 PAUL Bakery & Restaurant, 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 PAUL Bakery & Restaurant, 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
-
Croissants Net +3
“We ordered freshly baked croissants that were absolutely heavenly—crispy on the outside, buttery and soft on the inside.”
Positive 3Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered freshly baked croissants that were absolutely heavenly—crispy on the outside, buttery and soft on the inside.”May 2025
“The croissants were perfectly golden and flaky, and the desserts, especially the éclairs, were nothing short of divine.”November 2024
Honorable mentions (13)
-
Almond chocolate croissant Net +1
“The best almond chocolate croissant in the city.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The best almond chocolate croissant in the city.”May 2026
-
Avocado dish Net +1
“We usually go at least once a month for breakfast, and our go-to is always their avocado dish. It’s delicious, satisfying, and just perfectly made every time.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We usually go at least once a month for breakfast, and our go-to is always their avocado dish. It’s delicious, satisfying, and just perfectly made every time.”July 2025
-
Avocado toast Net +1
“If there’s one request I have, it’s that they make the avocado toast available all day long. We often finish the gym a little late and crave that meal, but unfortunately, it’s only served until around 12 or 1 p.m. It’s a small letdown considering how great it is—but it would be amazing if they extended the availability.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“If there’s one request I have, it’s that they make the avocado toast available all day long. We often finish the gym a little late and crave that meal, but unfortunately, it’s only served until around 12 or 1 p.m. It’s a small letdown considering how great it is—but it would be amazing if they extended the availability.”July 2025
-
Burger Net +1
“The burger I had was awesome, well grilled and super juicy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The burger I had was awesome, well grilled and super juicy.”June 2025
-
Cheesecake Net +1
“The food and service was perfect, especially cheese cake so delicious, thank you so much .”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food and service was perfect, especially cheese cake so delicious, thank you so much .”May 2026
-
Chia kale Net +1
“I love their selection of smoothies. My favouite is Passion Mango smoothie and Chia kale. Must try!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love their selection of smoothies. My favouite is Passion Mango smoothie and Chia kale. Must try!”December 2020
-
Chicken avocado sandwich Net +1
“Also chicken avocado sandwich was nice. Chicken was tender, nice marinated and juicy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Also chicken avocado sandwich was nice. Chicken was tender, nice marinated and juicy.”June 2025
-
Chicken pesto puff Net +1
“So I wasn’t v hungry but anything with green pesto gets me drooling .., and this one was worth a try ! - chicken pesto puff ... worth every calorie!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“So I wasn’t v hungry but anything with green pesto gets me drooling .., and this one was worth a try ! - chicken pesto puff ... worth every calorie!”May 2019
-
Éclairs Net +1
“The croissants were perfectly golden and flaky, and the desserts, especially the éclairs, were nothing short of divine.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The croissants were perfectly golden and flaky, and the desserts, especially the éclairs, were nothing short of divine.”November 2024
-
French toast Net +1
“The presentation and quality of the food were absolutely top-notch. The French toast was perfectly golden, soft on the inside, and beautifully topped with fresh berries 🍓🫐 and a light dusting of powdered sugar—simply delicious!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The presentation and quality of the food were absolutely top-notch. The French toast was perfectly golden, soft on the inside, and beautifully topped with fresh berries 🍓🫐 and a light dusting of powdered sugar—simply delicious!”May 2026
-
Mushroom soup Net +1
“Mushroom soup is must try.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Mushroom soup is must try.”April 2021
-
Original cocoa Net +1
“I ordered hot chocolate to go and I panicked when I couldn’t find my card and had a hard time to finding it I kept searching my bag and found it less than 2 mins while profusely apologizing. Zero response but positive for giving a smug face/dead stares (way to kick someone while they’re down) anyway I paid and I add one more apology I vividly remember saying “I am so sorry for the unnecessary stress” while smiling and being friendly and she just stared at me dead in the eyes again zero response. I am not trying to be a Karen here I would understand if there was a queues but I was the only customer in line. I was really looking forward to enjoy my hot chocolate since Paul’s got the best original cocoa I can’t even sip it without remembering the real awful feeling.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered hot chocolate to go and I panicked when I couldn’t find my card and had a hard time to finding it I kept searching my bag and found it less than 2 mins while profusely apologizing. Zero response but positive for giving a smug face/dead stares (way to kick someone while they’re down) anyway I paid and I add one more apology I vividly remember saying “I am so sorry for the unnecessary stress” while smiling and being friendly and she just stared at me dead in the eyes again zero response. I am not trying to be a Karen here I would understand if there was a queues but I was the only customer in line. I was really looking forward to enjoy my hot chocolate since Paul’s got the best original cocoa I can’t even sip it without remembering the real awful feeling.”December 2024
-
Eggs benedict Net 0
Mixed feedback
“I had the Oeufs Benedict au Bacon (Eggs benedict) and whilst the portion wasn't particularly big, the bread and butter before hand makes up for it. It also came with potato wedges and tomato sauce dip which was really tasty and then the salad was simple but very nice.”
Positive 1Negative 1
Review excerpts
“I had the Oeufs Benedict au Bacon (Eggs benedict) and whilst the portion wasn't particularly big, the bread and butter before hand makes up for it. It also came with potato wedges and tomato sauce dip which was really tasty and then the salad was simple but very nice.”August 2017
Drinks 4
-
Cinnamon vanilla latte Net +1
“I had the orange juice which is slightly bitter but not too much, but I think this changes as it is freshly squeezed. I also had the Cinnamon Vanilla Latte which was incredible!!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the orange juice which is slightly bitter but not too much, but I think this changes as it is freshly squeezed. I also had the Cinnamon Vanilla Latte which was incredible!!”August 2017
-
English tea Net +1
“The coffee was rich and aromatic, served piping hot, while the English tea had a delicate, comforting flavor that complemented the pastries beautifully.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The coffee was rich and aromatic, served piping hot, while the English tea had a delicate, comforting flavor that complemented the pastries beautifully.”May 2025
-
Iced coffee Net +1
“Paired it with an iced coffee ☕, which was refreshing and well-balanced—just what I needed.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Paired it with an iced coffee ☕, which was refreshing and well-balanced—just what I needed.”May 2026
-
Passion mango smoothie Net +1
“I love their selection of smoothies. My favouite is Passion Mango smoothie and Chia kale. Must try!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love their selection of smoothies. My favouite is Passion Mango smoothie and Chia kale. Must try!”December 2020
What to Avoid (7)
Food 5
-
Chocolate mille feuille Net −1
“I was a fan of Paul but after what happened yesterday.. I might not come back.. the chocolate mille feuille was horrible.. the puf pastry was over baked and the smell of burn inside.. in addition when i asked for Birthday reedemtion they said we can't see your voucher really? I just visited paul in Dec 2025.. and they said ohh after this payment you're eligible to.. sorry i will not come again to take same quality cake !”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I was a fan of Paul but after what happened yesterday.. I might not come back.. the chocolate mille feuille was horrible.. the puf pastry was over baked and the smell of burn inside.. in addition when i asked for Birthday reedemtion they said we can't see your voucher really? I just visited paul in Dec 2025.. and they said ohh after this payment you're eligible to.. sorry i will not come again to take same quality cake !”February 2026
-
Hash brown potatoes Net −1
“I’m usually big fan of Paul , I love to have breakfast there, I’ve noticed the quality of the food has been dropping, I keep getting my omelets, hash brown potatoes always oily! No matter how many times I mention to avoid too much oil!”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I’m usually big fan of Paul , I love to have breakfast there, I’ve noticed the quality of the food has been dropping, I keep getting my omelets, hash brown potatoes always oily! No matter how many times I mention to avoid too much oil!”July 2021
-
Lasagna Net −1
“We ordered lasagna too and it tasted like they just reheated it in the microwave. So disappointing”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“We ordered lasagna too and it tasted like they just reheated it in the microwave. So disappointing”October 2025
-
Lentil soup Net −1
“The lentil soup was extremely salty and almost impossible to eat.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The lentil soup was extremely salty and almost impossible to eat.”June 2026
-
Sea bass Net −1
“The sea bass was served with potatoes that were extremely greasy and overcooked, which made the dish unpleasant as well.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“The sea bass was served with potatoes that were extremely greasy and overcooked, which made the dish unpleasant as well.”June 2026
Drinks 2
-
Cold coffee Net −1
“Dirty tea cup with dried food, smelly glasses, cold coffee, eggs Benedict which didn’t look nice, two eggs were cooked different (one medium, another well done) and they were served with water.”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“Dirty tea cup with dried food, smelly glasses, cold coffee, eggs Benedict which didn’t look nice, two eggs were cooked different (one medium, another well done) and they were served with water.”November 2022
-
Orange juice Net −1
“I had the orange juice which is slightly bitter but not too much, but I think this changes as it is freshly squeezed. I also had the Cinnamon Vanilla Latte which was incredible!!”
Positive 0Negative 1
Critical review excerpts
“I had the orange juice which is slightly bitter but not too much, but I think this changes as it is freshly squeezed. I also had the Cinnamon Vanilla Latte which was incredible!!”August 2017
Tips for a Better Visit
Check hours. If you are visiting late, confirm the branch is still taking orders first; customers were turned away before the stated midnight closing time.
Go earlier. Order the avocado dish during breakfast service, as one regular said it was only available until around noon or 1 p.m.
Use parking. Take advantage of the free parking inside the mall, especially if you are combining breakfast with shopping.
Bring a laptop. Breakfast can double as a work stop because the branch has free Wi-Fi and a generally quiet mall setting.
Check promotions. For the birthday cake, read the app conditions and register early rather than assuming the offer can be redeemed on arrival.
Check bread. If bread arrives unusually hard, raise it immediately; a previous diner said a waiter replaced it.
Plan the visit
Practical details
City Centre Me'aisem
Me'aisem First - City Centre Meaisem, Dubai
| Mon | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sat | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Slow service
Some visits involved long waits for table attention, drinks and food, with missing napkins adding to the frustration.
Food inconsistency
Reviews include tough bread, an overbaked chocolate millefeuille, salty soup and greasy or overcooked sides.
Heavy dishes
A reviewer found the sea bass potatoes greasy and overcooked, while another described fries as oily and soggy.
Late closing
Two late-night visitors said they were turned away before the published midnight closing time or given an earlier last-order time.
Birthday terms
The birthday-cake promotion caused confusion when a customer learned the app had to be downloaded and used in advance.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
PAUL Bakery & Restaurant in City Centre Meaisem is strongest as a breakfast, coffee and pastry stop. You can sit down for French toast, an avocado dish or a sandwich, or pick up bakery items such as croissants, éclairs and fresh bread. The calm Parisian-style décor gives the café a more leisurely feel than a quick mall counter.
The pastry and coffee side receives the steadiest praise. One breakfast review describes croissants as crisp outside, buttery inside, with rich coffee and delicate English tea; another calls the French toast beautifully presented with berries and vanilla ice cream. Mushroom soup, cakes and smoothies also appear as specific favourites.
Practical details are good for a mall visit: reviewers mention free parking, free Wi-Fi and a usually quiet shopping centre, making breakfast workable for remote study or a coffee break. m. Service is not perfectly consistent.
Many regulars describe attentive visits, but others report long waits, missing napkins and poor table attention. Food quality has also varied, from a tough fougasse and salty soup to greasy potatoes. Late-night hours and birthday-app conditions are worth confirming before you go.