Bookstore setting
Inside Borders, the café gives coffee drinkers a calm place to browse books and relax away from the mall bustle.
Starbucks
Al Barsha
Starbucks in Al Barsha is a coffeehouse inside Borders, where you can order drinks such as vanilla lattes or iced caramel macchiatos and settle in with a book. Its calm bookstore setting makes it more appealing for reading, studying, or a quiet coffee break than a typical busy mall branch.
Reputation Score
4.5
★★★★★
1,090 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Quiet workspot
Reviews describe it as a peaceful place for reading, studying, writing, online meetings, and laptop work.
Fast service
One regular said food and drinks were sometimes ready before they had finished paying, with no long queue despite staff being busy.
Milk options
The team accommodated an oat-milk request for a milkshake, useful if you want to customise a drink.
Coffee tasting
A hosted coffee tasting paired coffee aromas with sweets, adding a more considered experience than a standard takeaway.
Comfortable ambiance
Several reviews mention a cosy, inviting atmosphere suited to unwinding, reading, or spending time with a friend.
Tips for a Better Visit
Choose timing. For a quieter visit, go when the mall branch is less busy; reviews say this location can shift from crowded to quiet.
Check Wi-Fi. If you plan to work, test the internet before settling in, as one laptop user could not connect for two hours.
Confirm charges. Before paying, check the bill and ask what any roast or add-on charge covers, since customers reported unexpected extras.
Request milk. Ask about oat milk if you want it in a milkshake; one customer said the request was accommodated.
Check tables. If a clean table matters, look before sitting down; an older review says tables were often not cleaned promptly.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Mall of Emirates - 2nd Floor - inside Borders
Al Barsha First - Al Barsha, Dubai
| Mon | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sat | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
Popular Mentions
Vanilla latte
A vanilla latte was praised for being correctly brewed, with milk steamed to the right temperature and attractive latte art.
Iced caramel macchiato
A customer enjoyed an iced caramel macchiato and credited the drink-making and attentive service with a pleasant visit.
Berry hibiscus drink
The berry hibiscus drink was described as a good new option by a visitor who came for a calm reading and work session.
VT Double Caramel
A customer specifically praised an incredible VT Double Caramel drink made at the branch.
Strawberry mojito
The strawberry mojito was called refreshing and a favourite drink by one reviewer.
Common Concerns
Wi-Fi trouble
A customer spent two hours with a laptop but could not connect to the internet and received no staff help.
Small seating
One review found the café very small, with uncomfortable chairs, so it may not suit a long work session.
Billing concerns
Reviews report unexplained extra charges, including a disputed 4-dirham caramel macchiato charge and another charge added without consent.
Inconsistent service
A customer described a rude response after a vanilla latte order was misunderstood, rather than a simple apology and correction.
Drink consistency
Drink quality is not uniformly praised: one review found the cappuccino tasteless, while another disliked the amount of ice.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
180 AED
Tblr Ranger Petals Shimmer Pink tumbler
“I bought the Tblr Ranger Petals Shimmer Pink tumbler for 180 AED, and it leaks even when fully closed”Google review · May 2026
DXB
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The Bottom Line
This Starbucks stands out for its setting rather than for a different menu: it is inside Borders, where coffee and books make an easy pairing. You can order familiar drinks such as a vanilla latte, iced caramel macchiato, berry hibiscus drink, or a milkshake, then read, study, write, or simply take a quieter break from the mall. The atmosphere is the strongest reason to come.
Multiple reviews describe the space as calm, cosy, clean, and comfortable, with seating for work or reading. It is not consistently empty, though; some visitors found it crowded, while others had a quiet corner to themselves. The seating has also been criticised as uncomfortable, and the café is described as small.
Service is often quick and accommodating. One customer’s oat-milk request for a milkshake was accepted, and another described drinks arriving before payment was finished. Staff experiences are not uniform, however: reviews mention rude handling of a misunderstood order and unexplained additional charges.
If you are bringing a laptop, test the Wi-Fi before settling in, as one visitor could not connect after two hours. Check your bill carefully, especially for roast or add-on charges. For a family visit, a complimentary babyccino was reported, though that should not be treated as a guaranteed offer.