Desserts
Desserts are a strong reason to visit, with one regular calling most of them “WOW!”
Wanderlust
Al Khawaneej
Wanderlust is a café in Al Khawaneej with a relaxed indoor-outdoor setting, specialty coffee and a dessert-led menu. Visitors come for drinks such as the tiramisu latte and sweets including the honey cake, while breakfast is another recurring highlight.
Reputation Score
4.3
★★★★☆
279 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Coffee
The café has earned praise for carefully made coffee, including specialty options such as Chemex.
Spanish Hot
The Spanish hot is a distinctive latte-style drink made without condensed milk.
Breakfast
Breakfast dishes such as the Benedict croissant and shakshuka croissant have been singled out as tasty.
Outdoor Seating
The outdoor seating is repeatedly described as pleasant, especially for enjoying coffee in cooler weather.
Atmosphere
The café has a cozy, attractive setting that works for a quiet break or meeting friends.
Tips for a Better Visit
Try Dessert. Start with the honey cake, which reviewers describe as soft and tasty, or choose one of the desserts you already know you enjoy.
Order Spanish. If you want something beyond a standard latte, ask for the Spanish hot; it is made without condensed milk.
Sit Outside. Choose outdoor seating if you want a calmer coffee-and-dessert stop; reviews specifically recommend sitting outside.
Allow Time. Build in extra time during busy visits, since one review reported a 30-minute dessert wait and another mentioned forgotten orders.
Expect Small Cup. If ordering a flat white, expect a small serving cup rather than a cortado-sized drink.
Try Breakfast. Breakfast is worth exploring, especially the croissant Benedict and shakshuka croissant mentioned by returning customers.
Plan the visit
Practical details
M-B11, Ground Floor Near Roxy Cinema, Al Khawaneej Walk
Al Khawaneej - Al Khawaneej 1, Dubai
Popular Mentions
Tiramisu latte
The tiramisu latte is praised for its balanced sweetness and is one of the café’s most distinctive coffee choices.
Honey cake
The honey cake is repeatedly described as soft and tasty, making it a reliable dessert recommendation from the reviews.
Burrata toast
Burrata toast is one of the savoury dishes specifically recommended by a customer.
Croque monsieur
The croque monsieur is another savoury recommendation from a review covering the café’s food.
Common Concerns
Small Portions
Several reviews say food and desserts can feel undersized for the price, including a mini cheesecake described as barely a bite.
Service Delays
Orders have sometimes taken around 30 minutes, with one review mentioning forgotten orders and disorganized service.
Indoor Cleanliness
One reviewer found the indoor area messy and dusty enough to leave white marks on a black abaya.
Coffee Variability
A repeat visitor said the coffee had recently become less consistent than before.
Small Flat White
The flat white was served in a cup so small that the customer mistook it for a cortado.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Wanderlust is a café in Al Khawaneej built around coffee, desserts and a comfortable indoor-outdoor setting. It is a natural stop for a coffee break, a catch-up or a dessert run, with customers repeatedly praising the atmosphere and the range of sweets. The menu has a few clear starting points.
The tiramisu latte is described as delicious and well balanced, while the Spanish hot offers a less common take on a Spanish latte without condensed milk. For food, breakfast favourites include the Benedict croissant, shakshuka croissant and burrata toast. The honey cake, tiramisu, cinnamon roll and Victoria sponge cake also receive specific praise, although dessert quality is not completely consistent.
There are practical trade-offs. Several diners felt portions were too small for the prices, and one complained about paying 17 dirhams for a mini cheesecake. Service has ranged from fast and friendly to disorganized, with reports of slow or forgotten orders.
The indoor area has also been described as messy and dusty, while the café can become noisy. Outdoor seating is a better choice when available, and it is sensible to allow extra time during busy visits. Note too that the flat white may arrive in a surprisingly small cup.