Courtyard setting
The preserved central tree and traditional courtyard give the gallery a calm, distinctive atmosphere.
XVA Gallery
Bur Dubai
XVA Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Bur Dubai, set within the XVA Hotel & Cafe. Visitors can browse changing exhibitions and small gallery rooms, then settle in the courtyard café for dishes such as the big breakfast platter or mint lemonade.
Reputation Score
4.5
★★★★★
152 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Contemporary art
Small rooms host well-curated changing exhibitions, including mostly abstract contemporary work.
Free entry
The gallery can be visited without an entrance fee, making it an easy addition to an Old Dubai outing.
Quiet escape
Visitors describe it as a peaceful place to slow down after the busier streets of Old Dubai.
Distinctive shopping
The shop has unusual souvenirs, jewellery, clothing and other items that reviewers found difficult to find elsewhere in Dubai.
Friendly service
Reviews mention accommodating, welcoming staff and pleasant service in both the gallery and café.
Tips for a Better Visit
Find the door. Look for the small double door in the historic district; the gallery is tucked inside rather than prominently visible from outside.
Plan a stop. Entry is free and one reviewer described it as an eight-minute walk from the metro, so it works well with nearby Old Dubai sights.
Take time. Allow time to explore the separate rooms and sit in the courtyard rather than treating it as a quick gallery visit.
Choose coffee. If coffee matters more than the setting, be cautious with the iced latte; reviews disagree about the café’s coffee quality.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Al Fahidi Neighborhood, 312th Road - Al Fahidi St
Al Souq Al Kabeer - Al Fahidi, Dubai
| Mon | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Tue | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Wed | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Thu | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Fri | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Sat | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Sun | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
Popular Mentions
rice pudding with rose water
A reviewer singled out this dessert as a favourite café order.
Turkish coffee
Turkish coffee was ordered with the rice pudding and rose water dessert.
Common Concerns
Limited art
One visitor felt there was not much art and that the venue leaned more toward an arty café.
Coffee inconsistency
Coffee feedback is mixed, with particularly negative comments about the iced latte.
Slow service
A review reported slow service alongside average food.
Café changes
A returning customer was disappointed by changes to the restaurant compared with its earlier experience.
DXB
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The Bottom Line
XVA Gallery is a small contemporary art space inside the XVA Hotel & Cafe in Bur Dubai. Its intimate rooms host changing exhibitions, while the preserved courtyard, old walls and central tree make the visit feel as much like an architectural wander as a gallery stop. Entry is free, which helps justify dropping in while exploring the surrounding historic area.
The café is a substantial part of the experience. Reviews mention the big breakfast platter, avocado wrap and eggplant/feta “burger”, along with mint lemonade, rice pudding with rose water and Turkish coffee. The shop is worth a look too: visitors have found distinctive souvenirs, jewellery, clothing and other unusual items.
The atmosphere is consistently described as quiet, relaxing and well suited to a break from busy Old Dubai. Look for the double door, and allow time to explore the smaller rooms and courtyard rather than rushing through. The metro is described as about an eight-minute walk away.
Food and service feedback is generally favourable but not uniform, while coffee is especially mixed; one reviewer strongly disliked the iced latte. If the art collection is your main reason for visiting, note that some guests consider it modest and see XVA more as an arty café than a full-scale gallery.