Top 10 Best Cafes in Downtown Dubai, Dubai
Choose among:
- ✦ Specialty coffee
- ✦ Breakfast meals
- ✦ Board games
- ✦ Bubble tea
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What people like
Chewy BobaThe boba is consistently praised for a soft, chewy texture rather than a hard bite.
Coffee JellyCoffee jelly works especially well with the tea and adds a popular alternative to standard pearls.
Tiger Sugar is a bubble-tea cafe in Downtown Dubai, located in Dubai Mall’s food court. Its menu centres on brown-sugar boba drinks, including the popular black sugar pearl combination with coffee jelly, milk and cream mousse, alongside treats such as strawberry mochi.
TipAsk for less sugar first; multiple reviewers found the drinks very sweet, and one specifically recommends the less-sugar option.
Choose Tiger Sugar for soft, chewy boba in customizable brown-sugar drinks.
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What people like
Game libraryThe collection includes hundreds of games, from familiar choices such as Uno and Jenga to less familiar titles.
Game guidanceStaff regularly recommend games and explain the rules clearly, including for first-time players and advanced games.
THE SIX Board Game Cafe in Downtown Dubai combines a coffee-shop setting with a large board-game library, snacks and drinks. It suits groups who want to learn unfamiliar games with staff guidance, or settle in for a relaxed session with friends and family.
TipIf you do not know the games, ask for a recommendation and a full rules explanation before starting.
Choose THE SIX Board Game Cafe - DOWNTOWN for hundreds of board games with staff who explain the rules clearly.
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What people like
Date selectionPremium plain and stuffed dates include tahini, almonds and walnuts, with gift-ready elegant boxes.
Breakfast dishesBreakfast gets specific praise for Qinwan syrniki, Turkish Eggs, Eggs Benedict and an açai bowl with fresh fruit.
Qinwan Cafe in Downtown Dubai is a polished café for Arabic coffee, carefully presented dates and relaxed meals. Reviews point to breakfast favourites such as syrniki and Turkish Eggs, while the date ice cream and complimentary tastings add a distinctly local reason to linger.
TipAsk to sample dates or gelato before choosing; reviewers say tastings help with unfamiliar selections.
Choose Qinwan Cafe for praised breakfast dishes including syrniki and Turkish Eggs.
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What people like
Specialty coffeeCoffee is prepared with care, with reviews praising Chemex, V60, Brazilian beans and Ethiopian beans.
French toastThe Lotus and classic French toast are repeatedly described as soft, balanced and delicately textured.
TEN 11 is a cafe in Downtown Dubai, inside Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue. Reviews make it worth considering for specialty coffee, including Chemex and V60 brews, alongside breakfast favourites such as French toast and generous breakfast sets.
TipIf travelling for Emirati breakfast, call on the same day: one customer was told it had finished despite earlier confirmation.
Choose TEN 11 - Best Cafe in Dubai Mall for aromatic Ethiopian and Brazilian V60 coffee plus substantial breakfast choices.
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What people like
Waterfall viewsThe café’s seating beside the waterfall creates a calm backdrop, while outdoor tables can face the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain.
Premium datesCustomers describe the dates as plump, fresh and naturally sweet, with date chocolates and gift boxes available to take home.
Café Bateel is a Mediterranean café in Downtown Dubai, set beside Dubai Mall’s waterfall with indoor and outdoor seating. Reviews point to it for relaxed breakfasts, date pudding, premium dates and date-based gifts, as well as a sit-down meal with fountain or Burj Khalifa views.
TipIf you are with children or do not want smoke, choose indoor seating; outdoor tables can also involve a wait.
Choose Café Bateel - Dubai Mall for praised breakfast staples including shakshuka, eggs Benedict, and avocado toast.
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What people like
Breakfast FocusBreakfast is a standout, with fresh pastries and main dishes that keep regulars returning.
Quality CoffeeThe latte was praised for quality beans, well-extracted espresso and beautifully textured milk.
BABA ROMA is an urban cafe, patisserie and bakery bistro in Downtown Dubai, centred on breakfast, brunch and all-day dining. It is worth considering for carefully made coffee, fresh pastries and a relaxed meal in a stylish setting.
TipMake coffee a priority: the latte was praised for its beans, extraction and milk texture.
Choose BABA ROMA for carefully extracted espresso and beautifully textured milk in its latte.
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What people like
Calm settingThe flower-filled decor and calm, quiet atmosphere make this a comfortable Dubai Mall pause.
Mango toastThe mango French toast combines soft toast with blueberries, mango, granola, mint and vanilla ice cream.
Secret Garden by L'ETO is an upscale cake-and-coffee shop in Downtown Dubai’s Dubai Mall Fashion Avenue. Customers come for a calm, flower-filled setting and desserts, with the mango French toast and wide cake and cheesecake selection standing out alongside coffees, mocktails and other drinks.
TipConsider the mango French toast if you want a substantial sweet breakfast rather than only cake.
Choose Secret Garden by L'ETO for mango French toast with fruit, granola, mint, and vanilla ice cream.
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What people like
Specialty coffeeReviews highlight the Panama Geisha hand brew and an Ethiopian-bean V60 as carefully made options for specialty-coffee fans.
DessertsNutella tiramisu, butterscotch pudding, pistachio cake and date lamington all receive specific praise from customers.
RX Coffee Apothecary is a stylish café in Downtown Dubai, inside Dubai Mall’s District area, with a calm, red-toned setting suited to coffee breaks and catch-ups. The menu is especially appealing for specialty coffee such as Panama Geisha hand brew and desserts including Nutella tiramisu.
TipAsk about the V60 if you prefer filter coffee; one customer specifically enjoyed the Ethiopian-bean version.
Choose Rx Coffee Apothecary - Dubai Mall for specialty coffee such as Panama Geisha hand brew and Ethiopian-bean V60.
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What people like
Milk CakeThe milk cake is the standout order: reviewers describe it as rich, balanced and consistently satisfying across visits.
DessertsThe dessert menu has several strong picks, including a brownie praised as the best in town and a distinctive butter ice cream with bread crumbs.
Home Bakery is a cosy cafe in Downtown Dubai, known for its milk cakes, coffee and baked treats. It also works well for breakfast or a relaxed mall break, with reviewers highlighting the crème brûlée French toast and a comfortable setting overlooking the Dubai Mall walkways.
TipFor a quieter visit, try a weekday morning; one reviewer specifically found mornings less busy than other times.
Choose Home Bakery for consistently praised milk cake alongside French toast and breakfast dishes.
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What people like
Leafy settingGreenery, bougainvillaeas and a quiet outdoor area make the cafe feel removed from Downtown’s bustle.
Turkish breakfastThe Turkish breakfast is praised for fresh bread, cheeses, dips and generous sharing portions.
Apricot is a casual European eatery and cafe in Downtown Dubai, valued for its leafy, relaxed setting near the city’s busiest sights. Breakfast is the main draw, with Turkish breakfast spreads and popular pancakes, while indoor seating gives you a cooler alternative in summer.
TipConsider sharing the Turkish breakfast; one reviewer found it a good portion for two people.
Choose Apricot Dubai, Downtown Dubai for a Turkish breakfast spread with fresh bread, cheeses, and dips.
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