Okay, let’s be real – Dubai summers are brutal. You step outside and immediately start melting. Most people just hit up the usual spots like Starbucks or Costa, but I’ve found some really interesting places that are way better than your typical coffee run. These top cafes in Dubai offer something completely different from the chain stores.
These aren’t your standard cafés. Each one has something different going on that makes it worth the trip. Also look for 5 Best Shawarma Sandwiches in Dubai You Must Try
BKRY at Museum of the Future
So there’s this café inside that big metal ring building everyone takes photos with. I thought you’d need to buy a museum ticket, but you can just walk in and take the elevator to floor 7.
The coffee’s pretty good – nothing crazy special, but decent. What’s wild is sitting there looking out at Sheikh Zayed Road from inside this futuristic building. Feels like you’re in a movie or something.
My cousin came from Toronto last month and we spent three hours there. She couldn’t stop taking pictures and we ended up spending 200 dirhams just on coffee.
- Location: Museum of the Future Building, Sheikh Zayed Road
- Time: Every day 9am to 9pm
Forever Rose
This place messed with my head. Everything looks flat, like someone drew the whole café with a black marker and you’re walking around inside the drawing.
First time I went, I kept trying to figure out the trick. Still don’t really get how they do it, but it works. Your brain gets confused and everything looks 2D. The food tastes normal though, which is good.
Great for Instagram if that’s your thing. My sister brought her friends for her birthday and they went crazy with photos. The cheesecake was actually pretty good too.
- Location: Box Park Dubai, Al Wasl Road
- Time: Until midnight on weekdays, 1is on weekends
Mille Miglia Gallery
My friend Ahmed told me about this one. He’s obsessed with F1 and makes me watch every race. This café has real Formula 1 stuff everywhere – helmets, suits, and trophies, whatever.
There are actual Ferrari cars parked inside while you drink your coffee. Not fake ones – real Ferraris that probably cost more than most people’s houses. The guy working there said some of the stuff on the walls was used in actual F1 races.
Ahmed goes every weekend now. Coffees fine, nothing amazing, but drinking it next to a Ferrari is pretty cool. If you’re looking for best cafes in Dubai that go beyond just good coffee, this place delivers on the experience.
- Location: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Quoz
- Time: Every day 10am to 9pm
The Grow house by One Life
This was the weirdest one. They’re actually growing vegetables inside the café. Not decoration – real food they cook with.
I had a grilled cheese and the server told me the lettuce came from the plants right behind me. Walked over after eating and sure enough, there are rows of lettuce and herbs growing under these bright lights.
You can buy the vegetables too. My mom came with me once and bought fresh basil. She keeps asking when we’re going back. The pizza was surprisingly good – you can taste the difference when they use their own herbs. Among cafes in Dubai 2025, this farm-to-table concept stands out.
- Location: Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz
- Time: Every day 8am to 11pm
21 Café
This café is different for good reasons. All the staff has Down syndrome, but don’t think it’s some charity thing – these people are properly trained and really good at what they do.
The woman who served me remembered my order the second time I went back. Made perfect coffee both times. Their strawberry lemonade is incredible – I’ve gone back just for that drink.
Makes you feel good about spending money there. They’re giving real jobs to people who usually don’t get these chances. Out of all the coffee places in Dubai, this one actually matters beyond just selling drinks.
- Location: Al Ghurair Centre
- Time: Until 10pm most days, midnight on weekends
Conclusion
Dubai probably has a thousand coffee shops. Most are boring – same menu, same setup, same everything. These five top cafes in Dubai actually give you something different. Sometimes you want to feel like you’re in a spaceship. Sometimes you want to support people doing good work. Sometimes you just want coffee next to a Ferrari.
The best cafés in Dubai aren’t the fancy chains anymore. They’re these weird little spots where someone had a crazy idea and actually made it work. These 2025 best cafes in Dubai prove that creativity beats corporate formulas every time.
Next time you’re dying from the heat and need somewhere cool to sit, try one of these instead of the usual places. At least you’ll have something interesting to tell people about.
