$$$$French BistroAl WaslSun-Wed 09:00-22:30, Thu-Sat 09:00-00:30
NAC brings the Mayfair cafe of the same name to Al Safa in Dubai, serving an all-day French bistro menu at H Residence on Al Wasl Road every day.
TipBook ahead for the weekend, when the all day menu draws a brunch crowd.
$$$$EmiratiAl FahidiDaily 07:00-23:00
Arabian Tea House has poured karak chai and served Emirati breakfasts since 1997 in a courtyard house built in the early 1920s in Al Fahidi, Dubai.
TipAsk for a courtyard table under the big tree; the Emirati breakfast tray comes with khameer and chebab baked in the house tanoor.
$$$$Healthy CafeD3Mon-Fri 08:00-23:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00
One Life Kitchen and Café runs its flagship 7,000 sq ft all-day cafe in Dubai Design District, where the brand began in 2016, with a healthy menu.
TipIt is the brand's original site, open 08:00 to 23:00 on weekdays.
$$$$Vegetarian CafeAl FahidiDaily 07:00-21:00
XVA Cafe serves a mostly vegetarian menu in the shaded stone courtyard of a small boutique art hotel in the Al Fahidi district of old Dubai.
TipTake a table in one of the three shaded courtyards rather than the small indoor room.
$$$$Dessert CafeJumeirahDaily 07:00-23:30
BRIX Café is a harbourside dessert bar at Jumeirah Fishing Harbour in Dubai, pairing specialty coffee with a rotating plated dessert menu daily.
TipGrab an outdoor table facing the water for the best view of the moored fishing boats.
$$$$CafeAl WaslSun-Thu 07:30-23:00, Fri-Sat 07:30-00:00
The Grey is a minimalist coffee lounge on Al Wasl Road in Al Safa, Dubai, built around a gallery-white interior and rows of quiet work tables.
TipThe back room has the quietest tables for a laptop session away from the espresso machine noise.
$$$$Australian CafeAl QuozMon-Fri 08:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 08:00-18:00
Tom and Serg has served genuine Aussie-style coffee and fusion breakfasts from its own Al Quoz warehouse in Dubai since it first opened in 2013.
TipIt takes no reservations, and weekend mornings bring a wait of 20 to 45 minutes.
$$$$CafeDubai MarinaSun-Thu 08:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 08:00-00:00
tashas overlooks the marina from Dubai Marina Mall, a South African-founded cafe in Dubai known for its glass cake counter and terrace tables.
TipBook ahead for a window table; the marina view is the reason regulars keep coming back here.
$$$$CafeAl QuozMon-Thu, Sun 07:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 07:00-22:00
Lazy Cat is a small, sought-after park-side cafe in Al Quoz, Dubai, known for its Japanese souffle pancakes and its bright blue matcha drink.
TipExpect a wait on weekends for the pancakes.
$$$$Healthy CafeJumeirahDaily 08:00-20:00
Comptoir 102 pairs a vegan friendly organic cafe with a lifestyle concept store on Beach Road in Jumeirah, Dubai, all under one roof and one entrance.
TipBrowse the homeware and clothing racks while you wait for a table; the store and cafe share one entrance.
$$$$Global CafeJumeirahMon-Fri 09:00-19:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-20:00
Kulture House mixes an art gallery, a lifestyle shop and a cafe in a villa on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai, a three in one stop for coffee and art.
TipLook round the gallery room and shop while you wait for a table.
$$$$Australian CafeAl QuozDaily 08:00-19:00
Boston Lane is an Australian style cafe at The Courtyard in Al Quoz, Dubai, sharing its home with homegrown retail concepts in The Collective.
TipWeekend mornings get a genuine queue, so aim for a weekday breakfast if you want a table straight away.
$$$$Global CafeUmm SuqeimDaily 09:00-21:00
Amongst Few pairs a concept store with a cafe in the Bahwan Complex on Al Wasl Road in Umm Suqeim, Dubai, open from 09:00 to 21:00 every day.
TipBrowse the concept store before or after eating.
$$$$Vegan CafeJumeirahDaily 08:00-22:00
Seva Table has served a fully plant based, gluten free menu from a villa garden on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai since it first opened its doors in 2014.
TipThe all-day plant-based breakfast bowls are the strongest order; dinner leans heavier and richer.
$$$$European CafeDowntown DubaiDaily 07:30-22:00
Apricot bakes European deli plates and cakes at Souk Al Manzil in Downtown Dubai, just off the Boulevard, with a cosy covered terrace outside.
TipThe terrace tables have a partial Burj Khalifa view, worth requesting if you're there for sunset.
$$$$CafeAl QuozDaily 08:00-22:00
Nala runs a bright neighbourhood cafe out of Warehouse 47 on Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, Dubai, serving all day from 08:00 until 22:00 each day.
TipWeekends are busiest, so come early for a table.
$$$$CafeUmm SuqeimDaily 06:30-22:30
Brew on Jumeirah Road in Umm Suqeim opened in 2015 and was among the first Dubai cafes to bring Berlin's The Barn beans to the UAE's specialty scene.
TipIt sits opposite the Emarat petrol station on Jumeirah Road.
$$$$CafeAl QuozDaily 07:30-18:00
The Lime Tree Cafe and Kitchen serves organic food and gluten free bakes at its Al Quoz branch, part of a Dubai brand whose first cafe opened in 2001.
TipIt sits in The Courtyard on 4B Street in Al Quoz and keeps the same 07:30 to 18:00 hours every day.
$$$$CafeAl QuozDaily 08:00-19:00
Cassette is a bistro-style cafe in The Courtyard complex in Al Quoz, Dubai, known for its relaxed all-day breakfast and lunch menu each day.
TipThe courtyard tables outside get shade by late morning, the better option once the sun is up.
$$$$Australian CafeJltMon-Fri 08:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 08:00-18:00
Splendour Fields fills the whole ground floor at The Park in JLT, Dubai, with an Australian style cafe menu, a gourmet grocer and a park-facing terrace.
TipThe terrace overlooks the park and its tables are shaded by parasols, the better seat in cooler months.
$$$$CafeAl QuozDaily 08:00-18:00
Harvest and Co sits inside Dubai Garden Centre in Al Quoz, Dubai, a farm-to-table cafe surrounded by rows of green plant nursery stock daily.
TipThe open kitchen displays the morning's produce, and the cafe sits inside the garden centre, so a browse of the plants fits in easily.
$$$$CafeAl WaslMon-Thu 09:00-23:00, Fri-Sun 09:00-00:00
Creme Cafe pours coffee and serves pastries, bagels and cake slices from the ground floor of Dar Al Wasl Mall on Al Wasl Road in Dubai, a small counter.
TipThe menu is short: espresso drinks, bagels, pastries and cake by the slice.
$$$$Italian CafeDubai MarinaDaily 08:00-20:00
Delizie Caffe Gourmet serves Italian breakfast and lunch at Dubai Harbour Yacht Club, Dubai, with views of the Dubai Marina skyline and Ain Dubai.
TipTake the outdoor terrace, which looks over the yachts in the harbour.
$$$$Healthy CafeDifcDaily 08:00-22:00
Circle Cafe serves an all-day breakfast and brunch menu to the busy DIFC office crowd from its Gate 5 branch in Dubai, open right into the evening.
TipThe all day breakfast runs past noon, handy for a late weekday start among the DIFC offices.