The best bars and cafés - Dubai in 2025

Practical information : Take a break Dubai

Timetable

In Dubai, the schedules are very extensible, but let's say that the day really starts only from 10 am and the cafes do not empty all day long. Here, the key word is to take your time, no one seems really stressed. You won't see anyone running around let alone the Emirati population. They often linger and chat as if time was stretched out, whether it's during the week or on the weekend. If there are no "aperitif" traditions, it is mostly in the late evening, after dinner and quite late that groups of friends meet again for tea and sometimes a shisha. The men are often with the men and the women together too. As for the expatriate population, they go out in the many hotel bars, quite late at night, and usually from Wednesday to Saturday included. During Ramadan, the hours change. During the day, the establishments are not very busy and most of the places open after sunset and all night long.

Budget & Tips

Dubai is expensive, even for a coffee. Hotel bars are particularly overpriced, as taxes on alcohol (30% since January^1, 2025) have become high again. Everywhere, you can pay with a credit card and leave a tip of around 5-10%, although this is by no means obligatory.

Age restrictions

Alcohol can only be consumed from the age of 21, and the legislation is very strict. It is difficult to enter bars under this age. Please note, however, that it is forbidden to consume alcohol on the public highway or in public spaces that are not regulated for it.

What's very local

In the middle of the afternoon, one can find in all the neighborhood cafes, hotel lobbies and shopping malls, Emirati friends and families who come to have tea, coffee and especially to eat some pastries. It is also very popular to smoke a shisha as soon as the sun goes down. It is not uncommon to drink coffee until very late in the evening, because we do not go to bed early in this city and remember that a large part of the population does not drink alcohol. You should definitely try the mentholated lemonades, the best of which can be found in historic Dubai.

Kids

Although children are king in Dubai, they are not allowed in the bars and there will be no exceptions.

Smokers

Smoking is allowed outside and in certain dedicated areas.

Tourist traps

There are recruiters, but they will leave you alone fairly quickly if you do not show them any sign of interest.

The best bars and cafés Dubai

Map of top points of interest Dubai

THE OBSERVATORY

THE JETTY LOUNGE

ONDA BY PIERCHIC

GILT SKY BAR

TERRA SOLIS

THE 44

ARABIAN TEA HOUSE

LEVEL 43 ROOFTOP LOUNGE & BAR

BUDDHA BAR

BAR 44

SEVILLE’S

AL-JALSSA INTERNET CAFE

101 DINING & LOUNGE BAR

AT.MOSPHERE BURJ KHALIFA

SHISHA LOUNGE

TROPICAL INTERNET CAFE

AGENCY

GINSENG

BROWSE HOUSE CAFE

CAFE BATEEL

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