A speciality coffeehouse and restaurant, Spill The Bean serves healthy, low-waste food and offers several plant-based options.

We tried their orzo and chicken salad, beyond burger with a vegan bun and plant based patty (which we loved!) and chocolate raspberry tartlet (which we almost fought over).

The salad was truly wholesome. Made with everything healthy the portion was generous and filling. The beyond burger was certainly a surprise. I haven’t eaten many vegan burgers but the more I get them, the more I’m impressed with how delicious they taste. Also they’re so light and don’t leave you feeling guilty at all!

The tartlet is a must try. It is rich, creamy and again, comes with absolutely no guilt. Just make sure you order your own portion. It is totally not worth sharing

We washed it down with an iced latte and iced tea both of which were perfect for the slightly warm afternoon. Also we were seated outdoors and unfortunately Dubai summers have decided to hit earlier than usual.

Apart from specialty coffees and wholesome treats, this place is great for spending some time reading a book or meeting up for a casual chat with a friend. They have a selection of books that you can pick from and you’ll love cozying up in one of their corners.

Spill the Bean

Location: Shop 7, Ground Floor, Block B, The Sustainable City, Arabian Ranches, Dubai
Contact: +97142428671

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Designed like a pit stop, but to fuel up your hunger, the quaint Stopover Restaurant features a grand fueling booth at the entrance along with diner styled seating, open kitchen and a cozy book corner.

They serve a unique fusion of Asian, Arabic and American favorites – all customized with their incredible in-house sauces.

We tried the Mexican Shawarma, Grilled Chicken Burger and Chicken Kathi Roll along with some Karak tea and it’s honestly hard to pick which one I liked the most. (It was the Shawarma)

If you’re in or around Barsha, do give this place a try and let me know which one was your favorite from their menu.

Stopover

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We ordered a bunch of different things from their menu – right from drinks to all day breakfast, salad, mains and of course dessert. Keep scrolling to read more about what we tried and what we loved.

We started with a couple of drinks. My friend went with a warm and soothing chamomile tea, while I decided to try out one of their detox drinks – Turmeric Skin Glow (because we all need a little glow in our lives, don’t we?). The tea was served in a pretty glass kettle, which went perfectly with the aesthetics of the cafe. The detox drink was love. It was slightly sweet, tangy and very refreshing, thanks to all that mint, ginger, orange, basil, lemon, pineapple and of course turmeric. These ingredients are known for their anti-aging properties that keep your skin glowing and help reduce acne.

From the all-day breakfast options, we tried their truffle omelette, which came with a side of sourdough bread triangles. Although the look of the omelette might not be very fancy, the taste – with all that truffle was really good. The egg in this was whisked with Italian truffle paste, and the omelette was topped with parmesan cheese and truffle oil. Next up was our salad course, and if there’s burrata on the menu then it’s simply futile to order anything else The burrata, as described by the staff (who highly recommended it) was perfect. Creamy, cheesy, and with all that tomato tart, the burrata came drizzled with basil pesto and the classic balsamic. Along with the salad we ordered a grilled vegetables pizza that came loaded with peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, mozzarella and more on a thin base. This one was super delicious like all the other dishes we tried. For desserts, instead of their ice creams we decided to try something that’s gotten more famous over the recent times, and has become one my favorites – milk cake. Their flavor options include classic, saffron and pistachio – and we opted for saffron. This was absolutely heavenly! Soft like a cloud, perfectly creamy, and not too sweet, the milk cake came with a saffron milk sauce on the side. I would order their milk cake again in the blink of an eye. Since London Dairy Cafe has plenty of tea and coffee varieties to try from including drip coffee, it was only fair to sample a couple of their coffee options too. Although we decided to have our coffees packed to go, they served it first in cups with the latte art and all so we could get some good shots. And then later on the way home, we sipped on our Cafe Latte and Cafe Mocha.

If you’re looking for a good outdoor breakfast option, then you’ll love their outlet @lamerdubai

London Dairy Cafe

Location: Shop 39, North, La Mer, Jumeirah 1, Dubai
Contact: 04 3494584

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The Secret Garden is located just off the Lounge at Address Downtown, and quite close to the hotel entrance. As soon as we arrived, we were asked which table we would like to sit at and we chose a corner one which offered views of the Burj Khalifa. The entire area is decorated with fairy lights and Ramadan decor, giving it a very seasonal feel. Although a tad bit warm, they have coolers placed around the entire outdoor space so you can enjoy your suhoor comfortably. The tables are arranged in a spaced out manner and there weren’t too many people seated outdoors when we arrived at 9.30 pm or when we left at midnight, so it’s a great choice if you’re looking to avoid the crowds.

Starting off with fresh juices, we enjoyed as the mighty tower lit up every few minutes with Ramadan inspired light shows. For our mezzeh course we chose hummus and fattoush along with the classic lentil soup and zatar manakish from the saj section. Our mains consisted of a delicious platter of mixed grills including chicken shish taouk, kofta kebab and Australian lamb chops. All juicy and succulent, these were finished off in no time. The grills came along with a portion of rice which honestly I loved pairing with the lentil soup. Made for a comforting dal chawal portion! For desserts, we tried the baklava selection that came with a plate full of assorted Arabic sweets, the pistachio ones being my favorite. And finally we ended the evening with some Moroccan mint tea.

A great choice for suhoor, I highly recommend The Secret Garden at the Lounge at Address Downtown for it’s outdoor seating, Burj Khalifa views and menu selection.

Lounge at Address Downtown

Location: Lobby Level, Address Downtown, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, Dubai
Contact: 04 8883444

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We started with a comforting Corn & Chicken Chowder (AED 25). Very creamy with a prevalent taste of corn, this soup is great for chowder lovers. Quite filling, it’s advisable to share it among two.

For drinks, we were offered two of their bestsellers. The DT Special shake (AED 24) was a thick mix of strawberry, mango and dry fruits, while the Passion Fruit Mojito (AED 18) was a classic lemony refresher.

One of mine and probably all of our favorites, the Crunchy Cocktail Shrimps (AED 32) were quite appetizing. Although I found the shrimp too be slightly less spicy than what I’d usually expect.

The Dynamite Fries (AED 22) were one of my favorites. Mixed with spicy chicken and loaded with tons of cheese and Jalapenos made this a very comforting, spicy and gooey dish.

Another creatively done this, the Mac & Chicken bake (AED 38) was a filling one. A slightly spicier version wouldn’t have hurt though.

Coco Basa (AED 38) was the best of them all. Cotton soft grilled Basa fish fillet marinated in a unqiue coconut pesto sauce with garlic butter was a taste bomb I’d never tried before. A hint of chilli flakes garnish along with bread and veggies on the side made this a very satisfying and guiltless dish. Highly recommended!

A new item on their menu, the Avocado Cheesecake was all sorts of new. Creamy, nutty, cheesy but not too much, and also mildly sweet, the way I like it, this dessert impressed in terms of presentation and taste. The berry sauce ring around the plate, a dollop of white butter and a glazed sugar garnish added to the look and creativity.

Downtown Cafe

Location: Ground Floor, Umm Hurair Building, Beside General Post Office, Al Karama, Dubai
Contact: 04 8525957

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And of course, there is a delectable selection of cakes, cookies, ice creams and some of their signature desserts.

Ice Creams

This outlet has got a solid selection of ice cream including flavors like Mastica, Ashta, Saffron and Karak.

Labneh Tartine

Dressed almost like a garden, the labneh tartine comes with a luscious layer of labneh spread all over a freshly baked ciabatta and topped with cucumbers, tomatoes, mint leaves, rocca, radish and olive oil. It’s almost like a Greek salad on a bread.

Mozzarella Pesto Tartine

Dressed in red sundried tomato pesto, and topped with generous slices of baby mozzarella and tomatoes, this ciabatta bread feels like a warm European afternoon in every bite. The touch of basil is just perfect.

Brownie Madness

This one was filled with nostalgia for me. I’ve always loved brownie sundaes from when I was little, but of late I haven’t been eating them too much, which is why this was something I didn’t want to say no to. A lot of goodness in one plate, this came with brownie cubes, crushed ferrero and hazelnuts, topped with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and a tiny piece of honeycomb at the top.

Rose Milk Cake

How could you possibly go to Sukkar and not have their milk cake right? Well, for this once I thought I should’ve passed. First of all, they never have my favorite coconut flavor, so this time I chose to go with rose. The cake, while silky soft, looked a little stale, especially on the edges. And I am well aware of how sweet milk cakes are, but this was overly sugary, the cake and the rose milk. I’d probably have their milk cake in the morning, when it’s still fresh.

Milkshakes

Almost an entire meal in themselves, we really loved these milkshakes. Available in different flavors like Horlicks, Vanilla, Biscuit, Strawberry, Chocolate and more, these were super creamy and filling. Although a tad bit sweet, it was a trip back to childhood for me with the Horlicks milkshake. The vanilla one was at its classic best.

Sukkar

Location: Level 1, City Centre Mirdif, Mirdif, Dubai
Contact: 800785527

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Reminding you about the bounties of this planet we live on, Urth Caffe offers a varied menu that spans across breakfast and lunch/dinner and includes some of the best cakes and desserts too!

A huge tree inside the cafe amps up the earthy appeal of the cafe while also complementing its woody color tones.

English Tea Latte & Spanish Latte

Very rich and creamy, this latte, just like all their other hot beverages, is made with organic tea. Finished with a pretty latte art, this one is a good choice for high tea. Their bestselling blended ice drink, this creamy and sweet Spanish latte is made to order and has no artificial flavors or preservatives.

Chicken Pesto Omelet

From the breakfast menu, we chose this omelet for our protein fix. Made with three eggs, the fluffy omelet combined grilled chicken with pesto, mozzarella and goat cheese. A portion of greens and two slices of bread came as accompaniments. The portion size was huge. It would perfectly suffice two hungry people. And the taste, especially with pesto, is beautiful.

French Toast

Another breakfast classic, this French Toast came in a generous portion too. Two pieces of dense brioche bread, drenched in a mixture of egg batter and fresh cream were griddled to a golden brown hue. Dusted with icing sugar, they were served alongside whipped cream honey butter and maple syrup. I’ve never loved a French toast so much before, but now I think I’m on the path to getting addicted.

Burrata Salad

From the lunch menu, our first obvious choice was the Burrata. This salad featured a fresh creamy dollop of burrata cheese in the center, beautifully placed on a bed of red and green heirloom tomatoes, and drizzled with their signature Urth vinaigrette. The basil garnish with a hint of balsamic reduction perfectly balanced the creamy flavors.

Wild Mushroom Pizza

When I saw the words wild mushroom and truffle on the menu, there was no going back for me. This freshly baked pizza comes with a generous topping of sauteed wild mushrooms, balsamic braised onions, arugula leaves and truffle pecorino cheese. The dollop of creamy burrata in the center adds the metaphorical icing on this cake.

Coconut Royale

And of course, there was no way I would leave without a dessert, especially when it’s coconut based. From one of their bestselling cakes, this slice of Coconut Royale was yet another generous offering from Urth. Baked daily from scratch using the finest freshest organic ingredients, this cake features coconut shavings, coconut cream and lots of desiccated coconut in addition to other cake basics. And the texture is like a cloud!

Urth Caffe

Location: CITY WALK, Al Safa & Al Wasl Road Intersection, Al Safa, Dubai
Contact: 04 5897413

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The seating space might seem a little cozy, but these guys do great with deliveries. Also, they have plenty of outdoor seating and believe me, with their free wifi, they make for a beautiful spot to sit all day and get your work done.

Smoothie

Great in flavor with the freshest ingredients and quite filling, these were as good as an entire meal. I don’t usually opt for smoothies with muesli if I’m having a meal, but they have those options on their menu as well which would make a good breakfast.

Chicken Avocado Pesto Sandwich

Only the most scrumptious sandwich I’ve ever had! A bestseller on their menu, this sandwich offers the perfect mix of ingredients, the perfect portion and a lovely texture and taste. If I choose to go back to Baker Street Cafe, this will definitely be the main reason why.

Roasted Almond Goat Cheese Salad

Beautifully centered with a generous mound of goat cheese sitting on a bed of rocket this salad is topped with roasted almonds and dressed with balsamic. The leaves subtly cut the strong goat cheese balancing the flavors just right. I was simply surprised by the amount of goat cheese this salad featured!

Sundried Tomatoes & Rocket Fusilli

If you’ve pasta on your mind, then try it with red pesto. Tossed in tomato pesto, dotted with sundried tomatoes and black olives and garnished with rocket leaves, this fusilli comes in a grand portion that would definitely suffice 2 people. I loved the rich deep flavor of the sauce and the perfectly done pasta. Must have!

Baker Street Cafe

Location: Shop G08, Ground Level, Dubai Gate One Bldg, Cluster Q, Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), Dubai
Contact: 04 3629392

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You can relax in the TV area on a beanbag and enjoy your favorite movie with access to Netflix. Or pump up your brain cells with a quick Sudoku at your table while you wait for your food to arrive. Challenge your friends with a selection of board games. Hit the top score with the most loved PS4 titles. Kick back with a comic book. Or simply chill on one of the beanbags with your favorite book or music.

At Seedology they strongly believe The First Wealth is Health. And that Everything is going to be OK.

Burj Khalychee

A sweet smooth mixture of mango, peach and lychee, this blend comes with refreshing rose water and the addition of flixweed seeds.

Kojo Salad

Bringing together the goodness of veggies and nuts in the wholesome bowl, this salad is perfect for a filling meal. I especially loved the dried barberries and the tarty blueberry vinaigrette dressing with chia seeds.

Tropical Fruit Salad

The perfect mix of fresh fruits, this one’s a great bowl if you’re on a fruit cleanse. I loved the sumac spice and the honey mint lemon dressing with black seeds.

Primarina Hummus

The beetroot version of this healthy classic is absolutely lit. The creamy texture goes just right with the selection of veggie bites.

Captain America

This is honestly one of the most filling veggie burgers I’ve had in a long time. The spicy chickpea & avocado mash along with flavors of jalapeno, garlic and sriracha go just right with the Kaiser roll. And the avocado salad on the side is a dream come true for avo lovers.

Shuklata Jafiliya

Guilt-free indulgence in a petite jar, this dessert is just perfect for those looking to satisfy their cravings, but in a healthy way. Featuring Oreo, Nutella, chocolate, milk and cream with the goodness of organic chia seeds, this dessert is neither too sweet, nor too heavy.

Jabel Wafeer

Did someone say Strawberry cheesecake? Although sans the cheese, this chia based dessert combines strawberries, bananas, digestive cookies, jell-o and milk in a lovely medley of flavors.

Seedology

Location: Unit 20, Block 5, Wasl Square, Al Wasl Road, Al Safa, Dubai
Contact: 04 2283808

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The restaurant is divided into two parts – bakery and brasserie. We chose to seat ourselves in the latter and were greeted by dark rich wooden tables, tall ceilings, filament lights and the most gorgeous wash basin I’ve ever come across.

Like most restaurants, the meal here started with a basket of house bread served with olive oil, balsamic and butter.

Avocado & Kale Salad

Dotted with bresaola, pears, tomatoes and chunky avocados, this simple yet colorful salad at Izu Bakery & Brasserie made great use of kale as a base. Very healthy, at the same time light, it was a good choice for a quick lunch or an evening snack.

Omelette with Mushrooms

This one was from the bakery menu. A very simple, no frills kinda dish, this breakfast favorite is a must have. It might look plain, but the fluffy egg omelette come filled with the goodness of sauteed mushrooms (or your choice of filling), and makes the perfect option for a hearty weekend breakfast. A little more bread on the side wouldn’t hurt.

Eggs Benedict with Mushrooms

I guess we were slightly obsessed with the combination of eggs and funghi which is why we skipped the recommended smoked salmon and went with sauteed mushrooms instead. Another breakfast favorite at Izu Bakery & Brasserie, this exceeded my expectations in terms of both texture and flavor. While I was expecting the muffins to be crusty and hard, they were just right – easily sliced by a butter knife, and the eggs were cooked exactly how I wanted them to be – slightly runny.

Rigatoni with Cream Sauce & Truffle Paste

Could we possibly say no to truffle? Of course not! One of our two mains, this al dente rigatoni pasta came covered in a rich layer of white sauce enhanced with truffle cream and dotted with herbs and grated parmesan. The only thing I would’ve changed about this dish is the doneness of the pasta, but overall it was a delicious combination of flavors. Tip: Ask for some bread to mop up all that sauce.

Spicy Chicken Pizza

This was a daily special on their chalkboard menu! Two of my favorite things – chicken and jalapenos – on one of my favorite items – pizza – meant we HAD TO order this. The crust was simply perfect and so were the generous toppings. In addition to the jalapenos, there were a few red chili peppers adding their fiery touch. If you are at Izu Bakery & Brasserie, make sure you check their specials. You never know what treat your taste buds might be in for!

Tiramizu

Another great tiramisu checked off my list! The Izu version of this iconic dessert has pushed me to do a top 5 series. Very creamy, frothy and light, the tiramIZU had all the elements to make it the perfect end to our meal. the espresso blended so well with the mascarpone, at the same time maintaining its individuality, it was a melange of flavors in every spoonful. The presentation was simply wow. Must must have!

Passion Fruit Cheesecake

A deliciously smooth dessert with the right proportions of fruit, cheese and biscuit, this cheesecake was certainly an indulgent one.

Izu Bakery & Brasserie

Location: Le BHV Marais, CITY WALK, Al Safa, Dubai
Contact: +97144033030

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