Summer in the UAE often means looking for places to retreat from the heat and spend a few hours at a gentler pace. Fortunately, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are home to plenty of inviting spaces that offer more than simply good air conditioning.
From a Michelin-starred Emirati restaurant to a flower shop with a hidden café, these are eight places to visit when you need a break from the summer rush.
Erth, Abu Dhabi
Set between Qasr Al Hosn and the Cultural Foundation, Erth offers a contemporary interpretation of Emirati cuisine informed by local ingredients and hospitality. The Michelin-starred restaurant’s interiors, designed by BONE, feature pieces by regional creatives and materials that reflect the UAE’s visual heritage. It is a quietly refined setting for a relaxed lunch grounded in place.
Daily Press, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
Daily Press brings a more polished sensibility to the familiar neighbourhood coffee shop. Its Al Maryah Tower location combines speciality coffee with an extensive all-day menu, while a second outpost at Al Ain Oasis offers an especially appealing setting for a slower visit. Both are designed around the reassuring pleasure of a well-established daily ritual.
ONDA Replenishment Bar, Dubai
Located at Canal House on Al Wasl Road, ONDA describes itself as a neighbourhood replenishment bar. The idea is reflected in a menu that moves between coffee, matcha, smoothies, breakfast dishes and desserts. Designed by BONE, the interior has a bold, contemporary character that makes it an easy retreat for a restorative drink or leisurely catch-up.
Paus Club, Dubai
Paus has evolved from a wellness café into a broader destination dedicated to movement, restoration and community. Its Umm Suqeim home brings together Pilates and yoga studios, padel courts, spa treatments, a sauna and an eatery. Visitors can shape their own pause, whether that means a morning class, a quiet treatment or simply time over coffee.
La Nena, Dubai
Part coffee shop, part design studio and part interiors showroom, La Nena turns a simple café visit into an exploration of contemporary craftsmanship. Organic curves, earthy colours, natural textures and softly diffused lighting shape its cocooning interior, while handcrafted furniture and objects lend every corner an individual quality. It is a serene meeting point between coffee and design.
Brew Café, Dubai
A longstanding name in Dubai’s specialty coffee landscape, Brew Café retains the intimate character of a neighbourhood favourite. Its Jumeirah Beach Road setting is pared back and welcoming, allowing the coffee to remain the focus. Carefully prepared espresso and filter brews are accompanied by a concise selection of pastries, creating a quietly dependable destination for slow mornings and solo visits.
Oath, Dubai
Hidden within WUD Flowers on Al Wasl Road, Oath brings coffee and floristry together in an unexpectedly tranquil setting. The scent and colour of fresh flowers soften the minimalist café, where speciality coffee, matcha, affogato and desserts form a concise menu. With limited seating and a garden-like atmosphere, it feels pleasingly removed from the city beyond.
LINĒA Art Hub, Dubai
LINĒA approaches dining as part of a wider creative experience. Located in an airy Umm Suqeim villa, the recently opened space brings art, design, coffee and an all-day menu onto one canvas. Curated artworks and restrained interiors encourage visitors to look as well as linger, making it particularly suited to thoughtful breakfasts, quiet conversations and creatively inclined afternoons.
