“fika” in dubai

… the first day after breakfast we took the hotel’s shuttle bus to “The City Walk”.

I thought it was the famous walk down by JBR beach and the Dubai Marina, but total different directions, but what a fantastic place to relax and soak up the luxury environment that Dubai offers nearly everywhere. It as very quiet as we arrived around 10.30am, but it was getting busier by the hour and especially in the afternoon.

The breakfast coffee at the hotel wasn’t bad … but we were longing for a nice cup in the sunshine so soon as we step out from the courtesy bus.

We walked through the beautiful mall to the walk and there we found “CUPAGAHWA”. It was the location and the very trendy patio furnishers that made up our minds and when we got our coffee served we knew that it was going to be superb. What a fabulous presentation.

Next day we had a very early start. We were up 04.15am. Time for the sunset desert safari, we were picked up 05.00am. We drove for about an hour and before we entered the deep sand the driver let half of the air out the tiers … otherwise, the wheels would in get a grip in the sand.

On arrival we where served Arabic coffee … spiced with cardamom, saffron and cloves. We were also provided with a breakfast box with nice products. To sit out there in the red sand waiting for the sun to rise was an indescribable experience, even if it was a very chilly morning. After breakfast, it was time to get into the cars and go for a wild drive through the sand dunes. Priceless experience … not for free, but not very expensive neither ($52/£40/46€/480SEK) I had booked our safari with “KLOOK”.

Our second day we had an early start to with a visit booked for “At the Top” … Burj Khalifa at 11am, but I had been warned by friends about the queuing and an online booking doesn’t mean that you get the “fast track” treatment. We took a taxi instead to the Dubai Mall, so we were there far too early.

So there was time for a relaxed cup of coffee by the Dubai fountain … at “Pret A Manger” and because it was the International Women’s Day we got free newly baked cookies. It was a beautiful morning and life around Burj Khalifa started slowly to come around as we sat there on the patio.

The Dubai Food Festival was on during our days in the city and on Kite Beach they were doing street food … we didn’t visit the beach until Saturday afternoon, going with the shuttle bus again. And most of the street food trucks were gone, but still, we got a great taste. We got our coffee from “95°”.

One of the best cups we had…and the queue was constant.

Our last day we jumped on the shuttle bus after breakfast for the JBR beach and the Dubai Marina, our flight wasn’t until 19.40am for Hong Kong. We found the most beautiful cafe “Bouchon Bakery” by Thomas Keller. Their macarons were to die for, especially the raspberry one.

Thomas Keller is an American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer. He and his landmark Napa Valley restaurant, The French Laundry in Yountville, California, have won multiple awards from the James Beard Foundation, notably the Best California Chef in 1996, and the Best Chef in America in 1997.

©Grub Street

Every cup of coffee that we enjoyed out and about in Dubai was filled with generous smiles, superb service and sunshine.

“Coffee is always a good idea”
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