Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe - Al Fahidi, Dubai — Restaurant in Dubai

The Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe in Al Fahidi, Dubai, is a beloved culinary destination that offers an authentic taste of Emirati and Middle Eastern cuisine in a charming historical setting. Situated in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (formerly Bastakiya), the restaurant occupies a century-old former home of a pearl trader, providing a unique ambiance that blends tradition with comfort.

🌿 Atmosphere & Setting

The restaurant's décor is a tribute to Emirati culture, featuring white wooden tables, turquoise benches, and lace curtains that create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Guests can choose to dine indoors or enjoy the serene outdoor seating area, which is especially pleasant during cooler months. The establishment has expanded its seating to the street outside due to its popularity, accommodating both locals and tourists alike.

🍽️ Cuisine & Highlights

Arabian Tea House is renowned for its traditional Emirati dishes, prepared using fresh and locally-sourced ingredients. The menu offers a delightful mix of Arabic and Emirati flavors, with standout items including:

Arabic Breakfast: A generous spread featuring halloumi, labneh, zaatar, cheese, olives, and freshly baked Arabic breads.

Machboos: A fragrant rice dish topped with kingfish, showcasing the rich flavors of the region.

Falafel & Hummus: Popular vegetarian options that are both tasty and satisfying.

Date Cake: A sweet treat that has garnered praise for its delicious taste.

The portions are noted to be generous, making it advisable to follow the waitstaff's recommendations to avoid overordering.

🕰️ Service & Experience

The staff at Arabian Tea House are frequently commended for their friendliness and attentiveness. Many patrons have shared positive experiences, highlighting the warm hospitality that enhances the dining experience.

⏰ Hours & Location

Address: Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai, Bastakiya, Opposite Musalla Post Office, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Phone: +971 4 353 5071

Hours: Open daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM

✅ Final Thoughts

Arabian Tea House Restaurant & Cafe offers a delightful blend of authentic Emirati cuisine, historical charm, and warm hospitality. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor to Dubai, it's a must-visit spot to experience the rich culinary heritage of...

If I could marry a breakfast, the Emirati platter at Arabian Tea House would be my life partner, and we’d live happily ever after in a charming white-and-blue courtyard surrounded by trailing bougainvillea and overachieving Instagrammers.

Walking into Arabian Tea House felt like being transported into a Pinterest board titled “Dreamy Middle Eastern Hideaways You’ll Never Find Again.” Between the swinging white rattan chairs, the antique trinkets, and the servers dressed like they just stepped out of a hospitality fairytale, I was fully prepared to judge this place as style-over-substance. And then the food came. Oh boy, did the food come.

The Emirati breakfast arrived like a majestic, carb-loaded magic carpet. We're talking balaleet (sweet vermicelli noodles topped with an omelet—because the UAE clearly understands how mornings should work), warm and pillowy khameer bread, creamy scrambled eggs, fresh labneh, dates that were probably handpicked by angels, and a drizzle of honey so pure I briefly considered bottling it and starting a wellness brand. Every bite felt like a hug from the Gulf.

And let’s not forget the tea—because, you know, it’s in the name. They don’t just serve tea here. No, they curate it. My pot of karak could have singlehandedly solved 60% of my life’s problems if I hadn’t already downed it in under five minutes.

Yes, it’s a little touristy. Yes, you will likely wait for a table while someone in a flowing linen dress takes seventeen selfies in the doorway. And yes, that background lute music will make you question your life choices. But who cares? You’re here to live your best breakfast life. And trust me, you will.

Final verdict: Come for the ambiance. Stay for the food. Leave with a soul slightly more nourished and a phone gallery full of tea pot glamour shots. Five stars,...

I finally a went to this place (after reading lots of positive reviews) as part of a visit to the historic Al Fahidi neighbourhood and its many galleries and cafe’s ( highly recommend it ). The tea house was very easy to find being essentially at the entrance to Al Fahidi neighbourhood. When I got there, it was around 4pm and the place was packed inside and with people queuing to enter. The person handling the tables on entry told me it would be about 15 minutes before I could get a table for one. I was happy to wait. It only took 5 minutes and the booker (who was using a walkie talkie to communicate with others in the restaurant to manage the tables) found me a table outside in a side entrance to the place, I was more than happy to accept this location. One of their team took me to the table and my allocated waiter promptly gave me the menu. A great selection of food. Sadly I was much too late for the gorgeous looking breakfast offerings so I went for a traditional chicken and rice dish plus a side of hummus and mint tea. The meal was served quickly, it had an additional side of yoghurt and mint plus some pickled veggies as part of it. The flat breads were hot and fresh out of the oven. It was all very fresh and delicious. The service was excellent and really friendly - prices extremely reasonable for the quality - all of this was a surprise given how intensely touristy the location is -often the owners in such places get lazy about the food quality and also jack up their prices as a result. None of that here. A great place and despite the busyness, they were happy for me to relax with my pot of tea which easily provided for 3 cups. I will certainly return. Next time, earlier in the day to sample their wonderful...