Some people like their coffee with loads of milk and sugar, whipped into a frappe or drizzled with caramel. But the real coffee aficionados care about one thing and one thing only: the beans. That’s where specialty coffee shops in Abu Dhabi come in.
Espressos, Americanos, lattes, flat whites – life is too short to drink bad coffee, so we’ve scoured the city for the best spots that really understand what it takes to make a quality brew. We’re talking the kind of place where you can choose which country your beans come from and how strong your caffeine buzz will be.
If it’s specialty coffee shops in Abu Dhabi you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. Get your beans at one of these top spots.
% Arabica
We are starting with one of the most popular specialty coffee shops in Abu Dhabi. With locations all over the city, queues outside these premises are not uncommon as restless regulars wait impatiently for their much-loved cup. Chic, bright and airy, Arabica visitors can chill inside or get their coffee to go and stroll the stunning Corniche in the evening time.
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Al Jazira Tower, Al Bateen (02 634 1333).
Blacksmith Coffee Company
Just because this specialty coffee shop is at NYU Abu Dhabi, that doesn’t mean it is only a hotspot for students and lecturers. The venue offers up a number of brews using various techniques including Aeropress, V60 and Chemex. But if you are unsure what all that means, the Blacksmith Coffee Company does an Americano that hits the pot.
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NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island (02 650 1881).
Cartel Coffee Roasters
Al Qana is absolutely bursting with new cafés, including a specialty coffee shop that coffee fiends will love. Cartel has branches in Al Bateen and Khalifa City, but the latest branch can be found in Al Qana with loads of food options on the menu, too.
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Mon-Fri, 6.30am-11pm; Sat-Sun 8am-midnight. Al Qana, (050 300 9955).
Coffee Architecture
You can’t have a name like Coffee Architecture and not have the blueprints for impressive coffee. But this little hipster hideout on Saadiyat lives up to the hype with a pleasant array of what you would expect from any coffee house worth their beans. Of all the specialty coffee shops in Abu Dhabi, this one has the best views of Soul Beach.
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Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island (02 554 4467).
Joud Café
Joud Café is more than just a specialty coffee shop, it’s a lifestyle. The family of cafés gets bigger all the time with a fourth branch open now at the Forsan Central Mall. Get locally roasted coffee and specialty beans, not to mention some stellar food, too.
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Daily, 8am-11pm. Forsan Central Mall, Khalifa City, joudcafe.com (050 660 1096)
Local
It might be one of the top specialty coffee shops in Abu Dhabi, but Local Mamsha is about more than just great coffee. Head there for haircare, boutique shopping and the all-important caffeine buzz. Local Mamsha houses quirky brands that are hard to find in the UAE, go there for a trendy new cut and find yourself with an armful of awesome products and a cool café experience.
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Open daily 8am-11pm. Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, localco.ae
Rain Café
Puffy rain clouds, soothing blue tones, and a rare treat for Abu Dhabi residents: rain. Okay, it might not actually be raining at Rain Café, but it comes close enough. With locations across Abu Dhabi including the Abu Dhabi Corniche, Muroor and Yas Mall, this café is the perfect pretty location to have a delicious coffee and a snack or meal during a lazy afternoon.
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Abu Dhabi Corniche, Muroor, Yas Mall (02 677 7366).
Shot Specialty Café
Shot Specialty Café is another specialty coffee shop with loads of locations in Abu Dhabi. With a menu containing the usual suspects of all the hot and cold coffees, the chain, which can be found throughout the city at Etihad Towers, Yas Mall, Hudayriat Island and The Galleria Al Maryah Island, serves up bullet coffees, rose lattes, affogato, and more. So whatever you fancy coffee wise, there is a good chance you’ll find it here.
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Various locations including The Galleria Mall (050 467 2699), Etihad Towers (02 667 1144) and Al Hudayriat Beach (050 670 8250), instagram.com/shot.ae.
