We can never resist a cute cafe that boasts over-flowing book shelves, cosy sofas and quirky decorations. So as we take a seat on a soft booth underneath the very Insta-friendly ‘Be amazing’ sign at Café Arabia, we’re already totally taken with the place.
The menu offers everything from English breakfasts to camel burgers, pastas and mixed grills, but we decide to mix things up and go for a few mezze and a pot of Turkish spicy poached eggs (breakfasts are served until 3.30pm on weekends).
We sip some karak tea as we wait, and it tastes freshly prepared and not overpoweringly sweet.
Our food is brought out in one go, and we immediately dive in and start with the minced lamb kibbeh, which is served with a glass of tahini dip. It’s a tasty plate of nibbles and it doesn’t last long, while the fattoush salad comes in a huge portion and coated in plenty of pleasantly tangy dressing.
Best of all is the Turkish eggs, and we’re delighted to find that sweet chunks of roasted aubergine have been mixed in with the yoghurt and chilli paste. The poached eggs go brilliantly with the thick slices of sourdough, and also the sharper flavours of the fattoush.
Our only quibble is that our last-minute hummus order seems to take an unnecessarily long time to prepare, but when it arrives alongside a huge basket of bread, it’s very nice indeed.
We leave feeling chilled out and happy.
WHAT IS IT…
A charming cafe in a three-story villa opposite Umm Al Emarat Park
WHY GO…
For the friendly staff, comfortable surroundings and extensive menu of homemade dishes
