Ramadan 2017: Where To Eat Out In The Daytime

Our Pick Of Restaurants & Cafes Open In The Daytime During Ramadan

With the Holy month of Ramadan due to start at the end of this week, many of the city’s eateries will be shutting their doors during daylight hours. All of the hotels will have at least one of their outlets open for business and the food courts in malls will be open too but we’re more interested in the standalone places. So if you and your fam aren’t fasting and are looking for somewhere to grab a coffee, brekkie, lunch out with the ladies, date-lunch with the hubster or to enjoy a cheeky slice of cake after school, these are our top picks for where to go.

1762 – 8am – 4.30pm – weekdays only
Innovative fast food that is totally good for you with treats including sandwiches, healthy mains and a to-die-for raw veggie mix plus muffins and pastries galore! There really is so much good stuff to choose from you’ll want to come back to try it all.  A perfect spot for working mamas and papas who want to take their littlies to lunch or for a bite with the kids at breakfast – a visit to DIFC always feels like a bit of a treat for them!

DIFC, Building 5, The Balcony Level 1, (near to More Cafe), Dubai and also in Dubai Media City
(+971) (0)4 800 1762, www.1762.ae

Alfies – midday – 3pm
A British resto that describes itself as a ‘gentleman’s playground’ – but ladies are DEFINITELY allowed too!
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Boulevard, Office Tower
(+971) 4 3198088, jumeirah.com 

Baker & Spice 8am – 11pm  
This award-winning food shop and restaurant is dotted around Dubai and offers up the best local, organic, fresh and homemade food. Baker & Spice is open as usual from 8am-11pm throughout Ramadan.

Marina Promenade, Dubai Marina, Dubai & Gold & Diamond Park Dubai, Souk Al Bahar & Souk Al Manzil
Tel: (+971) (0)4 362 4686
www.bakerandspiceme.com 

Boca – midday – 1am
A slice of the Med right here in the desert, the Boca concept is all about sharing (perfect for Ramadan) in a sort of tapas style. And it’s yummy.

DIFC, Gate Village 6, Dubai
(+971) (0) 4 3231833, boca.ae

Bistro des Art – open 7.30am onwards
For quintessentially French cuisine, Bistro des Arts is definitely one to check out. The perfect spot for a quick lunch with hubby or a girlie catch up over a glass of vino, the bistro is open from breakfast onwards. Think raw seafood paired with delish wine… and freshly baked bread and pastries. The perfect taste of Paris.

Dubai Marina Promenade – just near The Address Hotel
(+971) (0) 4 55 11 578, www.bistrodesarts.ae

Burger and Lobster – open from midday – midnight
Check out Burger and Lobster at DIFC for, well, a burger or a lobster! Lobsters from the depths of the Atlantic off Nova Scotia and beef grazing in the Nebraskan heartlands… it all sounds perfect to us!

Burj Daman Building, DIFC
Tel: (+971) (0)4 514 8838, www.facebook.com/BurgerAndLobsterDubai

Circle Cafe Dubai Media City, Healthcare City, Studio City – 10am – 10pm
Media City, Sports City and Healthcare City mamas this little cafe is definitely worth a look in (and an eat in). The menu offers something for everyone, from NYC-style bagels to fresh salads, sublime sandwiches to decadent desserts and everything between – all homemade and mega delicious – oh and breakfast is served all day, yipeee!

CNN Building, Dubai Media City, Studio City EIT building, G/F, Shop 2 and Building 64 Block C Healthcare City
circle-cafe.com

Cocktail Kitchen – Thursdays & Fridays at 1pm-2am 
For Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a contemporary setting, head to Cocktail Kitchen at JLT. We love the Anis Poached Salmon as well as the Lamb Rack… delicious! Oh, and with a name like Cocktail Kitchen, they also do fabulous cocktails if you’re inclined.

Armada BlueBay Hotel, Cluster P, Jumeirah Lake Towers, (JLT)
(+971) (0) 56 828 0727, www.cocktail-kitchen.com

Couqley – midday – 1am
For a little taste of France here in Dubai, Couqley is a cute little space that serves up a mean cup of coffee and some scrummy bistro style food (plus a glass of rose if that’s your thing…). And they’ve just launched a ‘petit couqley’ menu for the littles – yummy. 
JLT, Cluster A
(+971) 4 5149339, www.facebook.com/couqley 

Flow Cafe – 8am – 4pm
Carefully sourced healthy, natural, organic, feel-good products to fuel  and energise….errr, every mamas dream!? Flow is a little gem in the city – prices are really reasonable AND they’ve partnered with artisan coffee company, The Espresso Lab, to provide premium, small batched coffees that have been ethically sourced from across the globe and bringing you that much needed caffeine hit. yay!

Jumeirah Emirates Towers Boulevard.
(+971) 55 2934430, flowdubai.com 

Fraiche – 8am – 10pm
A fab place for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Fraiche is a French-Canadian bistro with a seriously good menu. Dig into eggs cooked any style, freshly baked bagels and favourite comfort foods including burgers, mac ‘n cheese and shepherd’s pie. For chocoholics, the Nutella crème brûlée is worth a visit alone (and a regular treat for the Sassy Mama kiddos).

JLT, Cluster Y, Swiss Tower, Dubai
(+971) (0)50 880 5467, www.fraiche.ae

Friends Avenue Café – 8am – 6pm
We love this super cute little hangout – the coffee is great, breakfast is fab (and portions are huge) and their salads are fresh and delicious. It’s quirky an cosy too, a lovely place to sit and work or catch up with friends.

G/F, Fortune Executive Tower, Cluster T, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 5545813, friendsavenue.ae

Fume – 12noon – 1am and on weekends until 2am
We’ve raved and raved about this Dubai Marina joint – and for good reason. The food is fab, the atmosphere great and kiddies are very welcome (oh and they do Monster shakes – the perfect treat). 
Pier 7, Dubai Marina Level 1
(+971) 4 4215669, fume-eatery.com 

Gaucho – 12pm – 11.30pm
Don’t give up on a smart lunch or daytime date just yet, mamas! The swanky Argentinian resto Gaucho is still serving during the daylight hours (and then into the night), meaning you can get your fill of their amazing steaks. Don’t cry for us Argentina, we’ll be busy tucking in.

DIFC, Gate Village 5, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 422 7898, gauchorestaurants.ae

Hard Rock Cafe midday – 2am
When big burgers, huge shakes and a rock ‘n roll vibe call (and when you’re shopping at Festival City…), a stop at Hard Rock Cafe is just the thing.

Dubai Festival City 
(+971) 4 232 8900, www.hardrock.com 

Jazz@PizzaExpress – open from midday
For pizza in a cool cellar type space – complete with a kiddie area and live jazz (at weekends), this is your place!
JLT, Cluster A
(+971) 4 4416342. 

La Petite Maison – midday – 3pm 
For the perfect ladies who lunch or business meeting and eating spot, La Petite Maison will be open as usual and serving up their delicious French fare (make sure you try the burrata and the lobster tagliatelle).

DIFC, Gate Village 8, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 4390505, lpmdubai.ae

Little Bangkok,  – 12pm – 11pm
Looking for something spicy in a super cute little resto? Little Bangkok serves up authentic Thai food that’s full of flavour and colour at a really decent price. We love.

Business Central Towers Media City & JLT Lake front, Cluster I, Platinum Tower
www.littlebangkok.com 

Little More – 8am – 7pm
The little sibling of much loved mama favourite More Cafe, Little More is a cute space with vibrant decor including modern artwork, bright yellow furnishings and a bistro feel. The food is good and portions are huge – a big hit with the kiddos!

Business Central 
Tower, Dubai Media City, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 420 0100, www.littlemore.co

Maison Mathis – timings tbc – breakfast, lunch & dinner
Super chilled out when you have a troupe of kids in tow, Maison Mathis is right on the edge of the Arabian Ranches golf course and feels a million miles away from the hectic hustle and bustle of city life.Whether you’re looking for a full English breakfast, organic granola or a pastry filled with Valrhona Chocolate (it’s obviously the latter), this is your place.

Arabian Ranches, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 450 1313, www.maison-mathis.com

Nais Italian Kitchen – 12pm -9pm
Yummy scrummy homemade Italian food just as ‘mama woulda make it’, this family owned and run business is one of JLT’s best little gems.

HDS Tower, Cluster F, Dubai
(971) (0)4 4529991, naiskitchen.com

Pascal Tepper, Dubai Media City – 7am – 9pm
What the French don’t know about bread simply isn’t worth knowing and at this Media City café and bakery the real magic lies in the bakery selection, freshly made three times each day, the pain au chocolat and baguettes are as authentic and delicious as they get. You can also enjoy  salads, wraps, tartines and ‘Boissons chaudes’ in their very purple interior.

Next to Radisson Blu Hotel, Media City, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 542408, pascaltepperfrenchbakery.com

Pineapple Express Cafe  Open daily 8.30am – 11pm.
Don’t you just love the name of this cafe?! And its special emphasis on super foods and everything that is ‘good for your insides’ is just what we’re craving. From healthy options to hearty meals, the space is set up like a bar including grab ‘n’ go options like fresh salads, wraps, paleo treats, acai bowls and Seven Fortunes coffee. Yum!

Reform Social & Grill – 8am – 11.30pm
Yes mamas, you can still grab your pub grub at Reform Social & Grill! While their outdoor areas are all shut during fasting hours, they serve up breakfast from 8am so this is a fab choice if you’re up early (always?!) and need to get out. Oh and you can get a glass of vino at lunchtime too (just sayin’…)

The Lakes, Emirates Hills, Dubai
(+971) (0)44 542 638, www.reformsocialgrill.ae

Riva Beach – 7am – midnight
Yippee Riva Beach is open from 7am – which means beating the heat for a quick splash about in their gorgeous pools or in the sea (buy up a day pass – it’s so worth it) and then munching on brekkie with the family before more splashing and then lunch. Perfect!

Palm Jumeirah, Shoreline Building 8 
 (+971) 4 4309466, www.riva-beach.com 

Simply Italian midday – 2am
You’ll honestly think that you’re on a vaycay in the Med with Club Vista Mare’s gorgeous Palm setting. And Simply Italian is just as the name suggests, fab Italian food done simply – just like mama used to make it.

Palm Jumeirah, Club Vista Mare
(+971) 4 558 8354, simplyitaliandubai.com

Sophie’s Cafe – 7am – 9pm 
Roll your buggy in for a freshly squeezed juice or homemade cake (plus plenty of healthy homemade options for lunch or dinner) at this friendly little Palm Jumeirah local. The staff are super relaxed about kids romping about and the fresh interiors (complete with ‘waterfall wall’) offer a welcome respite from the heat.

Palm Jumeirah, Riva Complex, Shoreline Building 8, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 451 5982, www.sophiesme.com

The Scene – 8am – 2am.
Headed up by British celebrity chef, Simon Rimmer, The Scene prides itself on serving up hearty pub classics with a retro twist. With stunning views over the Marina and a menu that makes you want to melt, it feels like you’re stepping in to someone’s quirky home. For fabulous, fuss-free food and to be transported back to Blighty in a bite, this really is the place to be ‘scene’.

Pier 7, Dubai Marina, Level 4 
(+971) 4 4222328, www.thescenedubai.com 

Trattoria Toscana – midday – midnight
The Souk Madinat is a great place to enjoy an indoor stroll in the heat while the littles stretch their legs – perfect pre or post lunch at the Trattoria Toscana on the waterfront, a family-friendly restaurant which serves traditional Italian cuisine with a great big smile. Kids are very much welcomed – crayons and other distractions provided so that mama can enjoy a relatively stress free meal.

Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 366 8566, jumeirah.com

Urban Bistro – 7am – 6pm
We love the casual café vibe of this Media City bistro – brightly coloured tables and chairs, chalkboard menus, bookshelf lined walls and a deli area – plus a lovely menu that includes plenty of locally sourced, healthy and organic options. Make sure to try the Rainbow Power Salad if  you need a bit of a boost or the Avocado On Toast, jazzed up with beet chutney, mascarpone and a poached egg. Scrummy. We’ll be here munching away lots during Ramadan.

CNN Building, Dubai Media City, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 3624330 urbanbistro.ae

Vapiano, Dubai Media City – 11am – 11pm
If you’re after a carb-fest then head to this cafe style Italian for pizza, pasta and risotto – and the best tomato soup (a big hit with the kids!). Bellissimo!

G/F, Thuraya Tower, Media City, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 4370786 facebook.com/vapianoUAE

XVA Gallery Cafe – 7am – 9pm
One of our very favourite spots in the city and such a lovely place to stop and relax during Ramadan (especially as it’s located in the Al Fahidi District, one of the oldest areas of Dubai). Set in a beautiful courtyards  at the uber cool XVA hotel and gallery, the cafe serves delicious salads, soups and sandwiches under the shade of ancient gaff trees.  An array of ice-creams are perfect for keeping the kids happy and cool before adventures resume.

XVA Hotel & Gallery, Al Fahidi Cultural District (formerly Bastakiya)
(+971) 4 353 5383, www.xvahotel.com 9714 3535383. Open daily 7am – 9pm.

Zuma – 12pm – 3.30pm
Ahhh Zuma, how much we love you. And sometimes a mama just gotta have sushi – and miso-marinated-black-cod – and when that time comes, this is where you’ll find us.

DIFC, Gate Village 6, Dubai
(+971) (0)4 4255660, zumarestaurant.com

Want a full list of ALL the outlets open during Ramadan, mamas? Head to one of our fave foodie bloggers Foodiva and check it out there…

Ramadan Kareem!