In the quiet hours of the morning, when the Dubai coastline still shimmers with a faint silver light, Jumeirah Beach Residence begins to stir. This stretch of waterfront – often shortened to JBR – has long embodied Dubai’s contemporary rhythm that is poised between the ease of coastal living and the polish of urban design. Lined with hotels, galleries, and carefully composed spaces, it has also become home to a growing café culture that feels distinctly its own. These cafés below offer more than a cup and a view. Everything from light, materials and the utmost sense of care come together to present an immersive experience that tugs you back each time you walk by.
Roasters Specialty Coffee House & NFT Gallery
Roasters sits quietly along The Walk, its understated façade instantly inviting. Inside, a warm palette of natural wood and amber lighting softens the lines of a modern space. The baristas at the counter measure, pour, and serve with the kind of focus usually reserved for ateliers. The scent of roasted beans mingles with the salt of the nearby sea, while outside, a handful of tables offer the view of morning joggers tracing the waterfront.
What distinguishes Roasters is its adjoining NFT gallery – a seamless bridge between digital art and the ritual of coffee, and there’s something almost inevitable about it. In Dubai, the city so intent on perfecting the balance between lifestyle, tradition and reinvention, the idea of a gallery sitting alongside a café feels entirely natural. The menu offers, alongside its hand-poured brews, airy croissants, pistachio brioches and seasonal tartlets from its in-house patisserie – the kind that pair as easily with a quiet morning as with an evening meeting. For those who prefer something savoury, there are truffled scrambled eggs, avocado toast with chilli flakes, and a brioche sandwich layered with smoked turkey and melted Emmental.
Cielo at FIVE LUXE JBR
A short walk from the bustle of the promenade leads to Cielo, a Mediterranean-inspired café within the newly opened FIVE LUXE hotel. The interior opens to views of sea and sky; glass walls blur the boundary between indoors and out. Sunlight drifts across pale stone floors, casting soft patterns on the tabletops. Cielo moves through the day with ease. Mornings bring the quiet rhythm of freshly brewed coffee and breakfast served to the sound of waves. By late afternoon, the space fills with a golden glow as diners linger over seafood and soft conversation. As evening falls, Ain Dubai glitters on the horizon, and the café shifts into something slower, more contemplative. The sense of hospitality here feels immersive, in a way that allows guests to settle without realising how much time has passed. Even the soundtrack has been curated with care, echoing the calm rhythm of the sea beyond.
A favourite among regulars is the house lobster linguine – a dish that perfectly captures Cielo’s spirit.
The Lounge at Address Beach Resort
High above the shoreline, it offers one of the most serene vantage points in JBR. The interior is layered with textures that play quietly against one another – ivory upholstery, brushed metal, the sheen of marble underfoot. Nothing is excessive; every element seems harmonious with the next, much like the rhythm of the waves outside.
The menu favours refinement with the 23-karat Gold Hot Chocolate that has become a reflection of its understatement. Afternoon tea arrives with miniature sandwiches, pastries and freshly baked scones served with precision. Guests can enjoy it against the backdrop of the world’s highest infinity pool, a view that seems to dissolve into the horizon itself.
Charlie & Friends
At first glance, Charlie & Friends feels almost domestic – a space designed for conversation, unhurried breakfasts and familiar company. The name itself suggests sociability, but beneath its warmth lies a clear attention to detail. The interior balances intimacy and openness: honey-toned wood, soft fabric, and just enough art to give the room character without pretence.
What the café does best is evoke comfort with precision. The French Toast arrives with its crisp edges giving way to a custard-soft centre, a dash of cinnamon, and a note of fruit. The Eggs Benedict is known for its hollandaise feather-light. Everything feels measured and proportionate in Charlie & Friends, which explains why it attracts a steady rhythm of guests throughout the day, from quiet morning regulars to evening visitors. Its signature lavender latte has quietly become something of a local favourite – floral, mellow and unexpectedly uplifting. On weekends, the small outdoor terrace fills with the gentle hum of conversation and the scent of freshly baked brioche.
Eataly, The Beach
On the seafront in JBR, Eataly at The Beach captures the essence of Italian craft – part restaurant, part café, and part market – where the sea breeze drifts through wide windows and the scent of baked bread lingers in the air. The café section opens onto a sun-washed terrace, its low tables perfectly placed for a perfect afternoon by the water.
Inside, the counter offers freshly pulled espresso, affogato, and gelato – alongside delicate pastries and house-baked focaccia that speak of Italian simplicity done well. As the day wanes, light spills across the marble counters and the air fills with quiet conversation.
Menu-wise, the café leans towards crisp brioche served warm, croissants filled with pistachio cream, and a seasonal tartlet that changes with the market’s produce. The coffee pairs beautifully with house-made gelato – hazelnut or stracciatella – or an espresso drip of Italian artisan beans. A charming detail: Eataly stays open until 1 a.m., its terrace lights glowing long after the boardwalk has emptied, keeping the spirit of the Italian piazza alive on Dubai’s waterfront.
A Reflection by the Sea
The cafés of JBR differ in design and temperament, yet they share a devotion to quality often evident in the smallest gestures – the placing of a cup, the fold of a napkin, the way light moves across a table.
In Roasters, guests absorb JBR’s creative pulse and its fusion of art and craft, while in Cielo, the Mediterranean touch brings a sense of ease and coastal elegance. In a district like JBR, these cafés offer a measured, quiet moment in a rapidly changing world.
