1 Bikers Cafe
The Dubai location of this motorcycle-themed cafe has been popular with bikers since it opened in 2011. The cafe now has branches in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. The Bin Hadher Group launched it as a place for riders to show off their customised bikes, but it has since evolved into a place for everyone. Favourite dishes include the Royal Platter, packed with Emirati favourites such as balaleet, chebab, khameer, khabise and more. International options include Spanish omelette, eggs Benedict, quesadillas and fish and chips.
• Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai, 04 349 3585; Fujairah International Marine Club, Fujairah, 09 224 4686; Al Seef Village Mall, Abu Dhabi, 02 444 3942
2 Le Trésor: Classic Car Cafe
Located in Boxpark, Dubai, Le Trésor (The Treasure) opened in September. It is filled with classic European automobile memorabilia. The menu is typical of a French cafe: egg dishes, croissants, sandwiches, soups, salads and mains such as linguine with prawns, braised lamb shank, and pot roast chicken breast with ratatouille. The chef’s signature dessert is a pistachio cake served with honey ice cream and honeycomb.
• At Boxpark, Al Wasl Road, Dubai, open daily from 7.30am to midnight, 04 343 6591
3 BikesnBites
Also in Boxpark, BikesnBites is a casual eatery with an urban feel. Guests can fill up on American-style flame-grilled meats cooked “low and slow” and served with one of more than 40 sauces. Notable dishes include wings, slow braised veal ribs, slow-smoked prime Angus beef brisket, grilled hotlink beef sausage, and Cajun baby chicken. Sides include deep-south coleslaw, sweet potato fries, and smoked mac and cheese.
• Boxpark, Dubai; open weekdays from 10am to midnight; weekends from 8am to 1am; 04 343 2855
4 Yamaha Cafe
The world’s first Yamaha Cafe was launched in Boxpark earlier this year by Al Yousuf Motors, a dealer for Yamaha in the UAE. The cafe has a dining area with a community table, built-in video-game screens and accessories and bikes on display. The Japanese menu includes sushi, sashimi, tempura, sweets and green tea. Guests get a 15 per cent discount if they show their bike licence.
• Boxpark, Dubai, open daily from 10am to midnight, 04 453 5203
5 Kawasaki Cafe
Another world first and also in Dubai, Kawasaki Cafe opened in October above the Kawasaki showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road. It offers coffees from Illy, plus salads, sandwiches, snacks, cakes and pastries. At the cafe entrance sits a 1983 Kawasaki Ninja – the type used in Top Gun – and images of the latest Kawasaki Ninja H2 are displayed throughout the cafe.
• Sheikh Zayed Road, open daily from 7.30am to 10pm
6 Intersect by Lexus (Coming soon)
The latest car-themed cafe in the country is scheduled to open in DIFC on December 8. Head chef Tomas Reger, who is also behind Dubai’s Secret Supper Club, will serve up sophisticated dishes – beet and barley risotto, Chilean sea bass with yuzu-glazed turnips and slow-cooked beef short ribs with celeriac purée – in a casual, fine-dining atmosphere. The first Intersect by Lexus opened in Tokyo in 2013; Dubai will be the brand’s second location.
sjohnson@thenational.ae
